Hiley Website

We often get asked 'where Loweswater Lake is' when visitors stop outside our house.

The confusion arises from the "National Parks Suggested Walks" leaflet which suggests they start at the phone box by the lake.

The one they want is the grey box at the far end of the lake . . . ours is red and at this end.

Today we make a change and we also start our walk from the grey one . . . at the other end.

Parking for ten or more at the other phone box . . . the start of the National Park suggested walk.

We'll be different and head up the track to Askill Farm, signposted over there on the left.

A quick word of warning : The grey phone box here is no longer in use and has no phone inside.

There's no mobile signal either so in an emergency . . . find a local !

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It's a cool afternoon, feeling cooler down here due to the lack of sunshine and the slightly damp air.

It looks fine on the high fells but it will be arctic up there despite the sunshine . . . that's localised climates for you.

As we walk up the lane we can see Waterend Farm and Red Pike on the other side of the lake,

above the gabled roofs of Loweswater Hall, a large but very private house.

Zooming in on Red Pike and High Stile . . . with Pillar just seen over the back.

On the way up the lane we pass the ruins of Spout House Farm.	- - - o o o - - - There's nothing there that looks like this old Sheila Richardson photo. The picture to the left is presumably the farmhouse and this the barn.

We take the bridleway directly ahead rather than the track to Askill Farm

and approach the old Mosser Road from below.

The pines are in shadow but Darling Fell is shining bright in the strong afternoon sun.

	- - - o o o - - - The old hay cutter at the top of the track where the climb levels. It is an oft photographed piece of local history. It is in the field just beyond the gate that Ann is walking up to. - - - o o o - - -

Dylan knows the way . . . and he's first to the gate onto the Mosser Track.

A RAF Tucano prop aircraft flies close by . . . they are slower and quieter than the jets.

They also give you chance to change the lens to the zoom before they pass !

It heads off for a grand tour of the high fells and the valleys between.

We continue on at walking pace . . . and take the gate into the fields on the western side of Darling Fell.

There's a fine sky but also some low level clouds which strangely seem to complement the fells.

	- - - o o o - - - Below us as we climb is the old farm of Graythwaite and with it the north westerly view all the way to Scotland, seen here over the wind farms of the Solway. Dylan and Harry make the summit of Askill Knott. - - - o o o - - -

The views from here are superb despite not being on the highest summit of the area.

Below is Loweswater, then beyond is Mellbreak and Hen Comb with the high central fells in the background.

Harry and Ann on Askill with Darling Fell behind.

There's signs of old drainage on the more level ground below us . . .

. . . but it made little difference as we tried to re-cross the boggy bits.

- - - o o o - - - We retraced our steps to the Mosser Road and turned right, walking just a short way up the track. At the signpost we turned left and headed down towards Waterend. - - - o o o - - -

Warming sunshine up here on the top road . . . the sun enhancing the reds of the dying bracken.

One rather surprised Swaledale stares back at us.

Looking along the fence line we were struck by the smooth rounded nature of the tops of the clouds.

The cloud seems to be 'lenticular' in form . . . developing in the rising air as it flowed up and over the high ground.

Time for us to descend and move into the lower valley where the sun will no longer shine today.

Darker fields contrast with the sunny tops . . . that white dusting has been there for several days already.

Back down to where we started . . . time to drive along to the Grange Hotel

where, unknown to us, our friends have put the kettle on . . . bonus !

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