Getting High on Low Fell
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 9:31 pmYou often see beautiful sights when driving to places like the Lake District but far too often you either can't stop or resist the temptation to do so, carrying on to your day in the hills. Perhaps it was the fact I had a easy day planned that saw me stop a couple of times following my comfort break at Reghed to try and capture the beautiful morning that had broken. Low sunlight, floating mist and one or two fells within sight were enough to tempt me into a couple of stops in laybys on the A66.
Sunrise from the A66 by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Little Mell Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Morning has Broken by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Misty Morning by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Great Mell Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
The Mighty Blencathra by Anthony Young, on Flickr
I could have possibly spent longer stopping and messing about taking photos but with Hughie getting agitated I resisted all future temptations and headed for Thackthwaite in Lorton Vale. The normal way I'd head for here would be across the Whinlatter Pass but with sub zero overnight temperatures combined with the fact it was probably untreated I elected to continue on the A66, a bit longer perhaps, better safe that sorry.
By the time I found a place to dump the car just outside of Thackthwaite it was later than I'd hoped. The photo stops and missing the turn off on the A66
had put me back a bit meaning my plans of climbing Dodd after Low Fell and Fellbarrow might well have to be altered. Still it was a stunning morning and a time to not worry about anything other than climbing the pleasant grassy lumps ahead of me. 
Another ten minutes later, following a ridiculous episode that saw me somehow lose my GPS in the boot of my car,
we set off up the pleasant route through the fields. Views quickly opened up and given how fine they were I decided to follow the track up to the old quarry rather than the main route which would quickly lose the prospect over the lovely Vale of Lorton. Following an easy well graded trod up to the old workings things steepened but the going was good and an excuse to stop and take in the views hardly needed a second invitation.
Heading out of Thackthwaite by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking towards the High Stile Range by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Morning light through the Trees by Anthony Young, on Flickr
A little mist over Cummock Water by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Ground Starting to Steepen by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Lorton Vale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Whiteside and Hopegill Head by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Skiddaw across the Vale of Lorton by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Crummock Water Mono by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Soon enough the lumpy grassy ridge was attained and it was a very easy wander in surprisingly warm conditions along to Low Fell. The true summit of this hill has nice views but you would be missing out if you stopped here, a little further along, the southern top gives a glorious prospect taking in Loweswater, Crummock Water, the Buttermere Fells, Vale of Lorton, The North Western Fells to name but a few of the fine sights on offer. I stayed here for a while unwilling to tear myself away, putting myself even further behind my timetable for the day but what's the point of climbing a fell if you can't enjoy being at the top?
Low Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back to Skiddaw once again by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Low Fell Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Criffell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Across to Whiteside again by Anthony Young, on Flickr
A local taking in the Views by Anthony Young, on Flickr
What was she looking at? by Anthony Young, on Flickr
The South Loweswater Fells from Low Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Low Fell South Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Classic Low Fell View over Crummock Water by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Crummock Water close up by Anthony Young, on Flickr
I eventually dragged myself away and retraced my steps back over the true top of Low Fell before turning off up to Sourfoot Fell, a Birkett which I'd missed out upon last time. This is an unremarkable top with a surprisingly steep descent as you head for Fellbarrow. A little wet ground and a short pull later me and Hughie arrived at Fellbarrow summit thankfully sans cows but complete with a banana skin adorning the top of the cairn I removed the said item for correct disposal and headed off for the final Birkett I'd yet to bag in these parts.
North Western Fells from the way to Fellbarrow by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Fellbarrow Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Dead Tree by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hughie on Hatteringill Head by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Skiddaw from Hatteringill Head by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Old Quarry on Hatteringill Head by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hatteringill Head is a pleasant place which gives very extensive views to the North all the way to Bonnie Scotland. The fell has few features apart from evidence of an old quarry/mine workings on its Southern aspect but it was still a worthy diversion before heading back to the car. I headed across the open fellside towards the track back towards Thackthwaite, the going was good apart from the idiots who thought it was a good idea to yell and wave arms about even though they were perfectly healthy and obviously not in need of assistance Had the ground been of a more serious nature somebody could have been tricked into an unnecessary diversion, hopefully somebody caught up with them to inform them of the error of there ways and potential consequences.
On the way back to Thackthwaite by Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the main track by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Moody Grasmoor by Anthony Young, on Flickr
I hadn't eaten yet so I had my rations in the car and decided that Dodd was going to have to be ignored (given all the forestry works probably a good thing) and headed for Binsey.
One day I will include Binsey in a proper route which it deserves but today was not to be that day. A simple tromp up the grassy/muddy path took us to the top to take in the brilliant views. The Northern fells are particularly well seen with Skiddaw's best side being shown off nicely. It had been a good day, I'd be lying if I didn't feel a tinge of regret at not heading higher and into the white stuff but sometimes you just have to listen to what your body tells you and act accordingly.
Back o'skidda fells from the Binsey track by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Summit Cairn on Binsey by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Binsey Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Skiddaw's best side by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sunrise from the A66 by Anthony Young, on FlickrLittle Mell Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrMorning has Broken by Anthony Young, on FlickrMisty Morning by Anthony Young, on FlickrGreat Mell Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrThe Mighty Blencathra by Anthony Young, on FlickrI could have possibly spent longer stopping and messing about taking photos but with Hughie getting agitated I resisted all future temptations and headed for Thackthwaite in Lorton Vale. The normal way I'd head for here would be across the Whinlatter Pass but with sub zero overnight temperatures combined with the fact it was probably untreated I elected to continue on the A66, a bit longer perhaps, better safe that sorry.
By the time I found a place to dump the car just outside of Thackthwaite it was later than I'd hoped. The photo stops and missing the turn off on the A66
had put me back a bit meaning my plans of climbing Dodd after Low Fell and Fellbarrow might well have to be altered. Still it was a stunning morning and a time to not worry about anything other than climbing the pleasant grassy lumps ahead of me. Another ten minutes later, following a ridiculous episode that saw me somehow lose my GPS in the boot of my car,
we set off up the pleasant route through the fields. Views quickly opened up and given how fine they were I decided to follow the track up to the old quarry rather than the main route which would quickly lose the prospect over the lovely Vale of Lorton. Following an easy well graded trod up to the old workings things steepened but the going was good and an excuse to stop and take in the views hardly needed a second invitation. Heading out of Thackthwaite by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking towards the High Stile Range by Anthony Young, on FlickrMorning light through the Trees by Anthony Young, on FlickrA little mist over Cummock Water by Anthony Young, on FlickrGround Starting to Steepen by Anthony Young, on FlickrLorton Vale by Anthony Young, on FlickrWhiteside and Hopegill Head by Anthony Young, on FlickrSkiddaw across the Vale of Lorton by Anthony Young, on FlickrCrummock Water Mono by Anthony Young, on FlickrSoon enough the lumpy grassy ridge was attained and it was a very easy wander in surprisingly warm conditions along to Low Fell. The true summit of this hill has nice views but you would be missing out if you stopped here, a little further along, the southern top gives a glorious prospect taking in Loweswater, Crummock Water, the Buttermere Fells, Vale of Lorton, The North Western Fells to name but a few of the fine sights on offer. I stayed here for a while unwilling to tear myself away, putting myself even further behind my timetable for the day but what's the point of climbing a fell if you can't enjoy being at the top?
Low Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrLooking back to Skiddaw once again by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Low Fell Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrCriffell by Anthony Young, on FlickrAcross to Whiteside again by Anthony Young, on FlickrA local taking in the Views by Anthony Young, on FlickrWhat was she looking at? by Anthony Young, on FlickrThe South Loweswater Fells from Low Fell by Anthony Young, on FlickrLow Fell South Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrClassic Low Fell View over Crummock Water by Anthony Young, on FlickrCrummock Water close up by Anthony Young, on FlickrI eventually dragged myself away and retraced my steps back over the true top of Low Fell before turning off up to Sourfoot Fell, a Birkett which I'd missed out upon last time. This is an unremarkable top with a surprisingly steep descent as you head for Fellbarrow. A little wet ground and a short pull later me and Hughie arrived at Fellbarrow summit thankfully sans cows but complete with a banana skin adorning the top of the cairn
I removed the said item for correct disposal and headed off for the final Birkett I'd yet to bag in these parts.North Western Fells from the way to Fellbarrow by Anthony Young, on FlickrFellbarrow Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrDead Tree by Anthony Young, on FlickrHughie on Hatteringill Head by Anthony Young, on FlickrSkiddaw from Hatteringill Head by Anthony Young, on FlickrOld Quarry on Hatteringill Head by Anthony Young, on FlickrHatteringill Head is a pleasant place which gives very extensive views to the North all the way to Bonnie Scotland. The fell has few features apart from evidence of an old quarry/mine workings on its Southern aspect but it was still a worthy diversion before heading back to the car. I headed across the open fellside towards the track back towards Thackthwaite, the going was good apart from the idiots who thought it was a good idea to yell and wave arms about even though they were perfectly healthy and obviously not in need of assistance
Had the ground been of a more serious nature somebody could have been tricked into an unnecessary diversion, hopefully somebody caught up with them to inform them of the error of there ways and potential consequences.On the way back to Thackthwaite by Anthony Young, on FlickrOn the main track by Anthony Young, on FlickrMoody Grasmoor by Anthony Young, on FlickrI hadn't eaten yet so I had my rations in the car and decided that Dodd was going to have to be ignored (given all the forestry works probably a good thing) and headed for Binsey.
One day I will include Binsey in a proper route which it deserves but today was not to be that day. A simple tromp up the grassy/muddy path took us to the top to take in the brilliant views. The Northern fells are particularly well seen with Skiddaw's best side being shown off nicely. It had been a good day, I'd be lying if I didn't feel a tinge of regret at not heading higher and into the white stuff but sometimes you just have to listen to what your body tells you and act accordingly.
Back o'skidda fells from the Binsey track by Anthony Young, on FlickrSummit Cairn on Binsey by Anthony Young, on FlickrBinsey Summit by Anthony Young, on FlickrSkiddaw's best side by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Years ago I used to sort of scorn these lesser fells 
but since I have done the Birkett round I have realised that small often means large views 
You mentioned Dodd, well unless you wanted to do what Chris and I had to its maybe best left alone until the paths and trails are open once again 