“Height has nothing to do with it, it is your strength that counts”
Lynn Hill
The Ennerdale Horseshoe is a popular round often completed by fell runners in just a few hours, but as a walker it provides a long physically, and mentally demanding challenge. Starting from the western end of Ennerdale Water the route soon climbs up the fellside to join the long ridge that climbs to the Buttermere Fells. The route continues up and over Green Gable before turning westward to ascend over Kirk Fell . Now on the return leg the fells that surround Pillar are traversed before we turn north after Haycock to finish over the much gentler slopes just above Ennerdale Water.
This challenge is sure to push you to your limits, but there aren't many better ways to find where they are.
“My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing”
Aldous Huxley
Starting from the car park at the western end of Ennerdale Water we start to make our way a short way around the lake clockwise before climbing the fellside over Herdus to our first of many summits, Great Borne. Now above 600m we follow the ridge to the east over Starling Dodd to join the main Buttermere Fells. As we reach Red Pike we are greeted with fantastic views down into Buttermere. We will traverse across High Stile and High Crag before descending to Scarth Gap. From Scarth Gap we will scramble up the western face of Haystacks and to its lovely tarn topped summit.
On our second lowest summit of the day, we now start to re-ascend and make our way across the gentle ground to the summit of Brandreth where we can see into the Borrowdale Valley. We continue southwards a short distance to the summit of Green Gable, and if you are feeling energetic we can also take in the giant Great Gable.
From either of these summits we make our way to Beck Head, and onto the second half of the journey. After tackling Kirk Fell's steep eastern face we take in both of its summits before again descending into the Black Sail pass.
The re-ascent starts again and we climb up the gentle slopes over Looking Stead to the flat top of Pillar, from where we gain superb views back down to Ennerdale Water, and of our entire route. We turn westwards and over Scoat Fell to the fine rocky summit of Haycock.
Every summit from this point onwards is lower, however the ground still undulates along the way. We walk over the long grassy Caw Fell before dropping into the woods. We emerge from the woods with our final short climb up to the summit of Crag Fell. After soaking up the views of our entire route we will descend steeply back to the car park.
The Ennerdale Horseshoe is a very long day out entailing lots of ascent or descent, and will therefore be very physically demanding. It should only be tackled by experienced hill walkers or very fit people. Most of the route can be completed in separate walks via The Buttermere Fells Extended, Above Ennerdale and Pillar from Wasdale. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your suitability to this walk.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Where to meet: Bowness Knott, Ennerdale
Postcode: CA23 3AS (approximate)
Grid Reference: NY 109 153
Directions
From Cockermouth: Follow the A5086 south from Cockermouth, until shortly after the Lamplugh Tip pub is passed to the right turn left, on the road signposted to Kirkland and Ennerdale Bridge.
Follow the road to Kirkland turning left at the crossroads in the village, at the end of this road turn right at the t-junction.
Follow the road down the hill, turning left at the junction into Croasdale, continuing on this road to the Bowness Knott Car Park, crossing the cattle grid, we will meet in the larger car park to the left.
Bus Services
There are no bus services to Bowness Knott.
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here
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