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Harter Fell & Nan Bield Pass from Mardale Head

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Far Eastern Fells

Wainwrights - Harter Fell

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.5 miles / 7.3 km    Ascent - 1800 feet / 545 metres

Time - 4 hours 0 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Harter Fell & Nan Bield Pass
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This is a Lake District short walk ideal for a morning or afternoon excursion into the Lakeland Fells. As on this occasion it is also ideal for a window of good weather on an otherwise poor day. The start is the small carpark at the western end of Haweswater Reservoir (Grid ref. NY468107) and includes a relatively easy ascent of Harter Fell (the Mardale version not the Eskdale variety!) with a superb walk down from Nan Bield Pass back to the start.

After parking take the track signed Gatescarth Pass. This bridleway heads roughly south-east climbing easily with the steep crags of Harter Fell rising on your right and the smoother slopes of Branstree on your left. During the climb it is worth looking back as the view across Mardale to the High Street Fells improves as you climb with Rough Crag and the Long Stile ridge dominating the picture.

Reaching the summit of Gatescarth Pass turn right continuing to climb. The path skirts Little Harter Fell before steepening somewhat to gain height more rapidly. Just after the path turns left the view down into Mardale is superb although many people intent on reaching the summit miss it completely!

The summit of Harter Fell is not very inspiring being rather too flat to offer a great view. The descent to Nan Bield Pass is cairned and begins heading west from the summit cairn. It is a steep descent in places offering an excellent view across the pass to Mardale Ill bell and beyond. Down to your right Small Water comes into view with larger Blea Water to its left under the eastern crags of High Street.

Reaching the stone shelter at Nan Bield Pass turn right and follow the clear path that descends to the shores of Small Water. This is superb Lakeland scenery with many crags and interesting mountain cameos. Cross Small Water Beck as it leaves the tarn and follow it down past some small but beautiful waterfalls. All too soon you are back at Mardale Head. Before leaving take a look back to Harter Fell and admire the crags - it is one Lakeland view that's certainly worth a second look .....

Other walks nearby

Walk 1152 The Corpse Road and Selside Pike from Mardalemoderate6.0 miles
Walk 3033 Tarn Crag & Harrop Pike from Sadgillmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 1147 Longsleddale and Kentmere Pike from Sadgillmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1228 Thornthwaite Beacon & High Streetmoderate6.5 miles
Walk 1959 Gray Crag and Pasture Beck from Hartsopmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 2585 Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike, High St. & The Knottmod/hard10.0 miles
Walk 3309 Hartsop, Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike & Kirkstone Passmoderate8.5 miles
Walk 1320 Shorter Kentmere Horseshoemod/hard10.5 miles
Walk 2652 Photographer's Kentmere Horseshoemod/hard13.5 miles
Walk 1110 Angletarn Pikesmoderate7.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District

Great Mountain Days in the Lake DistrictAn inspirational guidebook to 50 challenging walks on the high fells of the Lake District. The graded circular routes, between 4 and 14 miles in length, cover classic Lakeland summits like Fairfield, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Blencathra, to the lesser-known High Spy, King's How and Brund Fell.
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Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far East

Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far EastPart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 36 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Ullswater, Haweswater, Troutbeck, Kentmere and Longsleddale valleys, with highlights including High Street, Place Fell and the Kentmere fells. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
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