Lake District Tuesday14th June 2016
Pooley Bridge-Arthurs Pike-Bonscale Pike-Loadpot Hill
(9.8 Miles, 6 Hours)
After a showery Monday the weather improved again for a longer fell walk on Tuesday.
We had seen the ability to park cars at Roehead about a mile uphill from Pooley Bridge, and this would save us 2 miles on a 3 Wainwright trek of Arthurs Pike, Bonscale Pike and Loadpot Hill.
The route took us up the same track we had come down on our previous walk and up to the path interchange at the Cockpit. Here we headed off right away from the High Street path and towards our 1st Wainwright summit of Arthurs Pike.
Views from the lower track along Ullswater and the ferry coming into Pooley Bridge.
Lovely easy grassy paths and fantastic views and the day stayed dry. Perfect walking weather.
First Wainwright of Arthurs Pike (1745ft) and stopped to admire the wonderful lake views.
The view across to Hallin Fell, no low mist today.
The view ahead to our next waypoint in the foreground and Helvellyn in the far distance.
After an easy slight down off Arthurs Pike and an easy up to Bonscale Pike (1719ft) we arrived at the 2nd Wainwright and took a long lunch stop. The view here was even better and most of Ullswater could be seen.
Coming down off Bonscale Pike was easy, but it was a fair trek over to Loadpot Hill, eventually rounding the bottom of it along grassy tracks before a steeper pull over the top.
Not so great views at the top of Loadpot Hill (2201ft), but the 3rd Wainwright, we did not stop for too long and carried on straight over pausing just for a picture and drink stop.
From here the way back linked to the main High Street path after coming down off Loadpot Hill and a long, but easy trek back the start, joining the path down to Roehead at the Cockpit once again.
A fantastic walk with no technical difficulties and really brilliant lake views. Highly recommended as al longer but easy walk.
Our Walk Score: 8/10
Lake District Friday 10th-Sunday 12th June 2016
Yet another trip to the Lakes only a few weeks since the last trip.
This time we stayed near Ullswater at The Old Bothy,Watermillock on Friday 10th June.
As usual as route across the A66, calling at Mainsgill farm shop for a breakfast lunch, supermarket shopping in Penrith and arriving mid afternoon.
The Old Bothy is in a secluded position off the Ullswater road and up a lane before turning right down the narrow track shown above to a dead end and 2 properties together.
Though it looks quite small the property was very roomy indeed as it goes back some way as well as the bedrooms, conservatory, and bathroom accessed below via a spiral stair case.
A nice sitting out area at the front on wooden decking looking across wild field to the Ullswater Fells such as Hallin Fell.
The spacious living room and kitchen.
She spiral staircase down to the 2 bedrooms and bathroom.
Corridor below linking bedrooms, bathroom and conservatory
Bathroom with large bath and walk-in shower.
Large spacious conservatory looking onto back lawned garden and woodland.
and back up stairs to the living room.
Sunday 12th June 2016 - Pooley Bridge Walk (Barton Park/The Cockpit)
(6 Miles, 3 Hrs,10 mins)
Having spent a steady Saturday around Keswick and the weather not been great we took the opportunity for a short walk on Sunday as the weather promised to be a little better till later in the afternoon.
We parked in the pay and display in the village just after the (rebuilt) temporary? bridge at Pooley Bridge.
The Lakeshore path from the car park was quite busy on this fair Sunday morning. We stopped to admire the beauty of Ullswater.
There are many camping and Caravan sites along this side of the lake, and after passing these and the smell of various breakfasts cooking, after about a mile we headed left up a land to farm buildings, then across the edge of fields and the new Ullswater Way signage.
The tracks then led us uphill along grassy tracks up to a more stoney wider track and excellent views down Ullswater.
This easy path passes Barton Park and the base of Barton Fell, before linking with the main High Street path.
Excellent views across to Hallin Fell, though the low cloud prevailed.
Once we joined the grassy wide High Street it was an easy walk to a low stone circle "The Cockpit" and an interchange of paths.
The track bearing left led us easily back down to Roe head, and we noted that there was space here for quite a few cars with a narrow lane leading back to Pooley Bridge, approaching the village from the other end. We alighted at the small mini roundabout and headed left through the village.
A great ice cream was devoured with relish, before heading back to the car park and the end of a super low level short walk. Highly recommended for a morning or afternoon.
Our Walk Score: 7.5/10
