Sharp Edge, Blencathra, Lake District (3xNuttalls). Atkinson Pike 845m, Blencathra 868m and Gategill Fell Top 851m.
Summary
A sky blue day with a rock fest of quality scrambling, some great hiking and all with some other human beings for a change. A short route but a fun packed one with an airy but bone dry scramble over Sharp Edge to knock off the three Nuttalls of Atkinson Pike, Blencathra and Gategill Fell. This is a top end grade 1 scramble of a beautiful shark fin type arête and today it was in top condition. If Sharp Edge wasn’t enough fun then the down climb of Hall’s Fell ridge put the finishing touches to a great day of scrambling. A superb day out with great company.
The route is short and pretty much self explanatory and easy enough to follow. The only thing I will add is that the scramble is quite polished at the crux points so in the wet it would be quite a hazardous climb. In a nutshell it is best avoided in the wet.
Parking: Lay-by on the A66 opposite the small village of Scales. Room for a 5-6 cars.
Route: Easy enough to follow and all on good trails. Sharp Edge is a top end grade 1 scramble and a very fun one in good condition. Hall’s Fell is also a good down climb or an alternative ascent route. Quite a short route but full of fun.
Route Statistics: A scramble fest 10.3km with 750m of height gain done in 4 hours. A day to be savoured.
Info sheets
Sharp Edge Scramble.
The three Nuttalls.
Views from the top and going down Hall's Fell Ridge.