As the first walk in my
series, I decided on the walk connecting Bleaberry Fell, High Seat and
High Tove. Not, I hasten to add, because I couldn't wait to do it
again - rather the opposite: it is renowned as probably the boggiest
long stretch of high fell in Lakeland, and indeed the first time
I did it, the intention was for the first time to coincide with the
last time. So now it's out of the way!
Having said that, apart from the conditions underfoot, it was a lovely crisp, sunny day and the views were delightful, so we will ignore the squelchy socks and concentrate on the delights to come.
The dogs and I started at Ashness Bridge, which was crowded with Easter week visitors, and climbed up around Falcon Crag to Bleaberry Fell. We then turned south to High Seat and High Tove, shot across to pick up Armboth Fell, descended from High Tove to Watendlath, and then wended our way back to Ashness. Here are some pictures (click on any picture for a larger version).
Having said that, apart from the conditions underfoot, it was a lovely crisp, sunny day and the views were delightful, so we will ignore the squelchy socks and concentrate on the delights to come.
The dogs and I started at Ashness Bridge, which was crowded with Easter week visitors, and climbed up around Falcon Crag to Bleaberry Fell. We then turned south to High Seat and High Tove, shot across to pick up Armboth Fell, descended from High Tove to Watendlath, and then wended our way back to Ashness. Here are some pictures (click on any picture for a larger version).
 |
The dogs were
raring to go, as usual, and who could blame them on a day like this? |
| The Derwent was
flowing sedately within its banks (last week it was flooding), and
there was no hint that yesterday it was snowing, hailing and sunny all
on the same day... |
 |
 |
The
view north across the top of Walla Crag to Skiddaw |
| The
path up to Bleaberry Fell. Steep towards the end, but dry all the
way... |
 |
 |
The
cairn near the top of Bleaberry Fell, with Skiddaw, Bassenthwaite Lake
- and Scotland - in the distance. |
| The
start of the bog, with the Helvellyn ridge in the background. |
 |
 |
Samba
getting well stuck in... |
| An
island in the bog: the top of High Seat, with Sophie not particularly
impressed. |
 |
 |
The
plateau at High Seat is really quite wide: probably over a mile.
And this is what it looks like. The trouble is that you have to
spend your time looking intently down at it, to avoid losing your boot
in the bog*, rather than at the high fells in the distance... * No kidding: my young daughter once did just that between High Seat and High Tove - but then I have to admit that she was also the daughter who fell over skiing and was parted from not just her ski but also her ski-boot. She does now remember to tie her boots up... |
| We
will draw a veil over the excursion down and across to Armboth Fell,
and then back to High Tove. From there you descend west to firmer
ground and Watendlath. |
 |
 |
This
picture shows the beck emerging from Watendlath Tarn. |
| The
little waterfall just below the hamlet. |
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The next walk should be
the Newlands Round on April 12th.