More Views

Kentmere Horseshoe

Email to a Friend

Be the first to review this event

Difficulty:	Exposure:
One of the best horseshoe walks in the Lake District, a long hard day with no exposure
Distance: 20km / 12 miles	Ascent: 1200m / 4000ft
Duration: 8 hours	Maximum Group Ratio: 10:1

Hire a Private Guide

Not on the day you're looking for? Do you have a larger group?
This event is also available as a private event every day of the year;
At a time that suits you, you can even make changes to the route!

£22.00

*Dates:: +/- 3 days+/- 7 days

SPECIAL OFFER:
For events after 25 Mar 2016 Book early to recieve a discount of 20%.

* Required Fields

£22.00

-OR-

Event Description
Where To Meet
Tags (0)
Reviews (0)
Questions (0)

Event Description

"The walker who toils up to the top of Ill Bell may be pardoned for feeling that he has achieved a major climb that has played a part of some consequence in mountaineering history, for he finds himself confronted by an imposing array of fine cairns that would do credit to a Matterhorn."

A. Wainwright

The Kentmere Horseshoe follows two great ridges, covering several great summits including High Street, Harter Fell, Ill Bell and Froswick.

A great walk with some steep inclines, exposed rocks and the good chance of seeing the wild fell ponies.

Let our experienced guides take you through Kentmere on a classic fell walk.

Summits included on this route:

Yoke	706 metres/2316 feet
Ill Bell	757 metres/2484 feet
Froswick	720 metres/2362 feet
Thornthwaite Crag	784 metres/2572 feet
High Street (Optional)	828 metres/2717 feet
Mardale Ill Bell	760 metres/2493 feet
Harter Fell	778 metres/2552 feet
Kentmere Pike	730 metres/2395 feet
Shipman Knotts	587 metres/1926 feet

The Wild Boar of Westmorland
In the reign of King John (1199-1216) a ferocious wild boar infested the forest between Kendal and Windermere, it had its den in the neighbourhood of the well known as Scout Scar. Tales of the monster´s malignant and unwonted ferocity were circulated far and wide, pilgrims paid their devotions at the Holy Cross before embarking upon the perilous journey through Crook and over Cleabarrow; the creature's main haunt.

It is said that "inhabitants (of the local villages) were never safe from its attacks, and that pilgrims... shuddered with fear".

Richard De Gylpin determined to free them from these attacks, and tracked the monster through the forest. After a dramatic fight he slew the animal on the spot of the Wild Boar Inn, on the banks of the little stream, ever since known as the Gilpin.

After these brave exploits Richard de Gilpin changed his family crest to include a black boar on a gold background. He was rewarded the Lordship of the manor of Kentmere by the Baron of Kendal for his exploits. The event was immortalised in a song known as the Minstrels of Winandermere.

The route follows the classic horseshoe route in an anticlockwise direction climbing first to the summit of Shipman Knotts and Kentmere Pike before continuing over the summits of Harter Fell and Mardale Ill Bell and High Street, the highest point of the walk.

From the summit of High Street we will descend over Thornthwaite Crag to Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke, a wonderful ridge as we descend back towards Kentmere with great views south over Windermere and Morecambe Bay.

Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.

Meet Point	Outside Kentmere Church
Postcode / GR	LA8 9JL / NY 456 041
Location Info	Staverley can be easily found just off the A591 between Windermere and Kendal, turn off the A591 into the village and pass through to the centre of the village where the road to Kentmere will be signposted to the north of the road, follow this road to Kentmere.