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Scales Tarn – Blencathra Summit loop from Scales

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Hiking trails & Routes

Scales Tarn – Blencathra Summit loop from Scales

Hard

4.8

(59)

582

hikers

Scales Tarn – Blencathra Summit loop from Scales

04:20

10.9km

660m

Hiking

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: May 26, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 10.0 km for 21 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.27 km

Scales Beck Waterfall and Stone Steps

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

A great place to stop off on the way up Blencathra

Tip by

2.65 km

Scales Tarn

Highlight • Viewpoint

Scales Tarn is at the base of Sharp Edge and is a great place to stop and make the desicion of whether to go the scramble route or the steep climb to the left. You often see many people sat having lunch here.

Tip by

3.66 km

Blencathra Summit

Highlight • Summit

A bona fide scrambler’s paradise, Blencathra serves up two glorious ridges in a truly memorable horseshoe. The grade one scramble up Sharp Edge, a razor-like spine featuring the notorious Bad Step, gets the juices flowing, before an equally thrilling descent of the craggy towers and rocky arête of Hall’s Fell ridge.

Tip by

4.38 km

Gategill Fell summit

Highlight • Viewpoint

At 2,792 feet (851 m), Gategill Fell's summit is the second highest summit on the Blencathra massif, standing proud at the head of a ridge which rises from Threlkeld. It's only a short walk from here to Blencathra's true summit, Hallsfelll Top, which like Gategill Fell stands at the head of a narrow ridge.

Of Blencathra's three central ridges, Gategill is the wildest, with less defined paths than on Halls Fell and Doddick Fell. It doesn't boast the same scrambling interest as Halls Fell but it's still an atmospheric way up. From the Gategill Fell's summit, you can descend via Blease Fell and enjoy stunning views across Derwent Water to the mountains in the west of the national park.

Tip by

5.17 km

Blease Fell

Highlight • Viewpoint

One of the gentler ways up Blencathra. Where the likes of Gategill Fell, Halls Fell, Doddick Fell and Sharp Edge are narrow and, in some cases, thrilling, Blease Fell is rounded and relatively easygoing by comparison. The views west towards Derwent Water and beyond are glorious, which makes it a particularly fine option in descent. The gradients also make it great for running down.

Tip by

5.96 km

Blencathra Zigzags

Highlight • Viewpoint

Big fan of zig zags, particularly on the descent, sometimes you feel theres a lot of walking and you are not getting anywhere, but if it wasnt for these the straight up route be silly steep.

Tip by

7.57 km

Blease Gill Waterfalls

Highlight • Waterfall

On the way down from the summit take the time to take the less travelled route to this stream, plenty steppi g stones to get over, but its nice to stop and look up at what you have achieved while you finish off your grub.

Tip by

8.47 km

Gate Gill Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

The best known of the deep channels on the South face of Blencathra, that was once a hub for mining activity.

Tip by

10.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.14 km

3.19 km

2.52 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.07 km

3.22 km

2.52 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 29 May

19°C

8°C

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Scales Tarn – Blencathra Summit loop from Scales

Scales Beck Waterfall and Stone Steps

Scales Tarn

Blencathra Summit

Gategill Fell summit

Blease Fell

Blencathra Zigzags

Blease Gill Waterfalls

Gate Gill Waterfall

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