After a family day yesterday, I really didn't know what I wanted to do today. I should really have done a long fell run but didn't really have a lot of energy. I had considered having a go at Wrynose and Hardknott passes on my bike. Eventually, I decided to head to Pooley Bridge for a walk.
Here is the route:
The walk started with a wander along the shore of Ullswater from Pooley Bridge. I set off quite late and the sun was already high. The water was really still which made for some beautiful reflection shots.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lBFqrEQmVw7f7HzX7GmK22BXmzyJNcOdBcBc84OEPjgQA7KHK6Zf-XXz9WXWcPJ16hL7LUDmoNcov7leQlfiy3xTri4U94WWirca3TuHfgocJuRt8VuaiLX0tK9Gbx1QuTxe072drJV4/s640/100_2915.JPG) |
looking west from the north end of Ullswater |
I really hadn't considered the route I was going to take. I wanted to head up towards Arthur's Pike so I climbed up through Park Foot Caravan/Camp Site until a path lead off along the right hand (west) side of Aik Beck.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGBwmXKYN8uFnObRv7LfHqnt6AGdqG_MANV_Q4Vx2kGGPApo8mA4AZfzr2N2zAlxzAXvPzUgZmCWBRfITkAM8rf44VI22z9huTPdHMMfGXSOh3s3WG07jq6TQdJyDCBJw8fVTH6gZNyxJ/s640/100_2922.JPG) |
Looking back down Aik Beck. The path goes along the side of the wall in between the wall and the beck |
At the corner of the wall, the path splits. I headed south-west, not quite on the path of the Roman road, crossing Barton Fell to the multi-cairned summit of Arthur's Pike.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2l8QRdkSThRgARvZPxcXTmYQbRGZ8wqNX0BwXJ6ezTPf8Kl9QccXJVByLR_vZmKNAKAE0yzeUfezt4KeNK0UNfW5yeoOSkmSgS0dbumfR2JKBz9z7ei0mU4iYYfAdhE17EGHAuIdVeef/s640/100_2925.JPG) |
corner of the wall |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM37foWqrypRrDm2iRBodHP9z4-0ARIKcupnxlKsQCubSu1hD4E-jvCPLNYYXiTceuAqG-tfbvf52jFdr-vkDAIlRB__yxOOv1k4PQZ-NpRBzzGKaMcjIv4dKlbLFr_GT3v7eNFtRnjgEx/s640/100_2926.JPG) |
heading up to Barton Fell |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefC9Nm_yeSBSapqs3z72otNqDJeYj3NSYb6MrssQIpUlM4lw5IxOM34ABbWCrk11zUActFQA5mGDeNJrvcCvviak7zNg3CnSgp2nVHhaiiits0f0ghPAX2nDl9mRJBQOA29HHCOBIasNG/s640/100_2928.JPG) |
the climb to Barton Fell with a view over Ullswater |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZwrb_rZgSPDV8pegdGlx1fw3pxKfTOHdTAS6l-k_2986pJaZ9BlcreIXyhoRIjJWuw-QUDPBy38joBPIdASmrukzmPaPFEy86JW2cScBiCr_pruTAu01TN6cOr-zaHG0uOlpfDULrTdt/s640/100_2931.JPG) |
Barton Fell summit |
From Barton Fell, the track continues to Arthur's Pike. There are three cairns on Arthur's Pike. The views over Ullswater were just getting better and better.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxpS52-JGNWWLzcoK-CKZsaEx5vvzq-L80bp3nTueWUOL71S7G2bagy3gFdvNALKQmFlefG-K8LdY4Juh4vsZXNcPbDj97K9D7UPYuGo3Fx5PvOshFp2Y-9LTFjF_DScUG_HWRj3wOCdq/s640/100_2942.JPG) |
Arthur's Pike cairn and Beacon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRvYPpu7daMbzXXJLg3U6dpiHjjTG5C9zdq7oazVJM5NiHi_d5Icp9EOVpQbBwrNuWZ7X6NwpXarSLo0dYVTa2WsqfMg6dNLTZ9aRhyphenhyphenNlSKUY83NKp7sUWCzJFwy-wCBQ1n2tWa29l0uy/s640/100_2944.JPG) |
and the other cairn (I think this is the top) |
On to Bonscale Pike and the two towers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6-Y4obAHrY6UoB-QGUcmlQ7Qe6oZ5HIW5TK7hWIX-yScalhH7rV2lyDYUt8oF8_tqwk3-6TeLB4VYMeJggiZvEYv39HRJnMJOdx9D9rIYmLoCpkzUgtnUn0NRV4s3R95nAlo_jKUg9v2/s640/100_2951.JPG) |
According to Wainwright, the bottom tower is "The work of a craftsman" and the higher one is "The effort of amateurs" |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_WXc_KUoDXZBf3TPyOwBh2MM19EUfVEz5iuEGtdF5Gx_ft5g9NtaoqdaNKQBF0YyR9Bpv2-pivKHaTgcW74JuhtWoQhzZnC_U4hhg4PcffyI_k2gEJpMNWih8a5P5gDLFMzKNDexH_SS/s640/100_2952.JPG) |
Bonscale Towers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9hqZkdQIIYlBpZEe7LPaBdircmAUJTygVpf9C-CG4qKKwhtGAkXoTUFrW3aZUZMeWvC1iJd5dQ8PQsZKChMh_bFuilpucpJFRBy0UtOSO0deaQQvdDoGRSHOY6ZuxKfsagzPevXFOKqF/s640/100_2956.JPG) |
summit of Bonscale Pike (Hallin Fell behind) |
From Bonscale Pike, I did some planning and decided to head up to Load Pot Hill. The track crosses grassy land, going across the Roman road.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX1X5QlyLiXQXatmAkGkdlXgiHvyIOewiOdtGtKWBhbRiBvmNB08HhNxlL-yStdU14NaCrnfAgxzsH-TBRiRF1lgKJK6sbLuLdGNVVAIWIJF74qW0ox3JFI9dsKITzhXz_wr1JLBP5hru/s640/100_2958.JPG) |
up to Load Pot Hill |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtVr3Yh9sP5bqvhoROo8zXR7-WwNki6FeRmA-6uMc19FljEB0E2Cr6uuSaKjYCbvXEO51zHEkCWsg0fpC2c4bYEYxnMfN1qWVBVxjsl-1JJ6NPYNNP7329MZU9mwxdHViNL9wsSu33fZ0/s640/100_2959.JPG) |
looking towards the Eastern Fells |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKX1FUbZ_CTv4MNz-zH2WKsT-hAVDSssxaZo5S2G8bq6QRE-cIbKL_U1bRbieVcFMcedNoea-w142_BC5jj2cDetjr58Q91MuF32c8zw1cyrqccy1mZUOnoKTLQ5wCGg4lbA1nf2Zr6td/s640/100_2962.JPG) |
trig column on Load Pot Hill |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkUN1PeuNKW_FOxOI6O5kuf4xG4mChel5lOWLy-BPYIAm6Oe24lRAR0GOf2-pcFar7JVtahyV10unC7E4sw-A70hGQMcUEjeHYMVLOTCRtzipAkj76AJbJZG27lEcLPEmLyFmsJfNpeUI/s640/100_2966.JPG) |
looking back to the summit. Directly in front is a boundary stone with an L on it, maybe it stood for Lowther after the Lowther Estate. |
There are lots of ancient stones, stone circles, cairns etc around here. A bit further south from the picture above are the remains of Lowther House, an old hunting lodge. When Wainwright wrote book two in the late fifties, there was a complete chimney there (what a great place it would have been for a wild camp!) now it is little more than a pile of stones.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3jZISRk749z4W3KP-K0OJ1Pjubsvdyhdu8O5gQL-s1nWxC-ioCdGmGIdqODU8XyjBTZMfmDZhCkWm2r18dgz8a7QKclRgjlVcG6jPv3TlDU1kWjBPQBGtT6ni8tME7m6aytVuEwIE7di/s640/100_2970.JPG) |
remains of Lowther House |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxm0oN1RvsXyQ364OGi-uhq9p1Di2BQEcB28l2H-J0LRGfnZqjXLt-KSeqMhMQkHDzTPbg5HWnGCEUt4V2bqpjS7qlUFkKhpWEzGAoIu6v6oTx23UeK8eyKsvkLOiwPybFDP5MTXdiTgY3/s640/100_2972.JPG) |
Wether Hill |
Further along, across the muddy top, to the cairn of Wether Hill. I then took a path off the summit ridge west to head towards Steel Knotts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQdOSkOhB2EtkCfYthmJaESpDUDBhSW5Y1lIlN4eMVApQ_0HmwlbfFChQaDVcaaw4fiHGw6QV26ZjiZLT9_pfe7YO-bhzGZaapHFVh7C8Mc65ui4uX8lBRjdB3yZ7IUIcTAUsjeYRlzTD/s640/100_2974.JPG) |
The ridge of Steel Knotts. My route goes more or less along the wall |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWjgQ5NTX21m79-jKAehOIu9PmlB1dbfm5rdstSbukh4HloBPz_kw_DsHIFriyPCbq_RrR1AWpR9bSMZco3yyojBev2G7mDvFjrePBebwf1YyBUu0ZABAMYWQth8SSmBavc5GsdXjgrBW/s640/100_2976.JPG) |
heading to Steel Knotts |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFBLQP9l2KUVg5sk2SF8Z8VKGLVIFS8RVnTMMQFZkvDkeHPvluWnGXczvadggPc6glwXwFloRlQSrNTgpQZYlRYcoCSW67h5UxuFXQpVSfSHO6CDneCk4GHbfk-RWtbZc7BQykafh-Dvx/s640/100_2978.JPG) |
Ullswater along Fusedale valley |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMBmq1x7NDeEaYLHjZi4KLFhEPvhqxq83DfsncmPFLDj-d2NiOp3dPrFjYNf-xxT_FT0qukVePQ0-4CgCByImeG5oiGtij-IDQ-XYE_lwTpFcsSeDC6R0f9PPa4f3X5hdwbcX0LytST_B/s640/100_2981.JPG) |
The Nab |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-jJ2v_TRZlJK0CqO5IuuwWqJ06GzcOhYJw_dLF6eyq7WqQBjql_dCUPYcs9J-uo9vSBsAq_zTo4tXxmK4Mcn4S37gPVYCeMIxd2FY-EKSRvjB7QeHh9RKPHdiOWkO0W-c3gTniijw4nw/s640/100_2985.JPG) |
along to Steel Knotts |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgFRM4RbjWOdJWJu6LZN1-NYLqZ96CuVKpb4gTXeYMcy3YBwTIFn-4-KUDgt2wchC-18rLS3B4zoFioVDBPnDIfEzIl_ve3nmuJjOQ0b_f0K3lz4Nyx3rYhZH1nGLKg43YGTAHKeWn0pM/s640/100_2988.JPG) |
looking back from Steel Knotts |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFYkpVy_dm3Ux_XF8CJuc0RrbizfxTERYmUOb0OhTa6nGcmukfsgWESyF1orpsAbDRAC-d706NhocXvTUxh3OGcnFj3UKE-inzxtuKBQnzZqojp2QixycSGsh_symxSztpNjZ3GsPmhzz/s640/100_2993.JPG) |
Steel Knotts summit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxkAmrZ1jggXTj1WYSSlJ4rs4iIOP9ag0lKK7WMQdtFzFEKRlD-jC7L01yix1Tw-i2uXJh4YtmbK7LjO8-BV4Fmt8xlbhqULYB2UcGEfeRF-LVY6FSC_9grIz6KVXfyzB8eOCpucu24q4/s640/100_2997.JPG) |
cairn at the north of Steel Knotts |
From here, there was a steep descent to St Peter's Church and then straight back up to Hallin Fell.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4c1SzTEC441ZOa-H1Hemn2ifoXsTMAgIazu1Jnh8ksb34GkvnVf5G_7Sds8FTN8ZHxbZqrInOgjOiBqW8X-9MZqeHoZRNfl2CoG4mWTrHKaWb06RKCABFLxr8sp33Kx0aLvEgsaz4vTtZ/s640/100_2998.JPG) |
Hallin Fell. St Peter's Church centre |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXMPwIEOcIbPFc08GqZV44EhmTPvxM2bPWmTOee3Q8rlfBcD86R_VwxqxZxAFgXTokCmPq9QeptN4lEmBl5RPLr05MgwqYSJlIMO0cQetBrDw6lrnv4oSWllNsCXXRoY6LzkUmtKtG2VL/s640/100_3001.JPG) |
climbing up Hallin Fell, looking back |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7whZd-BEqM05OivLhO7yfAkjUiTqG5XOeWTpcNU0lsNTkWcuDSe7IcWER5WeFbOpqZPZPoKc_4jdxePd_-v46GKVNYvwU7g10feWV7ZCmQPL7M_g5kXMefi9d5go1B3C8066_G8aZz46l/s640/100_3002.JPG) |
summit of Hallin Fell |
Hallin Fell does occupy a pretty special place overlooking Ullswater. It seems like a popular thing to do was to park at the church and head straight up and down. There were plenty of people who were doing this.
I headed down from Hallin Fell, heading around the steep craggy parts. Soon enough I was in Howtown and looking at a long flat walk along the shore.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerpoO7sRrKOHa4TgS9aRworhkOoT9axSn5savdSrTbNFLbsn33Ch2gP1ce8yQXvdBvOGm_RC9b7V4wsdXVkE4eD2TjA4FpmQL58YGPvC1XaqQKnROyn9JwGjchgw2SINVNbGQ3BdCIz2f/s640/100_3008.JPG) |
Howtown |
But then, as I was walking past the pick up point for the Ullswater Steamers, I had an idea...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBauV37u1jgQ2_n3dMoWgGFb1VTZFLBkxVjD7s9PI3etMY8V5XxkpOjfzs-CVLGaV5-XZB5yi0GErDSl70zsenO7nfW-_oTwT_R_obiVuigQSut8GhYr02t6s_Edt60QaJdqSHnj5oQruR/s640/100_3011.JPG) |
I got to the pick up point, just as one of the steamers were coming. I decided it was meant to be! |
Relaxing now on the steamer, I finished my drink and enjoyed the scenery, looking back at the route I had just taken.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZbuTzHa0zFcsBYRnpEBGDG_zwPY47_TFKvZrqvbmZJcqpDrvyQgp5oESqWZvAHGjsOjS5llhb_GR66tT15QqXBmI80mYW3nTlbJ9miQH43KqOShvZTN1Kod5morHFM8mOmzlW8aU1VqV/s640/100_3024.JPG) |
The Sharrow Bay Hotel, where Paul McCartney proposed to Heather Mills |