Kentmere Horseshoe

Monday 16th September 2019

Walking Diary (All Walks) Lakeland Wainwrights Far Eastern

The Kentmere Horseshoe is one of the longest and most remote walks in the Lake District although it can be quite busy on weekends. The walk includes all the fells bounding the upper Kentmere valley and its reservoir, I usually start beside the village hall in the hamlet of Kentmere.

It is important to note that there is very limited parking in Kentmere - half a dozen spaces alongside the village hall and its requested that you pop in a few quid to say thanks. I usually manage to get a spot, but I always make sure it's not a Saturday or a Sunday - today was Monday and only 08:30 - so it was okay. A farmers field is sometimes available for parking in the summer months - again a nominal charge is requested.

My horseshoe today included all 9 Fells - Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, High Street, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike & Shipman Knotts

The information contained in the material on this Website is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.
Distance: 13.5 miles
Duration: 6:30 hours
Ascent: 4074 ft
Difficulty: Hard
Accompanied By: On my Own
Weather: Dry & Sunny

Wainwrights Visited

Froswick Harter Fell (Mardale) High Street Ill Bell Kentmere Pike Mardale Ill Bell Shipman Knotts Thornthwaite Crag Yoke

3D outline of route

Parking

A few parking places near to the village hall

Heading towards the Garburn Pass path

The start of the climbing

Not sure if this was here last time ? I'm sure I would have noticed

Early morning sun as it starts to warm up - Weather looking good for today

The gradual ascent towards the Garburn Pass

Looking back down towards the village

A sharp right turn off the main path towards Yoke

Yoke summit

First glimpse of Kentmere Reservoir with the route of the path behind

Ill Bell summit

Heading towards Froswick

Froswick Summit with Thornthwaite Crag in the distance

Looking back to Froswick

Almost at the very significant Thornthwaite Beacon

This is a summit Cairn to remember !! - Thornthwaite Crag/Beacon

Next destination - High Street

A quick glance of Hayeswater following the Roman Road to High Street

High Street summit

Heading towards Mardale Ill Bell

Mardale Ill Bell summit

Haweswater

Looking down towards Blea Tarn (another one !) with Haweswater behind at Mardale

The descent to Nan Bield Pass

Nan Bield Pass

And now climbing back up to Harter Fell from the pass

Small Water

The thin path briefly traverses Harter Fell before turning right and heading up to the summit

Harter Fell summit

Kentmere Pike next

Looking back from Kentmere Pike

Kentmere Pike summit - There is also the trig point on the other side of the wall - a stile is present so you can easily visit both

Last Stop - Shipman Knotts ahead

Looking back to Shipman Knotts

Stile End - with a view of the Horseshoe

Almost back to the village - A cracking walk