Walked: 26th July 2010
Distance: 17.5 km (11 miles)
Start / finish: Hardraw, Wensleydale, Yorkshire Dales
Time taken: 6 hours
Weather: Cool, breezy, cloudy but good visibility.
Height gain: 490 metres
Summit Cairn: 716 metres
Map: OL30
Route: From Hardraw, I followed the Pennine Way all the way to the summit of Great Shunner Fell. This is a clear track from Hardraw to Hearne Top and then a grassy path with long stretches of flagged path all the way to the summit. The climb is relatively easy with only a few quite steep sections and long flat sections in between. From the summit, I then followed the fence SE to the fence corner at SD 853 969 where I turned S via Stony Edge, some small tarns to reach the new stony shooters track at Pickersett Edge (Beacon). From the foot of the escarpment of Pickersett Edge (after only a short walk along this track) I turned W alongside a line of wooden grouse butts before dropping quite steeply down into the valley of Hearne Beck (remote valley) to join a fence just above the stream. I followed this fence/stream for a short distance to reach a gate in a small section of wall. After the gate, I forded the stream to join an indistinct narrow path on the other side (marked by wooden posts) - this is the Hearne Coal Road, which is nothing like a road! This narrow, boggy path then leads down through this valley for about 1.5 miles before it gradually widened to become a track that continued to join the Pennine Way track at Bluebell Hill. I then re-traced my steps down into Hardraw. Open Access Land from the summit of Great Shunner Fell to the Hearne Coal Road. No dogs allowed on this section, which will also test your navigation skills!OL30 map required for this walk.
Photos of the walk
These photos are in order, and the files are named. Copyright Mark Reid 2010
