Netherbeck Horseshoe including Middle Fell, Steeple and Red Pike A walk proposed by Walking Britain

This Lake District walk is strenuous including seven summits in what can be a tiring day. Good navigational skills are essential when visibility is poor. The rewards for the hard work are numerous and you will enjoy many wonderful lakeland panaoramas completing the walk.

Walk No. 293081 Calculated time : 8h50 Difficulty : Difficult Return to the departure Distance : 10.79mi Yes point : Vertical gain : 4426ft Activity : Walking Vertical drop : 4419ft Region : Lake District Highest point : 2720ft Location : Wasdale Lowest point : 217ft Description (D)From the car park (grid ref. NY167068), head Southwest along the Waypoints Wasdale Road passing over Netherbeck Bridge. Continue along the road, with some excellent retrospective views to the Scafells, until you reach a S/F Start: Overbeck bridge car park road junction (grid ref. NY151053). Turn right here and follow the road until N 54.450429° / W 3.285381° - alt. 236ft - mi 0 just short of Greendale. Take the wide grassy footpath on your right that 1 Middle Fell leads eventually up to Greendale Tarn. Gaining height you eventually reach N 54.453697° / W 3.311667° - alt. 1873ft - mi 3.16 a point where the path forks as the gorge begins to narrow. Here go right 2 Seatallan and start the ascent of Middle Fell. N 54.463779° / W 3.328691° - alt. 2238ft - mi 4.57 (1)The onward path, rather feint in places, leads you onto the broad summit 3 Haycock ridge with a large cairn providing evidence of the highest spot. The view N 54.484552° / W 3.321492° - alt. 2585ft - mi 6.14 from here is excellent and apart from Steeple the remaining walk can be 4 Red Pike seen very clearly. Leave Middle Fell's summit in a northerly direction and N 54.483267° / W 3.290733° - alt. 2635ft - mi 7.97 drop down to a rather uninteresting section of the route. Crossing a wide S/F Finish: Overbeck bridge car park hause the next objective, Seatallan, is on your left. The ground on this N 54.450673° / W 3.285659° - alt. 243ft - mi 10.79 section can be wet underfoot but is relatively short-lived as you gain drier land as you climb onto the eastern flank of Seatallan. (2)Reaching a cairn on Seatallan's shoulder, bear left and complete the ascent of this relatively un-walked hill. The summit has both a trig point and a cairn - it's your decision which signifies the highest point. We now retrace our steps descending to the Pots of Ashness and then following a feint path that leads to Gowder Crag. The best way of tackling this obstruction is to bear right and make your way uphill choosing the best line of approach. You then reach a bank of scree and there is no option but to head upwards until you reach grass. Reaching a cairn the path continues to Haycock's summit cairn. (3)You are now entering busier walking territory and the next objective is Scoat Fell. The way is obvious with a wall shadowing the path. Just before reaching a cairn on the rise up to Scoat Fell's summit turn left and head for Steeple. Return to the main ridge and continue to Scoat Fell's summit cairn. Continue to head southeast towards Red Pike following a path that turns right a short way down the descent to Pillar. There is a path that avoids Red Pike's summit but it is worth heading for the summit cairn with its fine position on the rim of Mosedale. (4)The descent from Red Pike crosses easier ground and you soon reach a col at Dore Head. Ahead lies Stirrup Crag, which is the last obstacle to completing the walk. The route is easy to follow and there are some sections that require simple scrambling but eventually you will reach the top and be able to stride out for Yewbarrow's summit cairn. The descent is initially straightforward but then needs care. The path reaches a dip just before the rocks of Bell Rib. Here you need to drop to the right entering a stony gully. The way down is initially not pleasant but does reach easier ground to become a good path across the fellside. Reaching a wall, cross the stile and descend to the small car park probably feeling rather tired!(A) Practical information

Copy, sale and distribution forbidden - NzV30w6s 1 Netherbeck Horseshoe including Middle Fell, Steeple and Red Pike

This is a demanding circuit of seven 'tops' in the Western Fells of the Lake District. Generally the route follows clear paths certainly once Steeple has been reached. However the first half of the walk sees relatively few walkers and some navigational skills may be required in periods of poor visibility. Let us know your opinion on : https://www.visorando.co.uk/walk-netherbeck-horseshoe-including-middle-fe/

Copy, sale and distribution forbidden - NzV30w6s 2 Netherbeck Horseshoe including Middle Fell, Steeple and Red Pike

Visorando and the author of this walk sheet cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this walk.

Copy, sale and distribution forbidden - NzV30w6s 3 Netherbeck Horseshoe including Middle Fell, Steeple and Red Pike

Visorando and the author of this walk sheet cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this walk.

Copy, sale and distribution forbidden - NzV30w6s 4