An Easy Day in Eskdale

Day 17 – Friday 3 April saw us having a leisurely start as the plan was to climb only three fells today – Hard Knott, Harter Fell and Green Crags. Val had decided to join us, so after meeting up with Mike we drove to the summit of Hardknott Pass and after a brief drama caused by me dropping a back wheel of the car off the edge of the tarmac (too busy talking) we set off for the summit which gives the notorious 1-in-3 pass its name. The light wind was blowing in cloud all the time, and although tantalisingly close to warm sunshine, we could never get away from the mist and cloud and failed to see what I am assured are fabulous views from the top of Hard Knott (1803’). In fact even the top proved harder than expected to find, as in the mist the height of the various crags was deceptive.

Returning to the car we picked up our rucksacks and headed south for the summit of Harter Fell (2140’). This is an attractive ‘stand-alone’ fell with an interesting approach past Demming Crag and a rocky top. It looked like the sun would finally burn off the clouds but as we got out the sandwiches at the top they rolled back in, preventing us once again from enjoying the view.

From Harter Fell the route to Green Crag (1602’) went across plenty of wet, boggy ground, but the final approach was interesting and craggy again, making this much more fun than expected. There followed quite a long walk out, along the tracks of Hardknott Forest, to the picnic area at Birks Bridge near where Mike had left his car.

Reaching the Three Shires Stone at the top of Wrynose Pass at 5 o’clock we decided that we had time to climb Pike o’ Blisco (2304’), which would make the circuit of hills at the Head of Langdale a bit easier later on. So Val took my car back to Bowness (with instructions to book a meal at Rastelli’s) while Mike and I “got a wiggle on”, visiting the summit and returning to the car by 6.40. Alf Wainwright would not have approved of such haste!

Still, a pleasant day’s outing with the total now at a healthy 90 tops completed.

Pictures: 1. Val powering up Harter Fell; 2. Mike and I at the summit of Harter Fell; 3. Val and I on Green Crag; 4. Mike at the Pike o' Blisco summit.