Slight Sided to Whin Rigg

Brotherilkeld - Slight Side - Sca Fell - Illgill Head -
Whin Rigg - Woodhow (Wasdale)

17th April 2008

This is a walk I have waited a long, long time to do.
Slight Side was a place I should have done when I last walked Scafell almost a year ago, although having now done it, I do think the extra bit would have been very hard work.
I haven't been doing a lot of exercise these past few months, hardly walking the hills and not exactly doing a lot around here either.. my confession isn't without reason. I have done a lot longer walks than today's without really feeling it was hurting in any way... not so with this one. It really did show me that to climb one fell/mountain really isn't that big a deal, most people should be able to manage that (health issues aside). However if you are not regularly exercising, walking. then to do a round of 3 or more seperate fell tops really is going to take it out of you.
This may all sound rather obvious but I have been used to doing not that much around here and then just hitting the hills, I wasn't exactly in tip top condition when I did my Martindale horseshoe of 19 miles.. it seems time is catching up on me..

I started walking from the phone box at the bottom of Hard Knott Pass having been dropped off there by the wife.
She and the kids where going to drive around to Wasdale and spend the day by the side of the lake, and exploring Wasdale itself.
The plan was to go around the back of Taw House, but when I got there the only path I could see took me
in front of the house and along the main path towards Scale Bridge.. no biggy.. but already I am not exactly where I wanted to be.

I was already thinking that the forcast of only 10% cloud free summits might end up being a tad persimistic..
the predictions about the wind however were I think the opposite.. it was really starting to blow hard.

From near Scale Gill this is Yew Crags and Hard Knott behind

My first view of Slight Side, Cat Crag on the far left

Cat Crag directly in front of me, this being somewhere one could get to within a short space of time
I thought I might come back here one day and spend the night.

Loking back over Brock Crag

I had expected to take the higher ground out of picture to the left as a route to Slight Side,
as it was you actually walk along the valley to the left of picture.

Poser or what???
Having got here it was time for some food and a rest, the dark green grass to the left of the rock was a great shelter.
This was when the wind really started to take hold and I was a little worried about what conditions would be like on top.

Looking back the way I had come, Harter Fell on the right in the distance.

Fron the same place a view of my final part of the walk, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg.

Doesn't look that far, but for someone out of shape.. ouch this hurt.. hehehe

From Horn Crag amazing views of Eskdale if you can stand up.
I was clinging on for dear life taking this picture which is why I am not nearer to the rocks looking out.

Finally we reached Slight Side itself but as you can see Jay is not at all happy taking his normal 'King on the hill' pose.

Have to say that one could stay up here for hours and hours...
Left to right, Esk Pike, Bow Fell, Crinkles.. just wonderful!

In the distance, to the left, highest mountain in England Scafell Pike, to the right Ill Crag.

A better shot of Hard Knott and Harter Fell

What a view!
Burnmoor Tarn with Illgill and Whin Rigg

The view from Slight Side up to Scafell over Long Green.
You can see the path over Long green quite clearly but I was having real problems standing up
where I was so the thought of getting that close to the edge, even though the wind was right to left, did not thrill me.

A close up of Burnmoor Tarn

A hazy Green Crag

Harter Fell, no one there either by the looks of it...

.. and would you know it.. Even the Pike is empty.. WOW!

I decided on an alternate route to Scafell. I figured that because I was so shattered I would hedge my bets a little.
I knew if I was going to miss out Scafell and head straight for Illgill Head then I would want to get myself
over towards Kettle cove and then down to Hard Rigg.
Taking the route below I figured that if the wind got to bad I could do just that, if it didn't
I could head all the way up and get to the summit without having to fight to stay on my feet.

It turned out great and I actually found a path that isn't on the map that lead me right to the summit.

Onto Page Two

Please do email us if you have any comments. Chris

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