A Perfect Day in the Far East
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 2:03 pmIt had been about three weeks since my last day out in the hills so they were calling once more. With my last visit to the lakes being seemingly ages ago I decided that this one man and his dog expedition would revisit a few Far Eastern Fells and take in a Birkett or three to add some new ground to proceedings.
A fairly early start saw me make my way up the mini Honister pass to the parking area just outside Martindale New Church well before it had filled up. It had been a good while since I'd walked up Hallin Fell and Steel Knotts so this seemed as good a place to start as any. Leaving my pack in the boot Hughie and I set off up the inoffensive grassy slopes on a wonderful lakeland morning, the type where the fells seem to glow with life and vitality. One the way up I passed a family with a really young child who was making a great fist of getting up this mini mountain without any help from mum and dad. It made me think of the early days in the hills with Grace, I hope this family has as many brilliant days out over the next few years as we did.
The summit with it's fine obelisk and even finer views was soon reached but I didn't linger long and headed back to the car to pick up my pack and head towards the next target of the day. Quite a bit of height is lost to reach the North ridge of Steel Knotts but it's worth it.
Beda Fell from the start of the walk by Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the way up Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Towards Rampsgill Head by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Ullswater from Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hallin Fell Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Obelisk on Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Northen Ullswater from Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
This is a fine little ascent as the path winds it's way up through crags with the odd mini scramble before the pleasant ridge is attained and you can stroll easily along to the wonderfully named summit tor, Pikeawassa. I had a bit of a sit on Lakeland's sharpest summit and read about the remarkable third All Blacks/Lions test before continuing along the increasingly broad ridge towards the main bulk of the High Street ridge.
Starting up Steel Knotts by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking down Fusedale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Martindale New Church by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Cairn on the North end of the ridge by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back along the ridge by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Pikeawassa by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking towards the Nab by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hughie taking a breather by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking down Fusedale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Another of Pikeawassa by Anthony Young, on Flickr
We continued along the increasingly broad and ill defined ridge taking in the undistinguished Birkett tops of Brownthwaite Crag and Gowk Hill before dropping down to the slightly moist head of Fusedale.I considered my options; one to make a bee line up open fellside towards Wether Hill or two, take the longer route up the obvious diagonal path. The fact it was really quite warm made my mind up so I took the easier option of the path.
Looking down to Martindale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back to Steel Knotts by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Steel Knotts and Martindale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
On top of Brownthwaite Crag by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking acorss to Helvellyn et al by Anthony Young, on Flickr (click on pic for big version)
A glimpse of Ullswater with Blencathra Behind by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Five minutes Dad by Anthony Young, on Flickr
On Gowk Hill by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking to the Nab and beyond by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Once the ridge was attained it seemed rude not to continue onto Red Crag, a Birkett top, before Wether Hill. I don't know who decided this lump should be called Red Crag for as far as I can see it has no crags at all let alone red ones
I tromped around it's unimpressive top a bit and headed back north up the ridge.
Helvellyn from Red Crag by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Red Crag summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Heading back towards Wether Hill by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Wether Hill came and went, scarcely more impressive than Red Crag to be honest, before I used the stones around the remnants of Loadpot Hall to have lunch. A nice repast in the sunshine later we climbed the few remaining meters to Loadpot Hill. This is another less than impressive top but it does have a little more sense of occasion than the previous four Birkett/Wainwright tops I'd covered. It's a strange oddity that the fells on the walk so far made worse view points the higher you go
Weather Hill Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Mono Bog by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Loadpot Hall by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Loadpot Hill Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
The walking to the next top couldn't have been easier, following a good path down hill just about all the way to the sizable cairn that marks Arthur's Pike. I Had a sit before meeting a very friendly collie dog and saying hello to her owner, I set off before Hughie got too jealous for the final Wainwright top of the day. With the loss of height the best views had returned so I sat and consumed the remainder of my rations sat next to Bonscale Tower looking down on the deep blue waters of Ullswater which looked far more exotic than usual in the stunning weather, somewhere in Northern Italy springs to mind. I had I little check on my phone app so see if there where any more Birketts close by and discovered the most thorough Mr Birkett had endowed Swarth Fell with individual status so a small grassy climb later so the tenth top of the day was bagged, most satisfactory
Ullswater with the Northern Fells in the distance by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Arthur's Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Bonscale Pike Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Cairns on Bonscale Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Bonscale Tower by Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the way to Swarth Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
It's often the case with fell walks that the unpleasant bits tend to get put to the back of your mind, this had been the case with the descent down to Howtown last undertaken around seven years ago. Presence of a walking poll to ease the stress on my left knee which has been Gypping me of late had no effect and I have seldom felt more relived at concluding a descent than I did when I reached the level path past Mellguards. It was now a nice simple walk back to the car as the knee throbbing faded away.
Knee crushing descent by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Mellgaurds by Anthony Young, on Flickr
This was a most enjoyable walk on a simply perfect day for hill walking, not to warm and with superb visibility and almost totally dry underfoot given the recent dry weather.
A fairly early start saw me make my way up the mini Honister pass to the parking area just outside Martindale New Church well before it had filled up. It had been a good while since I'd walked up Hallin Fell and Steel Knotts so this seemed as good a place to start as any. Leaving my pack in the boot Hughie and I set off up the inoffensive grassy slopes on a wonderful lakeland morning, the type where the fells seem to glow with life and vitality. One the way up I passed a family with a really young child who was making a great fist of getting up this mini mountain without any help from mum and dad. It made me think of the early days in the hills with Grace, I hope this family has as many brilliant days out over the next few years as we did.
The summit with it's fine obelisk and even finer views was soon reached but I didn't linger long and headed back to the car to pick up my pack and head towards the next target of the day. Quite a bit of height is lost to reach the North ridge of Steel Knotts but it's worth it.
Beda Fell from the start of the walk by Anthony Young, on FlickrOn the way up Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Towards Rampsgill Head by Anthony Young, on FlickrUllswater from Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrHallin Fell Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrObelisk on Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrNorthen Ullswater from Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrThis is a fine little ascent as the path winds it's way up through crags with the odd mini scramble before the pleasant ridge is attained and you can stroll easily along to the wonderfully named summit tor, Pikeawassa. I had a bit of a sit on Lakeland's sharpest summit and read about the remarkable third All Blacks/Lions test before continuing along the increasingly broad ridge towards the main bulk of the High Street ridge.
Starting up Steel Knotts by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking down Fusedale by Anthony Young, on FlickrMartindale New Church by Anthony Young, on FlickrCairn on the North end of the ridge by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking back along the ridge by Anthony Young, on FlickrPikeawassa by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking towards the Nab by Anthony Young, on FlickrHughie taking a breather by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking down Fusedale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Another of Pikeawassa by Anthony Young, on FlickrWe continued along the increasingly broad and ill defined ridge taking in the undistinguished Birkett tops of Brownthwaite Crag and Gowk Hill before dropping down to the slightly moist head of Fusedale.I considered my options; one to make a bee line up open fellside towards Wether Hill or two, take the longer route up the obvious diagonal path. The fact it was really quite warm made my mind up so I took the easier option of the path.
Looking down to Martindale by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking back to Steel Knotts by Anthony Young, on FlickrSteel Knotts and Martindale by Anthony Young, on FlickrOn top of Brownthwaite Crag by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking acorss to Helvellyn et al by Anthony Young, on Flickr (click on pic for big version)A glimpse of Ullswater with Blencathra Behind by Anthony Young, on FlickrFive minutes Dad by Anthony Young, on FlickrOn Gowk Hill by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking to the Nab and beyond by Anthony Young, on FlickrOnce the ridge was attained it seemed rude not to continue onto Red Crag, a Birkett top, before Wether Hill. I don't know who decided this lump should be called Red Crag for as far as I can see it has no crags at all let alone red ones
I tromped around it's unimpressive top a bit and headed back north up the ridge.Helvellyn from Red Crag by Anthony Young, on FlickrRed Crag summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrHeading back towards Wether Hill by Anthony Young, on FlickrWether Hill came and went, scarcely more impressive than Red Crag to be honest, before I used the stones around the remnants of Loadpot Hall to have lunch. A nice repast in the sunshine later we climbed the few remaining meters to Loadpot Hill. This is another less than impressive top but it does have a little more sense of occasion than the previous four Birkett/Wainwright tops I'd covered. It's a strange oddity that the fells on the walk so far made worse view points the higher you go
Weather Hill Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrMono Bog by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Loadpot Hall by Anthony Young, on FlickrLoadpot Hill Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrThe walking to the next top couldn't have been easier, following a good path down hill just about all the way to the sizable cairn that marks Arthur's Pike. I Had a sit before meeting a very friendly collie dog and saying hello to her owner, I set off before Hughie got too jealous for the final Wainwright top of the day. With the loss of height the best views had returned so I sat and consumed the remainder of my rations sat next to Bonscale Tower looking down on the deep blue waters of Ullswater which looked far more exotic than usual in the stunning weather, somewhere in Northern Italy springs to mind. I had I little check on my phone app so see if there where any more Birketts close by and discovered the most thorough Mr Birkett had endowed Swarth Fell with individual status so a small grassy climb later so the tenth top of the day was bagged, most satisfactory
Ullswater with the Northern Fells in the distance by Anthony Young, on FlickrArthur's Pike by Anthony Young, on FlickrBonscale Pike Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrCairns on Bonscale Pike by Anthony Young, on FlickrBonscale Tower by Anthony Young, on FlickrOn the way to Swarth Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrIt's often the case with fell walks that the unpleasant bits tend to get put to the back of your mind, this had been the case with the descent down to Howtown last undertaken around seven years ago. Presence of a walking poll to ease the stress on my left knee which has been Gypping me of late had no effect and I have seldom felt more relived at concluding a descent than I did when I reached the level path past Mellguards. It was now a nice simple walk back to the car as the knee throbbing faded away.
Knee crushing descent by Anthony Young, on FlickrMellgaurds by Anthony Young, on FlickrThis was a most enjoyable walk on a simply perfect day for hill walking, not to warm and with superb visibility and almost totally dry underfoot given the recent dry weather.
I was struggling a bit with the amount of bracken until I saw we were remembering the height of summer! Definitely agree that the lower fells around there are the better ones, until you get up to and past High Street. 
