| Area: | Lake District | Ascent: | 1031 feet |
| Walk No: | 121 | Time: | 4 hours 15 minutes |
| Date: | 10th February 2008 | Parking: | Askham (NY 513237) |
| Distance: | 8.75 miles | Weather: | Fine and sunny. (Mist at first) |
| Route: | Askham - Heughscar Hill - Heugh Scar - The Cockpit - Tarn Moor - Cop Stone - Helton - Whale - Askham |
Once again the weatherman had given a beautiful day although misty at first. As we travelled up the M6 the views across to the Howgill Fells at the south end of the Lune Gorge were magnificent. The valley bottom was filled with cloud just up to the level of the motorway and the Howgills stood proud above this. As we reached Tebay however the cloud level was higher and we were soon in quite dense fog until we reached Askham. We set off from Askham for Heughscar Hill and as we gradually gained height we came out of the cloud with views across to the North Pennines. Reaching Heughscar the views down into the Ullswater valley were unbelievable. The valley bottom was filled with dense white cloud with the fells behind looking like islands in a sea of white. This cloud inversion did not quite match our walk on the 20th December 2006 only because there was an haziness to the views whils on that occassion the views were more clearer. From Heughscar Hill we made our way to "The Cockpit" and then to the "Cop Stone" of which more later. From the Cop Stone we descended first to Helton and then to Whale from where we returned to Askham.
When we arrived at Askham it a bit on the misty side.
As we walked up towards the fellside the sky was getting bluer although the visibility was not that good
As we gained height we broke out of the mist and opened up views across the Eden Valley to the North Pennines.
Looking back down to Askham with the North Pennines in the distance
It was hard to resist the urge to keep looking back
Looking towards the northern end of the High Street.
We met this couple with their four dogs near Heughscar Hill. After making an initial fuss of Edith they kindly obliged with this picture.
What no water!!!!!......The Ullswater valley was covered in an estimated 300' thick blanket of cloud.
The views above the cloud inversion were just a little on the hazy side.
But still quite far reaching as this close up of the Mell Fells and Blencathra shows
The little "knobble" in the middle of the cloud is Dunmallard Hill near Pooley Bridge. It is about 800feet high and stands 330feet above Ullswater, hence a cloud thickness of about 300feet.
A view towards the High Street fells
Looking towards Arthur's Pike with the Helvellyn Fells in the distance
A close-up of the last picture showing Hallin Fell, Place Fell and the Helvellyn ridge.
Heughscar Hill summit cairn
"Ewe think this is good!......I see it quite often"
Great Mell Fell and Blencathra
Descending on our way to "The Cockpit"
But first a coffee break besides this cairn
A short video from our coffee stop (Hope it works!)
"The Cockpit".....A Bronze Age stone circle about 25 metres in diameter.
This seems an appropriate place to break. For Part 2 of this walk click HERE
Last Walk: 9th February 2008 -- Arnside Knott
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