Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

Walk & Event Reports

Wednesday 22nd February 2017

Hart Side - Ullswater

8 Miles Grade 3

Leader: Geoff Entwistle

Report by Geoff Entwistle

17 members, most of whom completed the walk, enjoyed a somewhat soggy and windy walk on the fells to the north of the top of Ullswater. From Dockray we gently ascended across open country to follow the intake wall past Swineside Knott to the Brown Hills, a superb viewpoint of upper Ullswater and the surrounding fells. The main ascent followed a stone wall, which provided some welcome relief from the wind, and also a good lunch stop. A short ascent took us to Hart Side, a Wainwright, the high point of the walk. The view was superb, all the high fells, and even Cross Fell being visible, however our visit was brief because of the wind. Leaving the summit we traversed to another noted viewpoint, Birkett Fell, so named after Lord Birkett, whose impassioned speech to the House of Lords is credited with preventing Ullswater becoming a reservoir. After a fairly steep and boggy descent we arrived at Dowthwaitehead Farm. Why can steep paths still be boggy? the water should flow away. Field paths near Aira Beck took us to Green How, from where a short minor road walk led back to Dockray. The walk concluded with refreshments in the nearby Royal Hotel.

Geoff