Wetherlam via Steel Edge

Joe Jackson

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Tilberthwaite – Steel Edge – Wetherlam – Wetherlam Edge - Tilberthwaite

Starting at the car park at Tilberthwaite, the walk heads up the path alongside the large quarry next to Yewdale Beck. Along this path there are many opportunities to head off the path and explore the quarry levels and huge sections removed from the mountain. From here the path follows the beck to the top of the ravine, where it joins the base of Steel Edge. This starts as a gentle ascent of a grassy slope but soon changes to a scramble up the last couple of hundred feet. This is a good opportunity for having a go at some easy scrambling if you have never tried it before and also has some more difficult rocky sections for experienced scramblers. This ridge and Wetherlam Edge can be very dangerous in bad weather, so please do not attempt in strong winds or ice unless you are experienced. Arriving at the top of Steel Edge, the path turns and heads straight to the summit over a gentle gradient. The summit view is a surprising open vista with distant views in most directions.

The descent follows Wetherlam Edge, a steep, rocky path with the odd scramble here and there. This descent gives ever-changing views down to Little Langdale Tarn and to the surrounding fells before abruptly changing in character when Birk Fell is reached. This part of the descent follows a path through the old industrial landscape, weaving around mine shafts and past levels. This industrial archaeology, complete with the outstanding views throughout and the two edges, make this a walk of increasing interest.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - South West