Longlands Fell, Brae Fell, Great Sca Fell, Meal Fell
and Great Cockup
11 November 2012
The weather forecast was slightly ambiguous as to
where the best of the weather would be, and I decided to travel to the
Northern Fells to visit a few relatively little-frequented fells around
the back of Skiddaw.
I set off from Broughton in sunshine. Having crossed the watershed from
Yewdale, a view here towards the Langdales and Seat Sandal right of
centre, showing the valleys full of fog. As I descended towards Skelwith
Bridge, the fog was thick and it persisted like that until I started the
climb towards Dunmail Raise, all the people in Ambleside and Grasmere
unaware of how lovely the day was just above them.
Lingmoor Fell
So having parked where the road crosses Longlands Beck, I have started
my ascent along the long easy ridge of Longlands Fell whose top is in
mist.
The cairn on top of Longlands Fell.
I passed two groups of walkers including this one on the gentle descent
from Longlands Fell, and pulled away from them as I climbed Brae Fell.
Looking back to Longlands Fell centre-left on the ascent of Brae Fell
Water droplets on the grass
A large cairn on Brae Fell
A smaller cairn on Great Sca Fell, thoroughly in the clouds
And then all of a sudden, the cloud went. The view from the slopes of
Great Sca Fell. Ahead is my route over Meal Fell to Great Cockup. Near
the right of picture is Longlands Fell with Brae Fell hiding behind
Little Sca Fell on the far right. Beyond Great Cockup is the foot of
Bassenthwaite Lake, and on the horizon centre-right is the outlier of
Binsey.
From Meal Fell, looking back to Longlands Fell on the left, Brae Fell
centre, the unvisited Little Sca Fell and on the right Great Sca Fell.
The wall shelter on Meal Fell, not quite at the highest point
As I start the descent from Meal Fell, Great Cockup is ahead with its
two summits.
Looking back from Great Cockup over Meal Fell to Little and Great Sca
Fells, with the land rising on the right towards
Knott.
On the left
Little Calva and Great Calva while on the right Bakestall is in
front of
Skiddaw.
From the high point of Great Cockup looking towards the fell's lower
summit, with Binsey beyond on the right. Bassenthwaite Lake puts in an
appearance again. Although not showing up well on this photo, the hills
of Scotland were much in evidence across the Solway Firth
A last look at the North-Western Fells
The lower summit of Great Cockup with Binsey the last of the Lake
District fells. From here you can see why AW included it. The hills of
Dumfries & Galloway are more obvious in this picture.
An easy pathless descent on grass brought me to this crossing of the
infant River Ellen (the river at Maryport)
An easy track then takes me back to the car.
Improving weather and the opportunity for some good striding out on easy-going
territory.
Total distance 11.1 km and 581 metres of ascent in 3 hours 50 mins
Lake District weekend, November 2012
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