Whinfell Beacon & Borrowdale
Lake District Walk
Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Lesser Fells
County/Area - Cumbria
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 8.4 miles / 13.7 km Ascent - 1700 feet / 515 metres
Time - 5 hours 50 minutes Grade - moderate
Maps
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Anquet OS Explorer OL7 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Anquet OS Landranger 90 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 91 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Anquet OS Landranger 91 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
This circular walk lies near the eastern boundary of the Lake District National Park. The route crosses a quiet undulating ridge to reach Whinfell Beacon before descending into Borrowdale (not the well-known dale) and a quiet return to the start. The initial ascent is steep but once the ridge has been gained, you can enjoy a quiet day walking in excellent scenery. The views include the Pennines, the Howgills, the Lake District Fells and Morecambe Bay. It is unlikely you will see other walkers although careful navigation is required in places.
The start is the layby just south of Huck's Bridge on the A6 (grid ref. NY552038) about 8 miles south of Shap village. After parking walk south along the A6 and take the signed track on the left just where the A6 bends to the right. Go through the gate and immediately turn right on a path heading steeply uphill. Continue following the path (feint in places) to reach the cairn on Ashstead Fell (grid ref. NY557030). Catch your breath and enjoy the view west to the Lake District Fells. Continue downhill and up to the true summit 400 metres southeast of the cairn.
The path veers east to a further unnamed summit from where a view into Borrowdale can be enjoyed. Descend south aiming for the gap in the plantations continuing to follow the path uphill veering right as you reach open ground to the cairn on Mabbin Fell, the highest point of the walk. Stay on the descending path soon passing a small stone building. You then enter forest heading southwest. On exiting the trees bear half right to cross a fence by a dilapidated stile. Walk southeast to cross a ladder stile. Stay with the wall on your right. Go through a gate and head uphill along an intermittent path. Cross the stile in the wall and continue the short distance to the shelter and cairn on Whinfell Beacon (grid ref. NY573003).
To continue, head east on a descending path to a ladder stile. After crossing the stile bear half left and continue in an easterly direction. Where the path forks (can be easily missed) bear left and cross a stile. Reaching a service road (grid ref. NY584002), turn left and continue past a gate of the first telecom compound. Just before the access track starts to climb to the higher compound, near left to join a bridleway. Follow this grassy path down into Borrowdale.
Turn left along the valley track beside Borrow Beck. Continue to Low Borrowdale Farm. Take the gate to the left of the farmhouse. Keep left to a second gate and join a fenced track. Continue up the valley to pass abandoned High Borrowdale Farm. Just over half a kilometre from High Borrowdale, cross Borrowdale Beck via a bridge and continue along the track back towards the A6. Reaching a fork (grid ref. NY555037), bear left and regain the A6. Turn right back to the start.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1839 | Blease Fell & Hare Shaw from Tebay | easy/mod | 5.7 miles |
Walk 1147 | Longsleddale and Kentmere Pike | moderate | 8.0 miles |
Walk 3033 | Tarn Crag & Harrop Pike from Sadgill | moderate | 5.5 miles |
Walk 3385 | Carlingill Beck, Black Force & Whin's End | mod/hard | 6.5 miles |
Walk 2488 | Shipman Knotts & Kentmere Pike | moderate | 6.2 miles |
Walk 1320 | Shorter Kentmere Horseshoe | mod/hard | 10.5 miles |
Walk 2652 | Photographer's Kentmere Horseshoe | mod/hard | 13.5 miles |
Walk 2464 | Kentmere Valley Circular | moderate | 10.0 miles |
Walk 1049 | Staveley Tarns circular | easy/mod | 6.0 miles |
Walk 1555 | Brunt Knott from Staveley | easy/mod | 7.0 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking the Lake District Fells - Wasdale
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Wasdale, Eskdale and Ennerdale valleys, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Pillar. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
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Walking the Lake District Fells - Langdale
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Great Langdale valley, Ambleside and Grasmere, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes and Helm Crag (the Lion and the Lamb). Includes suggestions for longer ridge routes.
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Mountain Weather
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