Walk 476m / 2250ft ascentApprox time taken 4 hours 15 mins176. LDW-112 Harter Fell (Eskdale) 2146'177. LDW-176 Green Crag 1604'

Route taken by Phil G4OBK and friend Geoff on 31st March 2011

Hinning House Close Car Park - Dunnerdale

After heading home from the Lakes the previous Monday we were back around lunchtime on the Thursday of the same week....I drove through Little Langdale and the Wrynose Pass and met Geoff at Cockley Beck Bridge. We drove down Dunnerdale to park up at the Hinning House Close car park (no charge) to start our walk up to Harter Fell and then across Ulpha Fell to Green Crag, our second Wainwright of the afternoon.  We then planned to head for Wasdale for the next three days and climb some of the bigger tops above there. 


It was a steady walk up to the jagged top of Harter Fell with little scrambling. What an interesting summit - fantastic views into Eskdale on t'other side and a super view of the Wainwright of Grey Friar and the Coniston Fells to the west. 

Ready to leave Harter Fell for the next target Green Crag

There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore on the summit itself which we used to good effect providing shelter from the wind during the radio operation.  An extra bonus was that this one was good for SOTA too as LD-028 and LDW-112 for WOTA.  I managed 17 quick contacts in 15 minutes, the most amazing contact was with G4ZRP in The Wirral. Brian was running a mere 16 millwatts "fleapower". I was running 5 watts and vertical. 

Harter Fell from the flank of Green Crag

We now needed to cross Spothow Gill which meant we would lose 1000 feet of the height gained climbing Harter Fell and then have to put another 500 feet on getting to the top of Green Crag LDW-176.  There was no clear path on the ground and a wire fence in the bottom of the Gill which we had to climb. It was here that I dipped one leg into the beck by mistake and went down to the knee. A wet foot and nothing more - I could live with that!  (Geoff had his turn in Wasdale 3 days later - served him right for laughing at me!). I mistook Long Crag in the distance as Green Crag but as we closed in I realised we needed to go around Long Crag - Green Crag was half a mile further on.  The lower fell proved less successful on VHF (2m FM) as you would expect but I still managed 14 contacts.  It was getting late and time we legged it back to Dunnerdale and on to our B&B at the head of Wasdale. 

Geoff on a windy Green Crag with Harter Fell in the background

The path back was more defined once we reached the bridleway at SD 214985. We passed under Kepple Crag and Brandy Crag on a forest track to reach the cottage of Birks where some teenagers had been mistakenly locked out of the house by their parents.  A few friendly words and we were off back to the car and Wasdale. We checked in at Burnthwaite Farm and had our meal at The Wasdale Head Inn - home of the worlds most famous liar.  We were looking forward to walk No. 48 the next day, which with the weather forecast would not be easy and this proved to be the case....so please read on.