Wansfell Pike is a fell to come back to. Maybe you climbed it as a child but, as you grew, the smaller fells lost their appeal and were looked down on, literally and metaphorically. Perhaps you later had children of your own, and it was you doing the cajoling and the bribing with Smarties. When they, too, lose interest in the lower heights, there’s no reason to return, is there? Unless you develop an inexplicable love of fell-running in middle age, in which case the lower fells are prized once more as manageable outings for a doddery afternoon. Whatever your personal history, Wansfell is splendidly positioned overlooking Ambleside and Troutbeck with fantastic views down the length of Windermere and across the Brathay basin. In that respect, it is the epitome of "location, location, location."
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Further Routes
by Norman Hadley
- Easedale Horseshoe 30 May
- Netherbeck Skyline 3 May
- Longsleddale Horseshoe 20 Apr
- Clougha Pike 5 Apr
- Maol Chean-Dearg and An Ruadh-Stac 8 Mar
Wansfell, great fell, done it a few times using various approaches including straight up from the lake shore through Skelghyll Wood. Surprisingly, for round there, it's CRoW access land all the way.
Yes, there are loads of permutations. I always run it from the Troutbeck side so I'm facing into the view. A cracking hill.
I rather love crossing over it from Tirril after setting off before light around midsummer down the Roman Road on the High Street range from Winder Hall above Tirril. Bus back from Ambleside to Penrith (then to Ullswater) via Keswick.
Tirril, sorry I meant Troutbeck, with Tirril being near the set off point
Wow, sounds like a really good midsummer's march, wercat. There's a route of mine, awaiting moderation, starting from the northern end of the Roman road. I love that there are signs in Roman numerals up there - I wonder if the distances are in Roman miles.