Blencathra (Saddleback) via Blease Fell ascent and Scales Fell descent

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Blencathra [N]

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INDY May 19, 2025 Threlkeld, Blease Fell, Blencathra, Scales Fell

Start Point, Map

Distance 11.56 km, Time 4.33 h, Total Ascent 833 m Imperial | Metric

INDY SAYS: An easy one this, I prefer these sloping paths to the engineered stone steps on some routes. It was windy and cold at the summit, but warm on the way back

The weather forecast today is definite cloud in the morning, probable thunderstorms in the afternoon.
We prefer definite cloud, so set off at 7am for Blencathra (Saddleback). We ascend via Blease Fell and descend via Scales Fell, traversing the whole of Blencathra.

Cloudy summits over Threlkeld

The ascent of Blease Fell is windy

This unusual cairn is a vertical piece of slate

Soon at Knowe Crags

Clouds are rolling past ahead of us

Dappled sun highlights Indy on Blencathra against the sharp contours of Halls Fell ridge behind, May 19, 2025

Indy admires the views, Halls Fell ridge is behind

The path to Blencathra is clear

And here we are at the summit, before 9am. The summit cairn is a strange circle

For the first two hours of hiking today we did not see a single soul. It's nice to have the fells to yourself, but it's an eerie feeling in this weather.