Date: Friday 26th December 2025
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 6.8km, Ascent: 556m
Time: 2Hrs 52Mins
We spent the morning at RSPB Leighton Moss with a view to having a day off from hillwalking. However, after spending a couple of hours at the reserve, I was extremely stressed, unable to take anymore of the constant gunfire, as numerous shotguns were being fired every second, throughout our visit. On visiting a nature reserve, you shouldn't have to see, or hear, micro-penis wankers shooting wildlife.
I quickly worked out that we should still have sufficient time to drive to Wasdale Head for an ascent of Yewbarrow before sunset. A huge thank you to Ann-Marie for driving.
En-route to Wasdale Head, I established that we needed to park at the Over Beck car park and that it would cost seven pounds for just four hours
.
On arrival, we noticed that some kind soul had left their all day ticket at
the pay and display machine. Thank you.Route:
Over Beck Car Park signage:
From the car park, we set off walking at 12:50, almost exactly three hours before sunset.
From a distance, Yewbarrow looked seriously steep, but I knew there should be a relatively easy way up through the crags.
On previously undertaking the Mosedale Horseshoe, I missed out Yewbarrow as on reaching Dore Head, a large dog ran across to me and bit my derriere, drawing blood. This resulted in me falling-out with its owner, who suggested it was, 'just playing'.
Following the wall up the lower slopes of Yewbarrow:
Throughout the walk there was not a cloud in the sky. Perfection conditions!
Ascending the lower slopes of Yewbarrow:
Looking towards the start of track heading up through the crags:
I took a number of photos during the ascent. As well as the necessary scrambling, we also undertook some unnecessary scrambling, sticking to rock instead of loose stones.
Easy initial ascent through the crags:
In the next photo we scrambled up the rib to the left of this gully.
Ascent through the crags:
Ascent through the crags:
Ascent through the crags:
On reaching the cleft in the next photo, I scrambled-up and looked over to find a sheer drop! I realised I had climbed too high and reversed back a little to then reach the ridge to the left.
Approaching the cleft:
The going was easier once on the ridge but there was still some scrambling ahead including a short downclimb for which I turned to face the rock.
Onto the wide ridge:
More scrambling:
We didn't hang around during the walk as we wanted to be off the hill before it started getting dark.
Cairn on first top of Yewbarrow:
On reaching the summit cairn, we stopped to take a few photographs before continuing on. I was aware of three options: i) return back via our route of ascent, ii) continue on over Stirrup Crag which I believe involves harder scrambling, or iii) find and follow the diagonal descent towards Dore Head. I opted for option iii).
Summit cairn:
View from the summit of Yewbarrow:
Start of descent, looking towards Red Pike:
Care still needs to be taken descending this way but it is a much easier route up/down than the scrambles at either end of Yewbarrow. It is just a walk with no 'hands-on'.
Descent towards Dore Head:
Looking back during descent:
Many of my Lake District reports include a photo of a Herdwick, usually running-off. Today, this herdwick was happy to have its photo taken.
Herdwick:
There are two paths heading back towards Over Beck car park, one on either side of the Over Beck stream. Both paths are indistinct in places. We started on the south bank, then moved to the north and then back to the south.
Yewbarrow crags seen during walk out following the Over Beck:
Yewbarrow crags:
Yewbarrow crags:
The timing of the walk worked out well, as we reached the car shortly before sunset. The golden hour light on Yewbarrow was stunning.
Looking back to Yewbarrow:
Looking back as sunset approaches:
Fantastic to ascend Yewbarrow as my 200th Wainwright. 14 now remaining.