Wasdale is a very hard place to get to even if you are in the Lakes as you need to head out west and then around the perimeter of the National park before entering the valley. Possibly because of its inaccessibility and its natural beauty it is a very special place that is the home to a lot of the highest peaks in the Lakes and indeed the highest mountain in England.

We decided to go there via Hardknott Pass and also climb Hardknott on the way. The last time Paul was there he only knew that he was on the top because of the reading on his GPS the visibility was that bad. Today was totally different and both Lynn and Ruby thoroughly enjoyed it. After this it was a freewheel down the pass to the bottom, stopping at the narrow gauge railway that goes from Boot to Ravenglass.

There is a beautiful church in Wasdale called St Olafs and the south window has a small pane within it with an etching of Napes Needle on Great Gable, serving as a memorial to members of the Fell & Rock Climbing Club who lost their lives in the First World War.

 

Below shows where Wasdale is in the Lakes but don’t be deceived by the distances as the crow flies….