Clough Head: Difference between revisions
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Gentle grass-covered slopes on the south and east sides of the fell drop to a broad col and to Mosedale, which separate Clough Head from [[Great Dodd]], but to the north of the summit the ground drops abruptly down a steep scree-covered and craggy slope which marks the northern end of the Helvellyn range. This face is called Red Screes from the colour of the rock. Steep rocky crags also guard the whole western side of the fell, rising abruptly from the green valley of St John's Vale.<ref name=wainwright>{{cite book | author = Alfred Wainwright | authorlink = Alfred Wainwright | title = [[A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells]] Book 1: The Eastern Fells | publisher = Frances Lincoln | location = London | year = 2003 | origyear = 1955 | isbn = 0711222274 }}</ref> |
Gentle grass-covered slopes on the south and east sides of the fell drop to a broad col and to Mosedale, which separate Clough Head from [[Great Dodd]], but to the north of the summit the ground drops abruptly down a steep scree-covered and craggy slope which marks the northern end of the Helvellyn range. This face is called Red Screes from the colour of the rock. Steep rocky crags also guard the whole western side of the fell, rising abruptly from the green valley of St John's Vale.<ref name=wainwright>{{cite book | author = Alfred Wainwright | authorlink = Alfred Wainwright | title = [[A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells]] Book 1: The Eastern Fells | publisher = Frances Lincoln | location = London | year = 2003 | origyear = 1955 | isbn = 0711222274 }}</ref> |
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This western face of Clough Head, is steep, rough and rocky. The principal rock features are, from the north, Buck Castle, Wanthwaite Crags and Bram Crag. South of Wanthwaite Crags is the very steep but grassy Fisher's Wife's Rake, a route which allows determined fell-walkers to ascend the fell on this side. North of Bram Crag is a deep-seated rocky ravine called Sandbed Gill. This |
This western face of Clough Head, is steep, rough and rocky. The principal rock features are, from the north, Buck Castle, Wanthwaite Crags and Bram Crag. South of Wanthwaite Crags is the very steep but grassy Fisher's Wife's Rake, a route which allows determined fell-walkers to ascend the fell on this side. North of Bram Crag is a deep-seated rocky ravine called Sandbed Gill. This gill contains a considerable flow of water in its rocky gorge, but has only a dry bed by the time it gets down to valley level.<ref name=wainwright/> |
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{{cite book | author = Brian Evans | year = 2005 | origyear = 1982 | title = Scrambles in the Lake District, Vol. 2: Northern Lakes | publisher = Cicerone Press | location = Milnthorpe, Cumbria | isbn = 1852844639 }}</ref> This gill contains a considerable flow of water in its rocky gorge, but has only a dry bed by the time it gets down to valley level.<ref name=wainwright/> |
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Beneath the cliffs to the north of the summit is the rounded grassy hill of Threlkeld Knotts. This rises gently from the valley of the River Glenderamackin, which separates the Helvellyn range of fells from [[Blencathra]] and the northern fells. |
Beneath the cliffs to the north of the summit is the rounded grassy hill of Threlkeld Knotts. This rises gently from the valley of the River Glenderamackin, which separates the Helvellyn range of fells from [[Blencathra]] and the northern fells. |
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North-east from the summit of Clough Head is the lesser top of White Pike. From here the ridge descends and gradually broadens into rough expanse of Thelkeld Common. |
North-east from the summit of Clough Head is the lesser top of White Pike. From here the ridge descends and gradually broadens into the rough expanse of Thelkeld Common. |
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The western slopes of Clough Head drain into St John's Beck, which flows north into the River Greta, and which in turn joins the River Derwent at Keswick. The southern and eastern slopes drain into Mosedale and Mosedale Beck, which also joins the River Greta, via the River Glenderamackin.<ref name=OS25k>Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map</ref> |
The western slopes of Clough Head drain into St John's Beck, which flows north into the River Greta, and which in turn joins the River Derwent at Keswick. The southern and eastern slopes drain into Mosedale and Mosedale Beck, which also joins the River Greta, via the River Glenderamackin.<ref name=OS25k>Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map</ref> |
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==Old Coach Road== |
==Old Coach Road== |
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An old route, marked on maps as "Old Coach Road" crosses the northern slopes of Threlkeld Knotts and skirts the eastern side of Clough Head, reaching a height of 437 m<ref name=OS50k>Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map</ref> as it crosses from Wanthwaite {{IPAc-en|pron|'|w|ɒ|n|.|θ|ɛ|t}}<ref name=wainwright/> in St John's Vale to High Row near Dockray. This has suffered damage from use by off-road vehicles in recent years, but remains a useful track for walkers.<ref name=richards>{{cite book | author = Mark Richards | title = Near Eastern Fells | publisher = Cicerone Press | location = Milnthorpe | year = 2008 |origyear = 2003 | isbn = 978-1-852845414 }}</ref> Near the summit of the road is Hause Well, a spring issuing from a crevice in the rock.<ref name=wainwright/> |
An old route, marked on maps as "Old Coach Road" crosses the northern slopes of Threlkeld Knotts and skirts the eastern side of Clough Head, reaching a height of 437 m<ref name=OS50k>Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map</ref> as it crosses from Wanthwaite {{IPAc-en|pron|'|w|ɒ|n|.|θ|ɛ|t}}<ref name=wainwright/> in St John's Vale to High Row near Dockray. This has suffered damage from use by off-road vehicles in recent years, but remains a useful track for walkers.<ref name=richards>{{cite book | author = Mark Richards | title = Near Eastern Fells | publisher = Cicerone Press | location = Milnthorpe | year = 2008 |origyear = 2003 | isbn = 978-1-852845414 }}</ref> Near the summit of the road is Hause Well, a spring issuing from a crevice in the rock.<ref name=wainwright/> |
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The whole of Clough Head, Threlkeld Knotts and Threlkeld Common (above the [[Wikt:intake|intake]] wall which surrounds the lower agricultural land and Threlkeld Quarry is [[Freedom to roam#England and Wales|Open Access]] land. Entry to this land can be had from three points: from either end of the Old Coach Road, or from the lane leading to Newsham Farm. This lane begins opposite Threlkeld village, or it can be joined from the disused railway line alongside the road to the quarry.<ref name=OS25k/> |
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'''Walkers''' may approach the summit by means of four principal routes. A narrow footpath leads from the Old Coach Road (at a point 250 m east of Hause Well) to White Pike and then on to the summit.<ref name=richards/> <ref name=wainwright/> |
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Another narrow path leads from Threlkeld Knotts, slanting up through the crags and scree of Red Screes to emerge on the west shoulder of Clough Head. From there one may go up gentle grassy slopes to the summit,<ref name=richards/> <ref name=wainwright/> although the main path contours round to meet the track coming up from Great Dodd, which suggests that many ridge-walkers bypass the top (just as the ridge path bypasses nearly all the other tops of the range.) |
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From the south, the ridge track from Great Dodd leads straight up the long gentle slope to the top.<ref name=wainwright/> |
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Finally, Fisher's Wife's Rake is a possible route up through the crags of the west side of Clough Head for energetic and determined walkers,<ref name=richards/> but it is "''very'' steep."<ref name=wainwright/> |
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'''Climbers''', or scramblers with some rock-climbing experience and a rope for the more difficult pitches, can ascend the hidden recesses of Sandbed Gill.<ref> |
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{{cite book | author = Brian Evans | year = 2005 | origyear = 1982 | title = Scrambles in the Lake District, Vol. 2: Northern Lakes | publisher = Cicerone Press | location = Milnthorpe, Cumbria | isbn = 1852844639 }}</ref> Perhaps they alone will appreciate the name of the fell as they emerge from the top of the gill. Sandbed Gill was the first new route in the Lake District to be pioneered by the brothers George and Ashley Abraham in 1890. Although George was only 18 at the time, and Ashley 14, they had already gained true rock-climbing skills elsewhere in the Lakes.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://footlesscrow.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/abraham-brothersphotographing-past.html | title = The Abraham Brothers | author = A H Griffin | date = 2010 | website = Footless Crow | accessdate = 12 June 2014 }}</ref> Walkers should leave the gill well alone. |
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Clough Head is often included as the first (or last) step of a traverse of the Helvellyn range. It may also be included in a longer version of the horseshoe walk around Deepdale which takes in the three "Dodds" to its south. This walk begins at High Row and takes advantage of the Old Coach Road.<ref>{{cite book |authors = John Gillham and Ronald Turnbull |date = 2001 |title = Rambler’s Guide: Lake District |publisher = HarperCollins|location = London |isbn = 0-00-2201364 }}</ref> |
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==Summit== |
==Summit== |
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The summit is marked by an [[Ordnance Survey]] triangulation column and a sprawling [[cairn]]-cum-windbreak. It provides a good view of Blencathra to the north, a wide all-round view with glimpses of both the [[Solway Firth]] to the north and [[Morecambe Bay]] to the south,<ref name=richards/> a view broken only by the higher Great Dodd. To the south-west the vista of the high fells is "especially striking".<ref name=wainwright/> |
The summit is marked by an [[Ordnance Survey]] triangulation column and a sprawling [[cairn]]-cum-windbreak. It provides a good view of Blencathra to the north, a wide all-round view with glimpses of both the [[Solway Firth]] to the north and [[Morecambe Bay]] to the south,<ref name=richards/> a view broken only by the higher Great Dodd. To the south-west the vista of the high fells is "especially striking".<ref name=wainwright/> |
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In his ''[[Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells]]'' [[Alfred Wainwright]] |
In his ''[[Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells]]'' [[Alfred Wainwright]] included a drawing of himself regarding Blencathra from this viewpoint.<ref name=wainwright/> Mark Richards recommends White Pike as a better place for contemplating the view.<ref name=richards/> |
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Clough Head is often climbed as the first step of a traverse of the Helvellyn range. From the northeast (Threlkeld) there is a path avoiding the crags and reaching the summit via White Pike. Alternatively one may follow the Coach Road to its highpoint, before heading southwest to the top. Wanthwaite provides the other main access, either via Fisher's Wife's Rake, or the much easier slopes behind Wanthwaite Quarry. None of these routes have paths throughout, but once the top is reached a clear track leads south towards Great Dodd. |
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==Geology== |
==Geology== |
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Revision as of 10:57, 13 June 2014
| Clough Head | |
|---|---|
  Clough Head Location in Lake District, UK | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 726 m (2,382 ft) |
| Prominence | 108 m (354 ft) |
| Parent peak | Great Dodd |
| Listing | HuMP, Hewitt, Nuttall, Wainwright |
| Naming | |
| English translation | hill-top above the ravine |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Eastern Fells |
| OS grid | NY333225 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 90, Explorer OL5 |
Clough Head /klʌf hɛd/ (hill-top above the ravine) is a fell or hill in the English Lake District. It marks the northern end of the main ridge of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells, and is situated south of the village of Threlkeld and the A66 road.
Topography
With a height of 726 m, Clough Head is the lowest summit of the Helvellyn range.
Gentle grass-covered slopes on the south and east sides of the fell drop to a broad col and to Mosedale, which separate Clough Head from Great Dodd, but to the north of the summit the ground drops abruptly down a steep scree-covered and craggy slope which marks the northern end of the Helvellyn range. This face is called Red Screes from the colour of the rock. Steep rocky crags also guard the whole western side of the fell, rising abruptly from the green valley of St John's Vale.[1]
This western face of Clough Head, is steep, rough and rocky. The principal rock features are, from the north, Buck Castle, Wanthwaite Crags and Bram Crag. South of Wanthwaite Crags is the very steep but grassy Fisher's Wife's Rake, a route which allows determined fell-walkers to ascend the fell on this side. North of Bram Crag is a deep-seated rocky ravine called Sandbed Gill. This gill contains a considerable flow of water in its rocky gorge, but has only a dry bed by the time it gets down to valley level.[1]
Beneath the cliffs to the north of the summit is the rounded grassy hill of Threlkeld Knotts. This rises gently from the valley of the River Glenderamackin, which separates the Helvellyn range of fells from Blencathra and the northern fells.
North-east from the summit of Clough Head is the lesser top of White Pike. From here the ridge descends and gradually broadens into the rough expanse of Thelkeld Common.
The western slopes of Clough Head drain into St John's Beck, which flows north into the River Greta, and which in turn joins the River Derwent at Keswick. The southern and eastern slopes drain into Mosedale and Mosedale Beck, which also joins the River Greta, via the River Glenderamackin.[2]
| Name | Grid Reference | Height | Prominence | Classification
(height and prominence) |
Classification
(authors’ listings) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clough Head | NY 33394 22540 | 726 m | 108 m | HuMP, Hewitt, Nuttall | Wainwright, Birkett |
| White Pike | NY 33900 22950 | 622 m | 1 m | ||
| Threlkeld Knotts | NY 33015 23023 | 514 m | 18 m | Birkett |
Threlkeld Knotts
Threlkeld Knotts (the knobbly hill above Threlkeld) is a lower, rounded hill, nestling against and overshadowed by the steep northern face of Clough Head. Its U-shaped summit ridge contains three small tops,[2] each of which is marked by a cairn. From Threlkeld Knotts there is a striking view of Red Screes just above, and a narrow path slants up through the crags to the west shoulder of Clough Head.
Old Coach Road
An old route, marked on maps as "Old Coach Road" crosses the northern slopes of Threlkeld Knotts and skirts the eastern side of Clough Head, reaching a height of 437 m[4] as it crosses from Wanthwaite /ˈwɒn.θɛt/[1] in St John's Vale to High Row near Dockray. This has suffered damage from use by off-road vehicles in recent years, but remains a useful track for walkers.[5] Near the summit of the road is Hause Well, a spring issuing from a crevice in the rock.[1]
Ascents
The whole of Clough Head, Threlkeld Knotts and Threlkeld Common (above the intake wall which surrounds the lower agricultural land and Threlkeld Quarry is Open Access land. Entry to this land can be had from three points: from either end of the Old Coach Road, or from the lane leading to Newsham Farm. This lane begins opposite Threlkeld village, or it can be joined from the disused railway line alongside the road to the quarry.[2]
Walkers may approach the summit by means of four principal routes. A narrow footpath leads from the Old Coach Road (at a point 250 m east of Hause Well) to White Pike and then on to the summit.[5] [1]
Another narrow path leads from Threlkeld Knotts, slanting up through the crags and scree of Red Screes to emerge on the west shoulder of Clough Head. From there one may go up gentle grassy slopes to the summit,[5] [1] although the main path contours round to meet the track coming up from Great Dodd, which suggests that many ridge-walkers bypass the top (just as the ridge path bypasses nearly all the other tops of the range.)
From the south, the ridge track from Great Dodd leads straight up the long gentle slope to the top.[1]
Finally, Fisher's Wife's Rake is a possible route up through the crags of the west side of Clough Head for energetic and determined walkers,[5] but it is "very steep."[1]
Climbers, or scramblers with some rock-climbing experience and a rope for the more difficult pitches, can ascend the hidden recesses of Sandbed Gill.[6] Perhaps they alone will appreciate the name of the fell as they emerge from the top of the gill. Sandbed Gill was the first new route in the Lake District to be pioneered by the brothers George and Ashley Abraham in 1890. Although George was only 18 at the time, and Ashley 14, they had already gained true rock-climbing skills elsewhere in the Lakes.[7] Walkers should leave the gill well alone.
Clough Head is often included as the first (or last) step of a traverse of the Helvellyn range. It may also be included in a longer version of the horseshoe walk around Deepdale which takes in the three "Dodds" to its south. This walk begins at High Row and takes advantage of the Old Coach Road.[8]
Summit
The summit is marked by an Ordnance Survey triangulation column and a sprawling cairn-cum-windbreak. It provides a good view of Blencathra to the north, a wide all-round view with glimpses of both the Solway Firth to the north and Morecambe Bay to the south,[5] a view broken only by the higher Great Dodd. To the south-west the vista of the high fells is "especially striking".[1]
In his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells Alfred Wainwright included a drawing of himself regarding Blencathra from this viewpoint.[1] Mark Richards recommends White Pike as a better place for contemplating the view.[5]
Geology
The western face of Clough Head is extensively marked by quarrying. In addition to Thelkeld Quarry were Birkett Bank, Hill Top, Wanthwaite and Bram Crag Quarries, all of which were worked for granite. In addition behind Lowthwaite Farm are the remains of Wanthwaite Crag Mine. Several levels were driven here along a system of lead and copper veins, the most recent lease being taken out in 1887.[9] Geologically, the area to the north of the top is characterised by an intrusion of microgranite, while various members of the Borrowdale Volcanic series occur to the south.[10]
Names
Clough Head was called Threlkeld Fell in Thomas West's 1778 guide book.[11] Its present name, Clough Head, was first recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1867. Clough is a dialect word from the Old English clōh, a ravine. This may be a reference to Sandbed Gill, a prominent and deep-set ravine on the western side of the fell. Thus Clough Head is "the hill-top above the ravine." [12]
White Pike is "the pale summit," recorded since 1774, probably named from its pale-coloured rock, and perhaps in contrast to the reddish colour of Red Screes beneath the main summit.[12]
Threlkeld Knotts was first recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1900. Knott is a dialect word from the Old Norse knǫttr, 'ball, hard round mass' used of compact or craggy hills. Hence Threlkeld Knotts is "the knobbly hill above Threlkeld", a place-name recorded from as early as 1197 and meaning "the slaves' spring" from the Old Norse þræla, 'thrall, slave,' and Old Norse kelda, 'a spring.'[12] 'Thrall' may have been the word used by the Norse settlers to refer to the native Britons.[13]
Fisher's Wife's Rake is "Mrs Fisher's Path." Rake is a dialect word of unknown origin which refers to a narrow path on a hill.[12]: 415 Mark Richards claims that the name comes from the Fisher family of Rake How across the valley. He says the husband cut peat on the col above and his wife hauled it down by sled, but he gives no indication of the source of this information.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Alfred Wainwright (2003) [1955]. A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells Book 1: The Eastern Fells. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 0711222274.
- ^ a b c Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map
- ^ "Database of British and Irish Hills". Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map
- ^ a b c d e f g Mark Richards (2008) [2003]. Near Eastern Fells. Milnthorpe: Cicerone Press. ISBN 978-1-852845414.
- ^ Brian Evans (2005) [1982]. Scrambles in the Lake District, Vol. 2: Northern Lakes. Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Cicerone Press. ISBN 1852844639.
- ^ A H Griffin (2010). "The Abraham Brothers". Footless Crow. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ Rambler’s Guide: Lake District. London: HarperCollins. 2001. ISBN 0-00-2201364.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ Adams, John: Mines of the Lake District Fells, Dalesman (1995); ISBN 0-85206-931-6
- ^ Woodhall, DG: Geology of the Keswick District- a brief explanation of the geological map. 1:50,000 Sheet 29: British Geological Survey (2000)
- ^ Thomas West (1821) [1778]. A Guide to the Lakes in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire (11th ed.). Kendal: W Pennington. p. 85. - available online at www.geog.port.ac.uk. Accessed 10 June 2014
- ^ a b c d Diana Whaley, A Dictionary of Lake District Place-Names, English Place-Name Society 2006, ISBN 0-904889-72-6
- ^ Robert Gambles (2013). Lake District Place Names. Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria: Hayloft Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-904524-92-3.