Blencathra or Saddleback Route Information

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Blencathra or Saddleback

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

675 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

2.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

6.79 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

90	Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

This short but challenging route includes a traverse of Sharp Edge, Lakeland’s narrowest rock ridge, which involves a short but unavoidable exposed shuffle across a hiatus. Not for the faint-hearted, who can combine the 2 descent routes from Scales.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Keswick

From Keswick travel E on A66 and turn off left into Scales. Park if possible (there is limited space) or return to A66 and find a lay-by.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 675 metres. Allow 2.5 hours to complete this 6.79 km route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park in Scales (limited space) or lay-by on A66. The walk starts from A66 200m W of Scales turn-in.
		NY34052683	Distance	Altitude 235 m

1	Ascend path ENE turning NNE to intersection with descent path from Scales Fell
		NY34492737	Distance 0.77 km	Altitude 377 m

2	Continue N on path across shoulder of Scales Fell
		NY34332773	Distance 0.43 km	Altitude 473 m

3	Continue NW above Glenderamackin river to cross Scales Tarn Beck
		NY33262822	Distance 1.18 km	Altitude 530 m

4	Ascend winding path onto Sharp Edge
		NY32802837	Distance 0.66 km	Altitude 699 m

5	Cross rocky exposed arête to Foule Crag (845m)
		NY32432827	Distance 0.38 km	Altitude 845 m

6	Walk S to summit of Blencathra (2500ft+)
		NY32352774	Distance 0.53 km	Altitude 868 m

7	Descend E on path to branch above Doddick Fell
		NY32862775	Distance 0.61 km	Altitude 735 m

8	Complete descent NE turning SE via Scales Fell; or S onto Doddick Fell
		NY33252699	Distance 0.87 km	Altitude 437 m

9	Complete descent SSW to path above stone wall
		NY33132656	Distance 0.46 km	Altitude 258 m

10	Follow path ENE around base of Doddick Fell and cross Scaley Beck
		NY33652686	Distance 0.45 km	Altitude 250 m

11	Continue on path back to start
		NY34052683	Distance 0.45 km	Altitude 250 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format)

Lake District
by Met Office

Blencathra
by Metcheck

Images of Blencathra or Saddleback

Looking up Sharp Edge to Atkinson Pike, Blencathra, on a frosty morning, 30th December 2008.

Image by David S Brown

Approaching Sharp Edge on a brilliant December morning, with sun melting the frost.

Image by David S Brown

Looking down the Hallsfell ridge from the bottom of the rocky top section.

Image by David S Brown

Looking back down Sharp Edge from the final pull up to Blencathra summit, March 2009

Image by Stewart Howie

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

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Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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