For many of us, to arrive in Eskdale involves driving over the Wrynose & Hardknott passes. The Hardknott being the steepest road in the country! So the adventure will have began even before the walk does. Be sure you’re happy to drive this road prior to deciding on this route. We follow good footpaths alongside the river Esk, this leads us fairly easily into the wilderness area of The Great Moss. The immense beauty can be overpowering and it certainly compensates for the wet feet you by now probably have. Much of this section is flat, so apart from some ‘bog-hopping’ the walking is easy enough. After passing the impressive Dow Crag – or Esk Buttress as it’s more commonly known – we ascend to the summits. From Scafell Pike the return is via Mickledore or Little Narrowcove to arrive back onto The Great Moss near to Sampsons Stones. These are an interesting formation of boulders set slightly above the boggy ground and they form a useful landmark for our return walk.
Quick Facts
Starting point is near Brotherilkeld farm, Eskdale How far is it? 10 miles / 16km How long will it take? Between 6 & 8 hours How much ascent? Around 900 metres Level of difficulty: High What’s the terrain like? Some of the route follows good footpaths, there are large sections of quite boggy terrain (definitely wear walking boots). Therefore, we recommend this route be saved for a dry spell and only attempted during the summer months.
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