Loweswater to Lamplugh

via: Carling Knott, Blake fell, 

Knock Murton & Cogra Moss

11miles 3400ft

Setting off from the north side of Loweswater....

.....and climbing a short distance up the side of Darling fell for a view of Carling Knott catching the early sun. 

Carling Knott will be the first serious climb of the day

Walking now to the south side of Loweswater as the sun appears....

....and again

Crossing Holme beck in Holme wood

A break in the trees affords a view east to Whiteside & Grasmoor fells

Climbing above the tree line....

....and onto the summit of Carling Knott. The north end of Crummock water lies below Grasmoor

Looking over the misty valleys to the Coledale fells

Grasmoor and Crummock water again as I followed  the ridge to....

Blake fell summit, today's highest point 1880ft.

Cogra Moss reservoir is in front of the conical

Knock Murton, my last climb today

Continuing along the ridge with Buttermere and Fleetwith pike to the south

Descending now from Middle fell and heading to Knock Murton....

....Ennerdale water comes into view....

....before reaching the summit of Knock Murton after a steep climb but only to its 1467ft

A last descent followed through Cogra Forest....

Leading to the side of Cogra Moss reservoir....

....where these fishermen didn't seem to be having much luck in the cold wind

A final gentle stroll for a mile or two took me to....

St Michael's church Lamplugh for my lift back to Loweswater

The terrain in the far north west fells always seems quite different from the rest of the lakes. There is more grass underfoot and the fells are rather less rugged.

This was another great day's walking with a cold strong wind on the summits. A definite feeling of the approach of winter.

 Coniston to Tilberthwaite

      via Boulder valley, Swirl How  

and Wet Side Edge 10miles 3300ft  

Setting off from the centre of Coniston village....

....then climbing alongside the beck in Coppermines valley

Leaving the valley I followed the path into Boulder valley....

....Boulder valley is named because of the massive boulders found along its length

Some are at least the size of two double decker buses

Emerging from the valley with a view to Coniston village and lake....

....and passing the workings of the disused copper mines....

which are above Levers water. Leaving Levers water I climbed to the Coniston fells ridge and headed north through the clouds to....

.....Swirl How summit, today's highest point at 2631ft 

Further north along the ridge is Great Carrs fell summit with the remains of an American bomber plane which crashed 22nd October 1944 with the loss of all 8 crew

As I left the summit the sun was just beginning to appear through the clouds and stayed for the rest of the day.... 

....including while I sat here for lunch in lovely warm sunshine admiring the view down Wet Side edge into Greenburn....

....and down to Little Langdale tarn....

....and back to the ridge I'd crossed earlier

Continuing down the ridge I could see the summit of Wrynose pass....

.....and down towards Little Langdale...

.... there was also a good view of the Langdale pikes

from L to R 

Pike 'o' Stickle, Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle & 

Pavey Ark

The remainder of the walk was a delightful stroll through Little Langdale....

....passing Little Langdale tarn....

....and finishing here in Tilberthwaite

A great day's walking with interest, and variety of scenery & weather!!

 Day 3 Carnforth to Carlisle

Bowston to Windermere via Potter Tarn, Staveley, Reston Scar, & the Dales Way 15m 2400ft

Parking up near the Handsome brewery by the river Kent in Bowston village

Crossing the river before climbing to Potter fell....

....with a view over the misty Kent valley to Scout & Cunswick scars of 'Day 2'....

....a relatively short climb leads up to Potter Tarn....

....then descends back to the river Kent in Staveley

A second climb followed immediately after Staveley to Reston Scar, a very familiar sight to motorists driving towards Windermere on the A591. It affords a great view back  down to Staveley....

.....with a train in Staveley station on the Kendal to Windermere line

Looking north from the summit to the service area at Ings village

A colourful descent brought me to Ings village....

....and the Watermill Inn and today's second brewery just off the main road in the village

My route then joined the Dales Way path which goes 80 miles from Ilkely in Yorkshire to Windermere 

Part of the Dales Way....

....and again....

....it then descends into Bowness

Leaving the Dales Way I then followed the lakeside....

....until the final climb up Queen Adelaide's hill Windermere to await my lift back to Bowston

A shame about the weather but nevertheless still a lovely walk and at least there was no rain