A difficult route in Western Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: National Trust car park, Honister Slate Mine (NY 225 135)NOTE: There is more parking at the mine itself. I am a National Trust member, so parking is free on all National Trust car parks.
Terrain: C2C path up old dismantled tramway (good path), Drum House crossroads, C2C around flank of Grey Knotts, path forking left below Brandreth, over Moses Trod, past base of Green Gable, skirting impressive crags of Great Gable, Beckhead Tarn, climb up Rib End (clear, steep, rocks and loose scree - not easiest going), path levels off on plateau, across fell westwards, summit, retrace route, descent of Rib End (take care - tricky with loose scree and rocks)
This is a rewarding out-and-back walk to Kirk Fell, returning to complete the fell I had to drop from an earlier walk as it would have made too much for one day. Starting from Honister with National Trust member benefits of free parking, the C2C path climbs the old dismantled tramway before reaching Drum House crossroads and continuing around Grey Knotts' flank. Some might call this route cheating by starting a few hundred metres up, but with 8 miles and over 700 metres of climbing still ahead, it's not to be sniffed at - plus the views across to Buttermere and Ennerdale are amazing, featuring Great Gable, Fleetwith Pike, Pillar, and Haystack. Leaving the C2C, the path forks left below Brandreth, crosses Moses Trod, passes Green Gable's base, and skirts the very impressive crags of Great Gable to reach Beckhead Tarn where Kirk Fell's ascent begins. Rib End's clear but steep path climbs through rocks and loose scree with not the easiest going before levelling onto the plateau. Beware the false summit - the pile of stones on the plateau's east is not the real top, which lies further west where views expand to include the Scafells and Wasdale Valley with all its fells. The out-and-back return requires care descending Rib End where loose scree and rocks prove tricky. Optional extensions exist for those wanting more - Great Gable, Green Gable, Base Brown, Brandreth, and Grey Knotts can be bagged by planning your own route or following the Great Gable Circular. A satisfying completion of the fell that proved too ambitious for a single earlier outing.