Gavel Fell
Walk Date – 28th June 2014
Distance – 6 miles
Weather – a sunny start then very cloudy and cool
Route
Its a beautiful day as we park up at Maggie’s Bridge, Loweswater for a walk up Gavel Fell. Here’s a view of Carling Knott standing tall between the trees while I wait for the driver to get his boots on.
Looking towards Gavel Fell on the left, Carling Knott on the right.
Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell.
Two of the Loweswater fells, Darling Fell left and Low Fell on the right.
We’re properly on our way now and walking up to High Nook farm.
“Could you walk a little more quietly please, some of us are trying to have a nap. Really, some of these walkers show no consideration.”
Walking through the yard at High Nook farm, the barking dogs are still there and making a terrific din as we walked by.
The path continues beyond the farm yard, through this little wooded area and then out on to the open fell side.
Gavel Fell is straight ahead of us as we continue climbing up towards High Nook Tarn.
… and the walls came tumbling down. I don’t think Joshua had anything to do with it though, its what walls do from time to time. Constant exposure to the elements gradually weakens them and then they just collapse. I have the same trouble myself at times.
Through the gate without any more wall collapse and a view of Whiteside and Grasmoor beneath the gathering clouds.
On the way to High Nook Tarn, which is hidden somewhere in that mass of greenery.
High Nook Tarn, it would look a whole lot nicer in the sunshine, unfortunately that disappeared quite a while ago.
Leaving High Nook Tarn and the cloud is increasing. The area around the tarn was quite roughed up for some reason.
Leaving the tarn we turn our attention to making our way up Gavel Fell. The path is just about visible in the bracken.
High Nook beck cutting its way between the lower slopes of Blake Fell on the right and Gavel Fell on the left.
Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor appear over High Nook Tarn.
Oh dear, its all looking very gloomy indeed, where’s that beautiful morning gone?
Looking along Lorton Vale from higher up the path. The bracken was shoulder high up the steep hillside and finding the path wasn’t too easy, pushing through the bracken felt as though we were hacking our way through a jungle. Still, it did have its uses, it was so tall and strong that it came in handy to pull myself up with. I couldn’t see over it so I had no idea where I was going.
The bracken at last gave way to the open fell side and we get a view looking towards the coast with Blake Fell on the right. It would be nice to have some of that blue sky over us but the grey stuff stubbornly refuses to go away.
Lorton Vale and the Loweswater fells under a blanket of cloud.
Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor over there on the skyline.
Another look over at Grasmoor as we near the summit of Gavel Fell, its much easier underfoot now, nice and grassy and a lot less steep.
Gavel Fell summit and a new fence, which just one man was busy installing.
Gavel Fell summit. Take a line up from the fence and in the distance is Great Gable and, across the U shaped gap, its neighbour, Kirk Fell. Now that we’ve cooled down from the exertion of the climb up I think its time the windproofs went back on, its feeling a bit nippy up here right now.
There are plenty of fells on view from Gavel Fell summit its just a shame they all look a bit gloomy. We were promised a better day than this but at least its not raining, well not, yet although it does look as if it could do at any moment.
Hen Comb from the descent off Gavel Fell. We haven’t been over there for a while either so it’ll have to go on the ‘time to re-visit’ list.
Mellbreak behind the long plateau on Hen Comb.
Looking back along the descent path beside Hen Comb. It has turned ominously dark overhead, will it rain, and if so will we escape it?
Whiteoak beck meandering along between Gavel Fell and Hen Comb.
High Nook Tarn from the descent path. Now that we’re above it it looks as though the rough area around the tarn might be the result of land slippage from the slopes of Gavel Fell.
Finally, the southern end of Loweswater with Low Fell behind as we descend back to Loweswater and the car park. Well, it all started off so well but our high hopes of a sunny walk were dashed all too soon. Still, the rain never materialised for which one can only be eternally grateful.