Yorkshire and the Lake District 2020

A much needed trip away after so many months locked down.

7 days ― July 2020

Part 1: Scafell Pike via the Corridor route and Great End

It’s been a crazy year. Everything turned upside down.

For reasons that are probably obvious, I’ve not been going out, not been hiking, and not been taking photos.

Last week for the first time in 4 months I took a trip away. It was really needed – thanks to Chris for inviting me. We went to Yorkshire for a week, hopping over to the Lake District for a day to hike Scafell Pike.

Route #

Having not hiked for some months, we of course chose one of the harder routes in to Scafell - via the corridor route. Not wanting to do a repeat journey back, we picked the Great End as a descent. See our journey on Strava.

A small stream comes from the distance and under the camera. The hillside is green and sunny.
A small tarn on the approach to Scafell Pike.

A few tents remained by Styhead tarn - clearly a popular spot for wild camping.

Facing straight on to a wooden box with a large sign in uppercase that reads: “Stretcher box”.
Looking up an ominous rock formation near Scafell Pike
Looking down a long green valley. A stone path winds from the right.
Ed jumping in the air on the summit of Scafell Pike.
For the briefest of moments, I was the highest person in England.
Photo by Chris Natt.
A small crevasse in the hillside, with a stream running through the middle.
A dirt path with some steps winds up a dark green moss and grass covered hill, leading to a large rock formation in the distance.


Part 2: Whernside wild camp

Before there was the 3 peak challenge everyone knew about, there were the original 3 peaks (of Yorkshire). We weren’t up for doing the full attempt just yet, but did fancy a wild camp at the top of one of them.

A footpath sign points from right to left, marking the summit of Whernside, 1.75 miles away.
Two shoots of magenta foxgloves in full bloom.
A small tarn in an otherwise featureless landscape.
A stone wall recedes up and in to the distance. Chris stands at the far end looking out over one side.

Unlike other summits I’ve been to, Whernside has a dry stone wall running the entire length of it (with a break at the summit for crossing sides). This made for a much needed windbreak.

A close photo of the top row of stones of a stone all. The stones all lean to one side. In the background the sun is just setting.
Chris in silhouette against an empty hillside, facing the sun as it sets.
Ed and Chris stand in silhouette towards a very right and golden sunset.
Ed and Chris sit on long grass in late golden sunset.
Ed and Chris stand still in the dark next to their tents. Each tent glows slightly from within.
Dawn over Ingleborough
Ingleborough - another of the 3 peaks.
Sunrise over Whernside. Chris stands in the foreground in silhouette, taking a photo of the sun.
Ed stands alone at sunrise looking out over the golden hills.
Photo by Chris Natt.


Part 3: All around Yorkshire

A few more shots from Yorkshire, where there’s no end of rolling hills, sheep, and dry stone walls.

A lone sheep stands on the edge of a ledge looking at the camera.
A sheep looks directly at the camera.
Ed jumping in mid-air. He’s facing sideways.
Photo by Chris Natt.
Looking down at a limestone pavement in Whernside. The limestone is severely eroded and filled with grass in between.
A panorama of Ribblehead Viaduct from a distance.
Ribblehead Viaduct
Chris stood crouched just off path taking a photo of a magenta foxglove.

Malham Cove #

This was an unexpected highlight - even if the weather did deteriorate over the day. Lots more to explore here if pass this way again.

A dry stone wall crosses the frame, with green fields in the background.
An aged wooden sign on a fence says ‘No right of way’ - it’s also covered in chicken wire.
The face of Malham Cove as seen from a distance on a sunny day.
A vertical panorama from the side of Malham Cove.
A vertical panorama from the side of Malham Cove. A large rock face looms over Chris.
Before Yorkshire and the Lake District I visited Snowdonia.