Blake Fell - Lake District Walk
Monday 7th November 2011
A sunny but cold day meant we had great views throughout this walk with the added bonus that as the ground remained frozen throughout the day we found ourselves able to traverse some normally damp areas easily without getting wet.
Start: Maggie's Bridge (NY 1346 2103)
Route: Maggie's Bridge - Holme Wood - Burnbank Fell (338) - Loweswater End on Carling Knott (339) - Carling Knott (340) - Blake Fell (341) - Gavel Fell - Floutern Cop (342) - Whiteoak Beck - Maggie's Bridge
Distance: 8.75 miles Ascent: 718 metres Time Taken: 6 hours 10 mins
Terrain: Predominantly on good paths.
Weather: Cold and sunny.
Pub Visited: Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater Ale Drunk: Melbreak Bitter
Early morning frost as we leave the car park and head for Carling Knott.
Darling Fell as we take our first distant look at Loweswater.
Darling & Loweswater Fells reflected in Loweswater, just before entering Holme Wood.
Having climbed up and left the wood behind the view behind us now includes Whiteside and Grasmoor.
Looking across Loweswater.
The Solway Firth is lost under the cloud, unlike Criffel.
After a short steep climb the summit of Burnbank Fell comes into view.
Time for a coffee break as we take in the views from the summit.
Looking back Skiddaw is now visible.
Bypassing Carling Knott's summit we make an out and back trip to the summit Birkett calls Loweswater End of Carling Knott.
Loweswater End's summit cairn.
The trip was worth the effort for the views across the valley, here looking across to Fellbarrow.
Turning round for a view of Mellbreak.
Heading back we reach the summit shelter of Carling Knott but opt to carry on to Blake Fell before stopping for lunch.
Looking back to Carling Knott as we start the climb up Blake Fell.
Our reward was lunch with a view, here looking across Sharp Knott to Owsen Fell.
The shelter was occupied when we arrived so we sat just below the summit looking over Croga Moss but no photo as it was directly into sunlight.
Although most of the time we were looking at the fells lined up ahead of us and trying to identify them.
Looking back to Blake Fell as we head for Gavel Fell. When we reached Gavel Fell I forgot to take any photos as we stood discussing our options and opted to extend the planned walk to take in Floutern Cop.
Looking across to Floutern Cop.
From Floutern Cop's summit, Mellbreak is lit up by the last of the day's sunlight.
All that remained was a surprisingly dry walk back down the valley, watching the shadows climbing up the side of Hen Comb.
Emerging from the shadow of Hen Comb, as the daylight starts to fade, the moon makes an appearance above Mellbreak.
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