Yewbarrow from Overbeck Bridge

8th February 2018

A classic Winter walk was on the cards and where else to start it from other than Wasdale, trouble was even as I drove west I hadn't a clue on fell choice, my mind was so indecisive I nearly diverted towards the Coniston fells lured by first light touching a snow capped Dow Crag.

I continued west double checking the weather report for Wasdale which, rare for this time of year had been forecast bright and sunny. My mind settled on Scafell Pike and Lingmell but I also had a plan B of Yewbarrow, stark in difference I know but I would get my walking fix from either walk.

I arrived at Wast Water to be greeted with low light but the skies showed periodic glimpses of sunshine which was good enough for me, what wasn't good was how low the cloud was over the Lingmell and the Scafells...more to the point low cloud topped the head of the Wasdale valley obscuring Gable and Kirk Fell too but cloud was also starting to clear from behind. My plan B of Yewbarrow was void of snow and cloud free, it was time to make my mind up and quick. Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew you'd made the right decision? a decision so right it made smile from ear to ear.

 
Wainwright Guide Book Seven
The Western Fells

Many mountains have been described as having the shape of the inverted hull of a boat, but none of them more fittingly than Yewbarrow

 

Overview
Ascent: 1,950 Feet - 595 Metres
Wainwrights: Yewbarrow
Weather: Bright & Sunny Throughout, Light Winds at Height. Highs of 5°C Lows of -1°C
Parking: Car Park, Overbeck Bridge
Area: Western
Miles: 4
Walking With: On My Own
Ordnance Survey: OL5
Time Taken: 3 Hours 50 Minutes
Route: Overbeck Bridge - Dropping Crag - Bell Rib - Yewbarrow South Top - Yewbarrow North Top - Top of Stirrup Crag - Dore Head - Overbeck - Overbeck Bridge
 

Parking Details and Map
Nearest Post Code: CA20 1EX
Grid Reference: NY 168 206
Notes: A small car park with room for around a dozen well parked cars can be found next to Overbeck Bridge. There is an honesty box close to the entrance to the car park on the right hand side.


 

Map and Photo Gallery

 
 

Yewbarrow from Wast Water with Kirk Fell and Great Cable topped in cloud.
It was a no brainer really, Yewbarrow it was.

Yewbarrow from Wast Water.
While stood on the banks of Waster Water the cloud was clearing while blue skies pushed through, sadly not for Lingmell and the Scafells whose summits remained below cloud for much of the morning.

Dropping Crag (left) and Bell Rib (centre) from Yewbarrow South ridge ascent 09:15am 1°C

I was the first to arrive at Overbeck Bridge but in the time it took me to walk to the back of the car two more cars arrived one of which pulled up alongside mine and out popped a very well spoken elderly chap who asked me of my route "just Yewbarrow and a return through Over Beck" I replied, we're (himself and his wife) are heading up to Scoat Fell via Blackbeck Knotts, a route that has been on the cards for myself, David and Rod for sometime, that bit I kept to myself but I did mention I'd been meaning to do it for sometime. On the other side of the car park two lads emerge from their car and open their boot, without being too nosy it looks like their boot is packed with suit cases one of which could be housing a drone put I don't pay it much thought.

There was no need to pack the Ice axe which gets left in my boot but I'm taking my crampons just in case I encounter snow or ice at higher levels, it's always best to pack them and not need them than to need them and not have them, that's my philosophy anyway. With my car locked and pack shouldered I leave the car park not before the elderly chap bidded me to "enjoy my walk" "you too I smiled" I followed the footpath out of the car park alongside Over Beck before squaring up with Yewbarrow's steep south ridge.


The view over Bowderdale from the South ridge.
Towards Middle Fell and Seatallan.

Dropping Crag (left) and Bell Rib (right)
I had climbed into sunshine before crossing the wooden sty from which I could see the two lads from the car park who were making slow progress on the south ridge. I looked for the elderly couple heading for Blackbeck Knotts but I failed to spot them, only a farmer walking through his field in Bowderdale below. This is the same path I'll be returning on later which splits right further up, the split is quite distinctive as the path ascends steeply through rough scree between Dropping Crag and Bell Rib right there in the shadow.

Knott Ends(right) Middle Fell (centre) and Seatallan in the distance.
What struck me here was the stone wall below Knott Ends crosses the Over Beck valley before rising very steeply over Dropping Crag. It's visions like this which left me thinking what pioneers the early wall builders of Lakeland were...another wall which required great skill and ingenuity is the stone wall which rises from Hayeswater and over Gray Crag in the east of the district, that's just two that spring to mind but I know of dozens more.

Middle Fell and Seatallan from the scree path.
Talking of the stone wall here it is on top of Dropping Crag, on't tother side is a walloping great drop where the wall descends into Over Beck, what great craftsmen.

The Scafells from Great Door.
 

The Scafells from Great Door.

Great Door (depending on your skill level) isn't that easily reached. From the top of the scree path you are given two options where one stone path heads over crag and onto a solid footpath therefore avoiding a direct ascent on Great Door or by heading right where a steep grassy/gully awaits, I head right and ascend the steep gully like slope until a craggy outcrop comes into view (this is Great Door)

Do not attempt to keep right through a very narrow gully where a sudden drop awaits, instead scramble left and onto the ledge at Great Door. If you wish to take a closer look as I have here take extra care scrambling over a dome of rock to get the best view but beware this rock see's little sunlight and therefore can be greasy.


Sunlight reflecting over Burnmoor Tarn.
 

Looking down the nose of Yewbarrow towards Wast Water.
The chasm of Great Door can be seen at the end of the ridge, the second rocky outcrop is often mistaken for Great Door and is connected to the main ridge by a grass col, descending onto the grass col required extra care by negotiating a rock step at the outcrops base.

Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Mickledoor, Sca Fell and Slight Side.
All my attention had been poured into the ascent of Great Door and it was only while ascending Yewbarrow's shoulder did I realise the grey skies and cleared leaving a ring of cloud over the head of the Wasdale valley, my eyes were about to get the treat of a lifetime.

Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Great End and Lingmell from Yewbarrow.
I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing, to have such a view required luck on a magnificent scale and here I was about to top Yewbarrow with a stunning cloud topped backdrop of Lakelands highest mountains.

Scafell Pike, Mickledoor and Sca Fell from Yewbarrow.
The ring of cloud was about to envelope the Scafells so I took a quick photo. Anyone stood on either summit were in for a treat just as I was enjoying.

Great Gable.
 

Black Crag on Sca Fell.
Framed perfectly in what appears to be a love heart shaped gap in the cloud.

Great Gable.
Cloud releasing Great Napes from its grasp.

Looking towards Yewbarrow's North top.
With Pillar to the left and Kirk Fell to the right.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Yewbarrow North top.
The same cloud seen here pushed south and momentarily enveloped Yewbarrow but within minutes the cloud cleared and the sun came back out.

Gavel Neese and Great Napes on Great Gable.
 

From Yewbarrow South top.
Views over Dore Head towards Red Pike (Wasdale) Black Crag, Pillar and Mosedale.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Yewbarrow North Top.
From Yewbarrow north top.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Yewbarrow North Top.
It looks like Great Gable summit is about to clear from cloud, I can only imagine how one minute your stood in cloud on the summit then next your looking down on a cloud inversion over Kirk Fell and Lingmell.

The view at the head of the Mosedale valley towards Black Crag and Pillar.
Note Yewbarrow's classic triangular shadow in the Mosedale valley, this is caused by the sun's south western position beaming down on Yewbarrow's north top, you only get to see it around this time of year.

Back to those stunning views.
It looks like cloud is lifting from Kirk Fell summit while the same cloud is starting to envelope Great Gabel again.

Dore Head and Pillar from the alternative path on the Over Beck side of Yewbarrow.

From Yewbarrow north top I descended slightly towards the cairn at the top of Stirrup Crag which I had reserves about descending fully and quite rightly so with ice and frost on the ground I was right about my apprehensions.

The outline of Stirrup Crag can be seen towards the right which as you can see is also in shade meaning the sun hasn't had chance to defrost the frost covered rock. From the top of the crag too as far as I could see below all I could see was frost covered rock, I wasn't taking any chances so I doubled back to the low ground linking the north and south summits and located the alternative path which ascends/descends to Dore Head.

This path can be recommended as an alternative to ascent/descend Stirrup Crag which passes through scree, boulder, erosion and in places can be a tad exposed to the inexperienced, nevertheless I deemed it safer than tackling the frozen rock on Stirrup Crag.


Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Dore Head.
Ok, it's time for a spot of early lunch.

Lunch with a view.
I traced my way towards the Tarn at Dore Head and tucked myself into the lee of well placed boulders besides the Tarn. By now the bulk of Yewbarrow was blocking the sun and the temperature took a dip but having this as my lunchtime view sure kept me feeling warm inside.

Great End and Lingmell summits momentarily clear from the cloud.
Which was a huge highlight as I sat there shivering!

Looking back at Dore Head from Over Beck.
i couldn't pull myself away from the hypnotic views but eventually with lunch a distant memory and with more cloud rolling in over Mosedale, Kirk Fell and Great Gable I re-shouldered and set off through Mosedale where I felt thankful for wearing my gaiters due to how wet and boggy Over Beck was.

Wast Water, lIIgill Head and Whin Rigg from Yewbarrow South ridge.
With temperatures topping at a whopping 5°C it was time to enjoy the afternoon sunshine so off came my beanie and gloves.

Wast Water and Bowderdale from Yewbarrow South ridge.
With a bright forecast for the rest of the afternoon I thought why not take advantage of the bright sunshine and head over to Wasdale Head after getting back to the car.

Looking back up the South ridge.
With Dropping Crag and Bell Rib domineering the view.

Lingmell, Scafell Pike (below cloud) and Sca Fell.
Almost back at the car now but before I head to Wasdale Head I'm going to take a quick diversion to the shore of Wast Water by Overbeck Bridge.

Lingmell, Brown Tongue, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Overbeck Bridge/Wast Water.
In the short time it had taken me to reach the Wast Water shoreline the cloud was clearing nicely from Scafell Pike summit.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Wasdale Head.
I arrived at a half full car park at Wasdale Head and took this photo from the car park boundary wall. With my pack and jacket still in the car my plan is to do a short circular walk to St Olafs Church and return via The Barn Door Shop.

Magnificent Pillar from Wasdle Head.
With Black Crag below cloud seen left.

Great Gable.
Domineered my view as I headed towards St Olafs Church set within the coppice of trees seen left.

Gavel Neese and Great Napes close up.
 

Great Gable from St Olafs Church.
With Kern Knotts and Sty Head seen further right.

Yewbarrow and Great Gable.
Taken from a quick photo stop which aslo turned into a great spot to enjoy my flask of hot vimto.

Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Lingmell overwise know as Britain's best view.
Todays walk was one of those that made you feel thankful for being alive, yes I got lucky, very lucky for the time of year when wind and driving rain take over for Winter but from time to time mother nature shows how bloody brilliant Lakeland in Winter can be and I believe that today, I had one of those days.


 

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