Blencathra / Saddleback
Key information: Blencathra / Saddleback 
- One of the Lakes’ finest mountains, Blencathra sits in splendid isolation north-east of Keswick.
- Its glory is its south/eastern faces, all cliffs and sharp ridges and glacial drama below its flat high ridge. Take in Sharp Edge, one of the Lakes’ best-known knife-sharp ridges, if you can.
Walkopedia rating
- Walkopedia rating87
- Beauty33
- Natural interest15
- Human interest8
- Charisma31
- Negative points0
- Total rating87
Vital Statistics
- Length: Variable
- Maximum Altitude: 868m
- Level of Difficulty: Strenuous
This walk description page is at an early stage of development, and will be expanded over time. Your comments on this walk, your experiences and tips, and your photos are very welcome.
WALK SUMMARY
One of the Lakes’ finest mountains, Blencathra sits in splendid isolation north-east of Keswick.
Its glory is its south/eastern faces, all cliffs and sharp ridges and glacial drama below its flat high ridge.
Various ascents for the south and east – it would be a shame not to create a circuit if you can. Climb via Scales Tarn and Sharp Edge, swing round the high summit ridge and descend the enjoyable Hall’s Fell Ridge.
Take in Sharp Edge, one of the Lakes’ best-known knife-sharp ridges, if you can.
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Your comments on this walk, your experiences and suggestions, and your photos are very welcome. Where appropriate, you will be credited for your contribution.
Safety and problems: All walks have inherent risks and potential problems, and many of the walks featured on this website involve significant risks, dangers and problems. Problems of any sort can arise on any walk. This website does not purport to identify any (or all) actual or potential risks, dangers and problems that may relate to any particular walk.
Any person who is considering undertaking this walk should do careful research and make their own assessment of the risks, dangers and possible problems involved. They should also go to “Important information” for further important information.
Anyone planning an expedition to this place should see further important information about this walk.
Responsible travel matters, a lot. How you travel will make a real difference - for better or worse. PLEASE consider this when making plans. Read more
Contents
Other great walks in United Kingdom
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Blencathra / Saddleback
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Catbells and High Spy
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Coast to Coast, Lake District
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Cumbria Way and High Way
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Grasmere / Far Easedale
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Great Gable
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Hay Stacks /High Stile Ridge
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Helvellyn and Striding Edge
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High Street
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Langdale Pikes
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Langdale Valleys
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Martindale
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Pavey Ark via Jack's Rake
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Pillar
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Scafell Pike
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Skiddaw
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Swirl How and Great Carrs
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The Lake District
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The Old Man of Coniston
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England, Blenheim Park
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England, Epping Forest
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England, Oxford Kora (Martin's Trail)
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England, Stowe Gardens
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England, Thames Path
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England, The Ridgeway
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England, Cotswolds, Cotswold Way
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England, Cotswolds, Diamond Way
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England, East Anglia, Anna's Walk
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England, Hadrian's Wall, Cawfields to Birdoswald
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England, Hadrian's Wall, Sewingshields to Cawfields
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England, North, Cleveland Way
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England, North, Coast to Coast
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England, North, Durham Heritage Coastal Path
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England, North, Pennine Way
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England, South, Box Hill
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England, South, South Downs Way
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England, South, Tennyson Trail, Isle of Wight
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England, South, The Pilgrim's Way
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England, South, Winnall Moors
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England, South-west, Jurassic Coast
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England, South-west, Lundy Island
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England, South-west, South West Coast Path
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England, South-west, Two Moors Way
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England, South-west, Weymouth to Kimmeridge
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England, South-west, Exmoor, Barle Valley
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England, South-west, Exmoor, Dunkery Beacon
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England, South-west, Exmoor, Exmoor
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England, South-west, Exmoor, North Devon Coastal Path
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England, West, Malvern Hills
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Dales Way
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Feizor Thwait and Smearsett Scar
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Ingleborough
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Malham Cove and Gordale Scar
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Sleddale and Wether Fell
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Wensleydale
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England, Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Dales
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England/Wales, Offa's Dyke Path
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Northern Ireland, Mountains of Mome
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Northern Ireland, Causeway Coast, Causeway Coast Way
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Northern Ireland, Causeway Coast, Portstewart to Portballintrae
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Scotland, Edinburgh
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Scotland, Great Glen Way
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Scotland, Stalking
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Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Bennachie
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Scotland, Borders, Eildon Hills
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Scotland, Borders, Southern Uplands Way
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Scotland, Borders, St Abbs Head
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Scotland, Borders, St Cuthbert's Way
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Scotland, Borders, The Borders
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Scotland, Cairngorms, Beinn a Bhuird
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Scotland, Isles, Mull, Iona
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Bla Bheinn
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Loch Coruisk
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, NW Capes and Cliffs
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Quiraing
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Raasay
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Rhub an Dunain
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Rubha Hunish
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Sgurr Dearg and Inaccessible Pinnacle
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Scotland, Isles, Skye, Sgurr nan Gillean
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Scotland, NW Highlands, Ardnamurchan, Garbh Bheinn of Ardgour
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Scotland, NW Highlands, Assynt, Stac Pollaidh
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Scotland, NW Highlands, Assynt, Suilven
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Scotland, SW Highlands, Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
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Scotland, SW Highlands, Kinlochleven to Fort William
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Scotland, SW Highlands, Upper Glen Nevis
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Wales, Ceredigion Coastal Path
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Wales, Snowdonia, Glyderau from Pen-y-Pass
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RESEARCH ESSENTIALS
Information and review
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Books and Maps
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Holidays and Activities
MAGAZINE
Walking with Trees: the Kumano Kōdō Kōhechi - Stephen Barber's account and photos of one of Japan's great pilgrimage trails. March 2021
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Responsible travel matters, a lot. How you travel will make a real difference - for better or worse. PLEASE consider this when making plans. Read more
