Loadpot Hill to Arthur's Pike

[nigheandonn]

The day began with the walk round to Glenridding to get the steamer to Howtown, before heading up Fusedale - beautiful, but hard work after a while - first uphill of the day after a long walk the day before. Changing views of the surrounding hills were some compensation.

Fusedale

Very small bridge, Fusedale Beck

The head of Fusedale

Gowk Hill and Steel Knotts

Swirral Edge and Striding Edge

I couldn't face heading straight up the side of Wether Hill and took the path that slants over towards High Kop. Once on the top it was flat and pretty easy walking, but very very windy. I ate my lunch lying in the grass on Loadpot Hill, in order not to blow away.

Wether Hill summit

Old floor, Loadpot Hill

Loadpot hill summit

The views were to the North Pennines on one side, and the the point where the Northern Fells run out and the Cumbrian farmlands begin on the other.

Cross Fell and Dun Fells

Where the hills run out

Loadpot Hill is decorated with boundary stones.

Lambert Lad

Bonscale Pike is decorated with towers - easy to find, but slightly nerve-racking to get to in the strong wind. The summit wasn't so easy to find, as there's no obvious highest point before the slope up to Loadpot Hill begins.

Bonscale Pike towers

Bonscale Pike summit - possibly

Arthur's Pike has a much more obvious top, but also provided me with a hole to stick my foot in and fall over - no real harm done, though.

Arthur's Pike summit

From here it was all downhill towards Pooley Bridge, with a detour to the Cockpit stone circle, over a very small ford to match the very small bridge from the beginning of the day.

Very small ford

The Cockpit

Approaching Pooley Bridge

Ullswater hills

Pooley bridge provided me with juice, ice cream and a river to paddle in all, much needed, as well as the bus to Penrith, where I had time for a bit of prowling round before catching the train north again.

Giant's grave, Penrith

[AJNicholls]

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing.

I was up on this route (plus Steel Knotts) last week. Loadpot Hill was covered in mist that day. Survived the excursion though.

[ChrisW]

What a lovely hike, great photos of that beautiful countryside....it's enough to make a man homesick. Like you I have discovered the best way to find a hole is to walk around until you drop your foot in it

Enjoyed this, cheers

[nigheandonn]

I managed a variation this time - no holes, just sliding downhill and sitting down in a boggy bit

[garyhortop]

Great report and some really nice photo's as well!!