For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

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I had finished yesterdays walk with a bit of pain in my neck but overnight it seemed to have settled down a bit. The day was again fine & sunny although colder so after breakfast and with a couple of high strength Co-Codamol inside me we made our way to the South Lakes for this short walk. I had hoped to add Brant Fell onto the walk but decided against it when my neck again started playing up and we settled for a visit to Fell Foot Park on the way home instead.

Route Map

Having parked the car we made our way along the lane on the Dales Way passing by Cleabarrow Tarn.

The lane is metalled at first but soon gives way to an unmade track after the houses.

Now the rough track wends it way northwards towards Heathwaite with Red Screes visible ahead.....

....shortly passing this relatively new "tarn" which now appears to be a permanent feature. I keep meaning to see if one of the becks as been dammed to make it but never remember to do so.

We continued along the lane for a short distance before leaving it to the right at the fingerpost ahead which marks the route of the Dales Way.

Our path continued gently upwards along the Dales Way. Just through the gate ahead at the two trees we turned right through a gate to follow the Dales Way a little further before turning off to the left towards Grandsire.

Having passed through the gate, a look back and a view of the Coniston Fells.

Gaining a little height and the Crinkle Crags and Bowfell make an appearance over the slopes of School Knott.

Looking over to School Knott. We stopped here for a few minutes to watch the farmer and his dog working some sheep off to the right.

Looking down on School Knott tarn as we continued on our way to Grandsire.

We were joined here by the previously mentioned farmer whilst his dog was gathering the sheep together.  The sheep were being taken down nearer the farm for scanning to identify any barren or multiple births. The dog, which wouldn't stay still long enough for a picture was totally blind in one eye but it didn't seem to bother it in any way.

Grandsire summit with distant Howgills....

....and again with Reston Scar and Brunt Knott.

School Knott, Windermere and an array of Lakeland fells from Grandsire. You can see the farmers tractor just below the summit. He and the dog had already taken one lot of sheep down to the right and now they were on there way back with the ones from here.

We made our way back along the ridge towards the Dales Way with some fantastic views to the nearby fells.

Meanwhile farmer and dog were on there way back to the tractor and then to the farm having collected the sheep off Grandsire.

We made our way down to School Knott tarn...

....and then to the other end before...

...starting the short climb to School Knott.

A look back to Grandsire and the Howgills as I take yet another breather....

....and a peek over Reston Scar and Hugill Fell to Brunt Knott.

At the summit we were blessed with the most gorgeous of views. Not entirely unexpected as we had seen them from Grandsire but now the town of Windermere and also the lake bearing the same name was open before us.

The Coniston Fells over Claife Heights.

Not a breath of wind as the smoke rises vertically....an old fisherman at Morecambe used to call this a " Paddy's Hurricane " ....funny how you remember things.

School Knott tarn again as we make our way back.

Back at the "new" tarn.

As we made our way back we were deciding where to visit on the way home. Bowness was only a few minutes away but we decided on somewhere a little quieter.

The National Trust's Fell Foot park at the foot of Windermere near Newby Bridge won both votes.

It is a lovely spot to visit for a walk around or for a picnic.

Unfortunately today the cafe is closed but we still had some coffee in the flask which was enjoyed along with the views up Windermere and here to Gummer's How.

Next Walk:      15th January 2012 - South Cumbria - Dallam Park & Deer from Beetham.

Last Walk:       12th January 2012 - Arnside & Silverdale AONB - Arnside Knott & Tower from Silverdale.

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