Ullswater: Loadpot Hill, Bonscale Pike and Arthur's Pike

[jonathan - norfolk]

Loadpot Hill, Bonscale Pike and Arthur's Pike

Not my finest hour! I had real difficulties in picking up the correct route, and, in fact, missed the start completely. Eventually, I realised that I'd traversed too far but thought that I could make out a footpath on the left of a dried out stream bed that led up to the summit of Brock Crags. It did, but it got increasingly steep and much of the grass/heather covered rock was loose. Then it started to bucket down! Going back down looked rather more unpleasant, and risky, than continuing up and I could see pretty much all the way to the top. It just needed considerable care and time. Not a route that I could recommend to anyone. When I did reach the top, of Brock Crag 559m, visibility was down to about 25m and I decided to resort to the GPS to confirm my location (phone a friend!). Walking on a bearing took me to the summit of Loadpot Hill 671m, the one familiar location of my day's walk. The paths from here to Bonscale Pike 524m were pretty good and straightforward, despite the continuing deluge and poor visibility (August weather!).

It's important to remember to aim for the sheep fold from here if Arthur's Pike 532m is to be included, as taking a direct line between the two as the Swarthbeck Gill is dangerous below the fold. The sheep fold is also the most pleasant place to stop for a bite to eat and a coffee. Although Wainwright advises that the walk shouldn't be attempted in mist, I found it quite straightforward by contouring south-east until I could see the sheepfold.
From here on the route is very straightforward, a good path to Arthur's Pike and then an excellent grass path through the heather down to the plantation and thence back to Swarthbeck and Ullswater. It was also as I was descending from Arthur's Pike that I dropped out of the mist and the rain stopped.

Arthur's Pike summit cairn

A view at last! On the descent down to Howtown

Not a walk I'll be doing again! Frankly following the route that I took back from Loadpot Hill in both directions would have been longer, but much safer and far more pleasant and enjoyable altogether!

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Length: 8.79 miles 14.2 km Ascent: +765m -757m Naismith: 4h 6m