High Street & Mardale Ill Bell from Mardale Head


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1st December 2024

Overview

Ascent:	2,073 Feet - 625 Metres
Wainwrights:	2, High Street - Mardale III Bell
Visiting:	Rough Crag
Weather:	Cloudy With Rain Falling As Snow At Height. Strong Summit Winds. Highs of 4°C Lows of 4°C Feels Like -4°C
Parking:	Car Park, Mardale Head
Area:	Far Eastern
Miles:	5.8
Walking With:	On My Own
Ordnance Survey:	OL5
Time Taken:	3 Hours 30 Minutes
Route:	Mardale Head - The Rigg - Rough Crag - Caspel Gate - Long Stile - High Street - Mardale III Bell - Top of Nan Bield Pass - Small Water - Small Water Beck - Mardle Head

Parking Details and Map

Nearest Post Code:	CA10 2QT
Grid Reference:	NY 469 310
Notes:	Probably one of the most scenic car parks in Lakeland found at the head of the Mardale Valley offering easy access onto the High Street fells plus many more. The car park during Summer can fill up quickly but with most car parks in Lakeland if you time your arrival early enough your always guaranteed a parking place. Parking is free.

Map and Photo Gallery

The view towards Harter Fell (Mardale) The top of Nan Bield Pass, Mardale III Bell and the Rough Crag Ridge 10:30am 4°C

Its been a couple of weeks since I Iast walked in Lakeland and despite celebrating a friends 50th yesterday I was home by 8pm relishing the extra few hours in bed just to allow the morning rain to clear. It had rained during my drive north which eased once I passed junction 36 and by the time I was passed Tebay blue skies were opening up above the Howgill Fells sadly this did not extend to the fells west of the M6 which were all below a sheet of grey sky. The rain held and I arrived at Mardale Head parking easily as I kitted up surrounded by a howling wind.

Its not often I layer up before I put my boots on but this time I did. The forecast had obviously put folk off with just than half a dozen cars parked up included mine. I was debating whether to add over-trousers but as the forecast was set to get better as the morning progressed I left them in my pack feeling confident with the forecast. With the car locked I crossed the car park, opened the Deer gate and made my way towards the footbridge over Mardale Beck.

Looking back on Harter Fell (Mardale)

The sound of Mardale Beck could be heard well before I crossed the footbridge which I thought strange because for the time of year, Haweswater looked unusually low. With the footbridge crossed I stopped for a few moments taking in the view of Harter Fell whilst treating my ears to the sound of Mardale Beck in spate.

Views into the Riggindale Valley.

The path underfoot was saturated resembling a river bed in parts with the sound of draining water never far from earshot, it really did feel like Lakeland was licking its wounds after recent storms but at least the sky showed potential seen here with pockets of blue starting to open up.

Looking back on Haweswater Reservoir and Hare Shaw.

The Rigg and Wood Howe from below Swine Crag.

I swerved a left and picked up the familier path alongside the wall as the gradient began to steepen, the reward for this as always is this view from the 'step' in the wall.

Views over Mardale Waters.

Towards Piot Crag, Small Water and the top of Nan Bield Pass just below the cloud line, Mardale III Bell is to the right below the cloud.

Rough Crag summit.

The pockets of blue sky I'd seen earlier were a distant memory after being replaced by rain and clag. I knew the higher I got that rain would turn to snow but I'm still in my element but a tad cautious of the conditions as they seem to be worsening rather than t'other way round.

Long Stile across Caspel Gate.

Given the visibility there was no diversion to Caspel Gate Tarn today instead I plod on and get stuck into the ascent on Long Stile.

Hey up...

...here comes the snow.

High Street summit.

Not like I was counting but thirty three minutes after leaving Caspel Gate I'd arrived at High Street summit with a fierce wind on my back and in heavy snow. The wind was blowing the snow around not giving it time to stick but little old me felt like someone had stuck me in one of those novelty snow globes and had given me a good shake. I was bloody soaked hence the D'oh! moment after not adding my over-trousers back at the car park.

Off to Mardale III Bell.

After a couple of taps on the summit trig point I left High Street helped on by the strong summit winds. The snow had turned to rain again which gave my left side a good drenching thankfully this time it didn't amount to much and by the time I'd linked up with the stone footpath Mardale III Bell bound it was just me and the wind.

Mardale III Bell summit.

Not surprising I hadn't seen a soul all morning or maybe I might have but missed them in the cloud.

Descending out of the cloud.

Revealing Harter Fell.

Small Water below.

That's the way I'm heading down today.

Small Water with Haweswater seen in the distance.

I had the briefest of views into the Kentmere Valley before the cloud rolled back in by which time I'd descended as far as the top of Nan Bield Pass looking into nothing but cloud. It was blowing a hooley and strangley I just stood there with the wind trying its best to topple me over. The left side of my face took the brunt followed by brain freeze and a runny nose.

Crags and crannies, Harter Fell.

I only had to descend twenty feet before the protection of the corrie took over the sound of the wind now replaced by running water. From my postion I was able to look back up in the comforts of the footpath while watching the cloud blanket the clouds above my head.

Stone Shelters, Small Water.

I've always found these shelters fascinating which were probably built to shelter locals travelling from Mardale over to Kentmere via Nan Bield Pass. Three still stand with the fourth in ruins. The shelters are incredibly narrow - almost tomb like.

The top of Nan Bield Pass over Small Water.

The waters surface reflects a breeze now and nothing like it was at the top of the pass.

Small Water Beck.

With the top of Nan Bield Pass beyond.

Eagle Crag over Small Water Beck and Blea Water Beck.

The drizzle returned as I began my descent with Small Water Beck raging at my side but at least the wind had eased. Even in the best of weathers the path is slow and today its entirely under water resembling a tributary of nearby Small Water Beck. Through the gloom Mardale Head appears, cars static just as I'd left them earlier, there is no one in sight, approaching or leaving and for a moment, it feels like time had stood still.

I take in this very special wall which crosses Small Water Beck and Blea Water Beck before ascending steeply onto Eagle Crag, the same wall that I peered down from earlier. Although its only approaching 2pm it feels much later, as if the skies could darken any more they do. Like a giant duvet the Rough Crag Ridge is cloaked in clag down to the rim of Blea Water. Through the eyes of the bystander it looks pretty hellish up there, but it was quite the opposite a couple of hours ago.