A Fusedale Round

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Route: The Hause, The Coombs, Howtown, Mellguards, Swarth Fell, Bonscale Pike, Arthur's Pike, Wartches, Lord's Seat, Lambert Lad, Loadpot Hill, Groove Gill, Gowk Hill, Brownthwaite Crag, Steel Knotts, Birkie Knott, The Hause

Date: 07/05/2016
From: The Hause

Parking: The Church of St. Peter
Start Point: The Hause
Region: Far Eastern Fells

Route length: 7.5 miles (12.1 km)
Time taken: 03:31
Average speed: 2.1 mph
Ascent: 754m
Descent: 774m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Bonscale Pike (524m), Arthur's Pike (532m), Loadpot Hill (671m), Steel Knotts (432m)

Additional summits: Swarth Fell (545m), Gowk Hill (470m), Brownthwaite Crag (444m)

Other points of interest: Fusedale

I'll forgive you if you haven't heard of the diminutive Fusedale, hidden away in Martindale which is in itself, a place rarely visited by most Lakeland tourists. Accessed by a single, narrow road that hugs the shores of Ullswater, Fusedale is a small valley sandwiched between the ridge of Steel Knotts and the huge northern arm of the High Street ridge. It makes for a very rewarding afternoon leg-stretch.

There is plenty of space to park at the church of St. Peter which sits on Martindale Hause. Despite being built in the 1880s, it is the newer of two churches in Martindale, the older one dating back to around 1220 which is very old indeed. Our intended route would make a high level circuit of Fusedale taking in the fells of Bonscale Pike, Arthur's Pike, Loadpot Hill and the return ridge of Steel Knotts.

We began by leaving The Hause and dropping down in Howtown, a disappointing start to the day. Not because Howtown isn't a stunning little hamlet, no. It's always a disappointment to begin a fell day by losing elevation you ultimately need to make up again later on. Still, we knew a steep climb was ahead of us.

A view down The Coombs to Howtown

The Hause that leads into Martindale

Mellguards and Swarth Fell behind

At Mellgaurds Farm, a faint path starts its way up the grassy slope behind marking the start of the main climb of the day. We'd be making the steep climb up Swarth Fell the tops of Bonscale Pike and Arthur's Pike. Some would argue that these two peaks are no more than subsidiary tops of Loadpot Hill or Barton Fell but Wainwright's book has now made them objectives in their own right.

The imposing Steel Knotts

A steep climb ahead

Hallin Fell

Steel Knotts, Howtown, Hallin Fell and Ullswater

Steel Knotts

Hallin Fell and Ullswater

Looking over Steel Knotts to Beda Fell and Place Fell

Hallin Fell with Gowbarrow Fell beyond

One of the Ullswater steamers

It was a hot afternoon, the first really warm days of the year and the first time the shorts had been dusted off and made their way out of the wardrobe. We plodded up building up a sweat in the process until we made it to Swarth Fell. I had missed out on the Birkett summit last time I was here so we made a stop prior to crossing the undulating grass to Bonscale Pike.

Swarth Fell

Ullswater

Bonscale Pike stands above the hamlet of Howtown at a height of 524m. The summit is marked by a cairn on an outcrop of rock though there is a fine pair of columnar cairns that are positioned on the rim of the crags. The lower of the two is optimistically referred to as Bonscale Tower though they are both similar both in appearance and height. After a quick pause for a bite to eat, we continued on, down into the valley of Swarth Beck. The erosive force of the short stream, over time, has widened the valley enough to create the two adjacent fells. After Bonscale Pike, the second of the two (when approached from the south) is Arthur's Pike.

Bonscale Pike's summit cairn

The two towers

Despite its name, Arthur's Pike is a pretty dour fell with no real prominence or interest, apart from the views down into Ullswater (though these views don't belong to the summit itself). We didn't stop for long, despite the warm weather, a cool wind quickly removed any semblance of summer.

Swarth Bek

Looking back to Bonscale Pike

Arthur's Pike

The vast expanse of Watches

Loadpot Hill rises up ahead in a smooth grassy swell - reached by following the High Street Roman road. It was not identified as a Roman road until the early 19th century, although it is named in 14th-century documents as ‘Bretstrett’ or ‘street of the Britons’, and so was evidently considered to be of some antiquity even at this date. It linked Brougham (Brocavum) to Ambleside (Galava). The Romans knew what they were doing - the walking is easy and Loadpot Hill is conquered in no time.

Loadpot Hill along the Roman road

Surprisingly, Loadpot Hill is adorned by an OS trig pillar, the only one we'd be passing today. Despite its relative lack of stature, Loadpot Hill seems to have put its efforts into being as large as possible, rather than as high. Including its ridge, Loadpot Hill covers an area of over 12 square miles.

An OS pillar on Loadpot Hill

Heading south from the summit we passed the ruins of Lowther House, an old shooting lodge. All that remains today is the old stone foundation and piece of the chimney breast. We followed the Roman road down in the depression that separates Loadpot Hill and Wether Hill diverting off to make a pathless traverse of the slopes above Groove Gill.

The remains of Lowther House

Groove Gill

Following the slopes to Gowk Hill

Drystone wall at the head of Fusedale

A very hazy Rampsgill

Loadpot Hill

Having managed to maintain a sensible height, we visited the top of Gowk Hill which marks the beginning (or end) of the narrow ridge of Steel Knotts. Gowk Hill has a fine view of  Rampsgill and The Nab but it was too hazy to really get any decent photographs. It had turned cold as well as the sun sunk behind a bank of cloud so we made our way swiftly along the ridge to Steel Knotts' summit.

A peek into Fusedale

The excellent Steel Knotts ridge

Boredale

The last rise of Steel Knotts

The Nab

Like Helm Crag, Steel Knotts is capped by an entertaining eruption of rock called Pikeawassa. I have no idea why it bears this name though 'pike' is an old variety of peak. 'Awassa' however, is a city in Ethiopia, an unlikely source for a small rock on a small mountain in England. Either way, to conquer Steel Knotts is to conquer Pikeawassa which we duly did.

Pikeawassa

The ridge continues north without losing much height before two options are presented. Head northeast and descend to Howtown to head north-west back to The Hause - obviously, your route will depend on where you've parked the car. We took the northwest ridge, a steep and loose route through Birkie Knott and Cotehow that finishes at the back of the Church of St. Peter.

Fusedale and Steel Knotts

Ullswater

Birkie Knott

The Church of St. Peter's

Despite the initial climb, this is a route that presents no real difficulties in terms of serious fell walking. The hilly ridge of Loadpot Hill is fairly gentle once you're on it - the Romans knew this, hence why they chose the ridge top rather than the valley bottom. As ever, the far eastern fells were devoid of people, even on a fine day like today. My advice - if you want to escape the crowds, get yourself to Martindale.

Troutbeck to Hartsop via Thornthwaite Crag and Stony Cove Pike

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Route: Limefitt Park, Garburn Road, Garburn Nook, Buck Crag, Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, Threshthwaite Mouth, Stony Cove Pike, Caudale Moor, Rough Edge, Caudale Quarry, Caudale Bridge, Sykeside, Hartsop Hall, Cow Bridge

Date: 11/10/2015
From: Troutbeck

Parking: Roadside Parking
Start Point: Limefitt Caravan Park
Region: Far Eastern Fells

Route length: 10 miles (16.1 km)
Time taken: 05:08
Average speed: 2 mph
Ascent: 1,135m
Descent: 1,114m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Yoke (706m), Ill Bell (757m), Froswick (720m), Thorthwaite Crag (784m), Stony Cove Pike (763m)

Other Summits: Caudale Moor (755m)

Other points of interest: Thornthwaite Beacon, Threshthwaite Mouth, Caudale Quarry

After an extended period exploring the Northern and Western fells, it was time to pay a visit to the Far Eastern Fells once again. I spent a number of weekends around here last year using a convenient base in Martindale to explore the fells around Bannerdale and Boredale. In the south of the area is one of the stars of the Lake District; the Kentmere valley and the rollercoaster of fells that embrace it.

It was a slightly disappointing day weather-wise - a low cloud draped itself across the very highest peaks. We were all set to use two cars to complete this walk; one stationed at Brother's Water at the end and one in Kentmere to begin with - a 40-minute drive away. We were aiming for the Garburn Pass which links Kentmere and Troutbeck and it wasn't until a spark of common sense urged us to start at Troutbeck instead, thus saving us a half-hour drive round to Kentmere. It's funny how one idea sticks in your head and seemingly blinds you to the obvious. Now earlier than planned, we headed off.

As I mentioned, the Garburn Pass joins Troutbeck and Kentmere via the depression between Sallows and Yoke and would provide us access to the open fells above Kentmere. We saved ourselves a few hundred metres of walking by climbing the steep slopes above the Limefitt Park caravan site where we joined the rough track up the pass. Despite the initial steepness of our detour, the track has a shallow gradient and is easy to follow, even in the worst weather.

Troutbeck and the route for the day, along the skyline in the centre

The track that runs across the Garburn Pass

Wansfell on the opposite side of the valley

The grass-covered slopes of Yoke

We left the Garburn road at the summit, now heading for Yoke; the first of a trio of fells along this particular ridge. Once again, the route has a very well laid path that provides a reassuring aid to crossing these fells. After a short visit to Buck Crag, the path steepens as it climbs the last 100m of Yoke, ultimately reaching a height of over 700m. Up until now, the scenery largely comprises of rolling upland and grassy hills but all that was about to change.

The Garburn Pass gives way to a more traditional path

Yoke from Buck Crag

Looking back to Sour Howes and Windermere

Kentmere Park

The bulk of Yoke hides the magnificent view across the crags above the Kentmere Reservoir; it is a fell with two distinct characters - grassy to the south and craggy to the north. Star Crag and Rainsborrow Cove separate Yoke from its neighbour Ill Bell.

Yoke's summit

Kentmere reservoir

Ill Bell up ahead

The path descends a short distance before it begins another climb, this time to the highest of the trio; Ill Bell. The climb is steeper than the previous one up Yoke but is much shorter. Ill Bell has a fine view back to the craggy side of Yoke and peers down into Over Cove and the River Kent. A series of fine cairns mark the top.

Ill Bell looms ahead

Looking back along the path to Yoke

Yoke

Panorama from Rainsborrow Cove

The summit of Ill Bell

Ill Bell's summit cairn

In a repeat of the route between Yoke and Ill Bell, the path descends once again only to regain the same height on Froswick which is near identical twin to Ill Bell. Ahead is the great bulk of Thornthwaite Crag, the watershed to rivers flowing either south to Morecambe Bay or north to the Solway Firth. The tall beacon can clearly be seen, even on a gloomy day like today.

Froswick with just a glint of sunlight shining upon it

Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag and Threshthwaite Mouth

Froswick

Threshthwaite Crag and Thornthwaite Crag

Harter Fell

Ill Bell

Heading up Froswick

Froswick's summit

Ill Bell from Froswick

It's around a mile to walk between Froswick and Thornthwaite Crag, the path climbing slowly the whole way until it reaches Thornthwaite Crag, the meeting point of a number of ridges. We stopped for a quick lunch in the shadow of the immense cairn and continued on in a similar up-and-down fashion as earlier in the day. Ahead of us was the low pass of Threshthwaite Mouth. I'm reliably informed that it's actually pronounced 'Thresh-et'.

Thornthwaite Crag

Looking back into Kentmere

Looking towards Troutbeck

Thornthwaite Beacon

Threshthwaite Mouth

A steep, loose path falls from Thornthwaite Crag into the pass which separates Troutbeck from Pasture Bottom and Hartsop. Both valleys display the quintessential characteristics of past glacial activities. I spent a few moments considering this, casting my mind back to my university days. It was as a less-than-obvious attempt to avoid the nagging fact that a steep climb beckoned. A steep climb back up to an elevation we had just left. A steep climb up Stony Cove Pike.

The top of the Troutbeck Valley

Caudale Moor over Threshthwaite Mouth

Thresthwaite Cove and Pasture Bottom

Looking back to Thornthwaite Crag

The steep climb up to Stony Cove Pike

Froswick and Ill Bell

The path levels out towards the top of Stony Cove Pike

Despite what I have just written, the climb isn't all that bad. In fact, it's more scramble than walk which always makes a climb that much easier. Before long we'd made it to the flat top of Caudale Moor. It's a pretty featureless place with a drystone wall crossing the top, stones from which form the large cairn at Stony Cove Pike - Caudale Moor's summit.

Cairn on Stony Cove Pike

A cross we stumbled across on the ground

The flat expanse of Caudale Moor

We wandered around for a bit and had a quick look at Mark Atkinson's memorial; a tall cairn that commemorates the previous owner of the Kirkstone Pass Inn. Two plaques are laid in the cairn, one to Mark and one to his son William. The Atkinson family owned and ran the Inn for many years having purchased it in 1914.

Mark Atkinson's Memorial

Plaque dedicated to William Atkinson

We went our separate ways at this point with a couple heading towards Hartsop Dodd, leaving me to have a look at Rough Edge, a steep ridge that falls parallel the Kirkstone Pass. It's not somewhere I've been before so I was keen to check it out.

Mark Atkinson's Memorial

Looking down Rough Edge

Caudale Head

The Kirkstone Pass

Red Screes and Middle Dodd

Rough Edge looking to Patterdale

Nestled high on the slopes of Rough Edge are the remains of the Caudale Quarry, once a source of green slate used for roofing tiles. Last worked in the 1930s, the ruined huts and collapsed levels are a sad reminder of a time long past and unlikely ever to return to Lakeland. The old sled run that used to ferry slate down to the valley below would serve its purpose once again, ferrying me rather than stone this time.

Caudale Quarry

Abandoned building in Caudale Quarry

An ominous-looking entrance



Caudale Quarry

Hartsop Dodd

High Hartsop Dodd across the valley

Hayeswater Gill draining the reservoir of the same name

A mile-long stroll alongside Brother's Water completed the walk with plenty of time to swap war stories in a cafe in Ambleside late in the afternoon - the perfect end to another great day of walking in the Lake District.

High Hartsop Dodd

Hartsop Dodd over Brothers Water

Cow Bridge