Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple from Bowness Knott

Bowness Knott Car Park is located at the Western end of the Ennerdale Valley - It is no longer free to park here unfortunately.

I love a long valley walk before a climb, and this certainly is just that. It takes the best part of 2 hours from Bowness Knott Car Park to get to the Black Sail hut - but it's such a lovely stroll alongside Ennerdale Water and then the River Liza, that it is one of my favourites.

A 'little' bit of driftwood has found its way into the river and is now stuck at the concrete bridge crossing following all the Forrestry Commission activities around here.

The high cloud started to break and I could tell that it was going to warm up pretty soon.

This was handy, as I had accidentally left my walking coat at home and was reliant upon a couple of spare layers that I had popped into my bag if it got too cold higher up. As it was, they were never worn as I spent most of the afternoon with just my T-Shirt needed.

The big fells at the eastern end of the Ennerdale Valley come into view as I walk further down the track.

And there it is - The Black Sail Hut, sitting proudly below Great Gable.

After a brief chat with the new tenants of the Youth Hostel - I said my goodbye's and left the C2C path and headed right towards Sail Beck

Over the nice new footbridge and the start of the gradual ascent.

Following the route alongside Sail Beck, the path is grassy and and then rocky in places - but nothing technically difficult.

Arriving at Black Sail Pass with Kirk Fell is to my left.

It's a right turn at Black Sail Pass and the re-commencement of the climb uphill

Looking back down towards the Black Sail Pass and the large lump of a mountain - Kirk Fell.

Mosedale Valley and down to Wasdale Head with Yewbarrow visible to the right.

Almost there - Pillar bathed in lovely warm sunshine now.

Reaching the quite flat summit of Pillar.

After a couple of minutes enjoying the views at the top of Pillar, I started my descent down the rocky path to Wind Gap

Wind Gap

You can go up and over Black Crag en-route to Scoat Fell, but I usually choose to take this thin path around the side - it's much easier.

Pretty soon, Steeple comes into view. A northern outcrop of Scoat Fell, but it is indeed a very shapely fell. It's so close to Scoat Fell that I'm surprised it has it's own 'Wainwright' status - but I'm certainly pleased it has.

There's a pile of rocks nearby on the stone wall which shows the true high point of the fell - but I think most take this cairn to be the symbolic top of Scoat Fell.

Two minutes later and it's time to cross the short arete linking the two fells together.

I would imagine that this crossing is more difficult if high side winds prevail - but today there wasn't a breath of wind in the air.

Steeple summit.

Now time to head down the northern ridge of Steeple - a great (and easy) descent.

Now I decided to see if I could find an alternative route back down to the base of the valley when I was nearing Lingmell. I have always gone via Lingmell in the past, but my O/S map indicated there was a path, so why not, lets see what it's like.

I left the main path (made a small mistake at first) but soon arrived at this stile - a good sign that a path really did exist. So full of renewed confidence I started a few hundred metres of descent via this route. Hope this is going to be okay, as it's been quite a long day and I don't want to be retracing my steps back uphill again.

Well, I wouldn't say it was great ! It seemed a long descent through the spooky woods following a thin, wet and tree routed path downwards for what seemed like an age.

It was okay - but I'll stick to the normal Lingmell route next time.

Arriving at the forestry road running parallel with the River Liza. Time to gently stroll back to the car.

I love walking besides Ennerdale Water, I never tire of it's beauty.

It's certainly been a long day, but a really rewarding one though.