Route: Fusedale Fells
Area: Far Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 30th July 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 7.9 miles
Weather: overcast with light rain and drizzle much of the time
This walk visits four fells which surround the lonely valley of Fusedale near Ullswater in the east of the district
I parked by St Peter’s Church Martindale and made my way along the lovely path towards Howtown. Just after Mellguards I turned sharp right up the fellside, almost missing the path which wasn’t clear at the start – a mini cairn consisting of three rocks was the sign. Once found, the path is obvious and it’s a fairly steep but easy climb up to the ridge line. The views along Ullswater from Bonscale Pike and its ‘twin towers’ were superb
The walk across to Loadpot Hill and thence to Wether Hill was a dull trudge – pathless at first – across a vast plateau of grass, made duller by patches of mist and an absence of views in any direction
It was a relief to start the descent towards the final fell, Steel Fell, and as I did so fine views of Ullswater appeared. There was no path at first but near Gowk Hill I spotted an obvious path which took me to the top of the fell with its sharp summit rock known as Pikeawassa. I had my picnic here, taking in the wonderful view
I took an off piste route down the fell, following the grassy slopes down the fellside in the direction of St Peter’s Church. The last section was quite steep but there were no difficulties. I’d enjoyed the walk despite the indifferent weather
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk - St Peter’s Church Martindale
Ullswater comes into view as I walk towards Howtown. Swarth Fell is ahead
Crossing Fusedale Beck and looking into Fusedale
Ullswater at the start of the climb up to Bonscale Pike
Looking back along the route so far - the start point is out of sight, just below the depression between the two fells
Zooming in on the Ullswater Steamer as it leaves Howtown jetty
Fusedale again. The final fell on the round is Steel Knotts on the right of the valley
Looking back to Howtown
Looking towards the north end of Ullswater
Summit of Bonscale Pike
Below the summit is Bonscale Tower and a slightly higher pillar
Bonscale Tower
Into the mist on the rather dull section between Bonscale Pike and Loadpot Hill
Trig point on Loadpot Hill, the only thing of interest to be seen from here today
Bonnie leads the way to Wether Hill over more open grassland
No views today from the summit of Wether Hill
On the way down from Wether Hill and below the clouds now, I make my way over to Steel Knotts
The Nab, where I’d had some great red deer sightings last month
Steel Knotts ahead
Pikeawassa, the rock which marks the summit of Steel Knotts - possibly the sharpest summit in lakeland
Looking across to Loadpot Hill and Wether Hill, where I’d been earlier
Bonnie
The pathless route which I took back down to St Peter’s Church, seen centre of picture
A last look across to Ullswater
Back to the start
