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" Blake Fell with Sherran and Bill "

Date & start time: Thursday 24th March 2011, 12.40 pm start.

Location of Start : Felldyke car park, Lamplugh, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : Cogra Moss, Low Pen, High Pen, Blake Fell, Sharp Knott and back.

Walk details : 6.2 mls, 1500 ft, 4 hrs 15 mins including lunch.

Highest point : Blake Fell 1,878ft - 573m.

Walked with : Sherran and Bill, Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Sunshine and warm temperatures but hazy.

 

Blake Fell and Cogra Moss at EveryTrail
 

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The sunny weather has reached us here in the Lakes and our friends are up with their caravan and enjoying it to the full.

They drive over to us today and we explore the Loweswater Fells, but from the western side for a change.

Sherran packs her sack as Bill tests out his muscle strength before lifting his (?)

First . . . cross the field using the track to the reservoir.

Observant viewers will note the shorts . . . the first time this season . . . will the weather be kind today ?

Cogra Moss Reservoir looking across to Blake Fell, our target for today.

Harry's first aim, however, was to immerse himself in the lake.

Sherran looking pleased to be out.

We would climb the summit behind her ( Low Pen ) shortly.

The old water board fence has seen better days . . . but we've seen few better days for walking so far this year.

Taking the diagonal path on the first steep climb of the afternoon.

The old path follows below the left hand tree line, the trees down to the right having been cleared a few years ago.

As we walked up, these two young ladies ran down, they too were enjoying the mild weather.

The person we had seen in the distance on their descent from the summit turned out to be Margaret, a neighbour of ours.

Bethan races ahead to greet her and see if the usual dog treats are on offer, even out here on the fells.

I can't remember if she was barking or chewing her treat, either way she was looking happy.

On the other side of the fence, with no way through,

was Dillon the black lab,

Margaret's companion.

 

The three dogs see each other most days

as Margaret walks past the house

on her daily dog walks.

The couple who we passed on the diagonal path up have now reached and overtaken us.

They were from Bothel here in the Lake District, and were the parents of one of the lady runners we saw earlier.

Apparently their meeting with their daughter was totally unplanned.

They also knew Margaret who we had just been talking to . . . it's a small world.

Knock Murton with Cogra Moss reservoir which is well below us now.

The weather today is a little hazy and unfortunately the long distance views of Scotland are missing.

Looking back at Low Pen from our ascent of High Pen.

That's still Knock Murton beyond and our view now takes in more of the hazy Solway coast.

Once we meet the fence from Gavel Fell our path starts to curve round towards Blake.

The views north east include the Lorton Valley, Whiteside, Hopegill and Grasmoor.

Sherran bringing up the rear for a change as we look south east this time at the Buttermere Fells.

The main four are Dale Head, Fleetwith Pike, High Stile and Pillar in Ennerdale Valley.

The summit shelter on Blake.

We chose the grass just a little further down to sit and enjoy our lunch.

From here we could enjoy the view of the reservoir as we relaxed in the sunshine.

From Blake we cut down to Sharp Knott

and then doubled back a few hundred yards to take the obvious track down to the forest.

Last visit I seem to remember a tricky time trying to find a path through the trees.

This time we headed directly for the stream north of Blake and found an easy, if steep path down.

Taking care on the loose surface so as not to drop the last fifty feet into the ravine below.

   
This time we found the forest track with no problem . . .
. . . and followed it down, passing firebreaks like this on the way.

It's those legs again . . . at least I warned you earlier !

We exit the older forest plantation and the thicker trees and emerged into a wide clearing with clear views once again.

Down nearer the lake we look across the open ground, some of which has been replanted with new larch.

Our track will curve round and cross in front of the older trees opposite.

Looking across the lake this time at a shaded Knock Murton.

New deciduous planting around the lake appears to have been a joint project

between the National Trust and the Cockermouth Angling Association

Rather damp ground as we walk around the lake. . .

. . . not as damp as this bit though.

Most of the old scaffolding fishing platforms have been removed over the last few years

but this one still remains to take fishermen and others out to the small island.

First though you have walk on the water !

Still . . . there's a comfortable chair if you make it successfully.

   
Someone throw me a stick . . . .
. . . please !

She got that one . . . have you got another ?

Making our way back across the board walk . . .

. . . easy apart from the last fifteen feet !

Back across the reservoir dam and here the calm waters reflect the orange of the stonework

and the white tubes and spikes of the tree planting behind.

More delightfully though, the water reflects the round we have just completed.

All that remains is to return to the car at the end of a lovely, sunny four hour walk.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed . . . with the warmth of Spring in the air.

Go to Top . . . © RmH.2011 . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 14th-17th March 2011 Swansea and Camberley

A previous time up here - 1st April 2007 Adventures of (the) Blake Seven

Next walk - 26th March 2011 Meal Fell and The Knott