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

 

 

Back Up Next

Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright (c) Stephen and Lucy Dawson