COCKLAW FELL &
GREEN QUARTER FELL from SADGILL, LONGSLEDDALE
Summary
Date - 26th April 2009
Distance - 4.75 miles
Map - OL7
Start point - Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale (NY
483057)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Cocklaw Fell
1197
365
NY 4806 0383
Hollow Moor on
Green Quarter Fell
1398
426
NY 4689 0395
Preface
Shaun asked "are we going out
tomorrow, as the weather is forecast to be dry and quite sunny?"
"Yes", replied Dad,
"but I have decided to have an easy day. We are going to
Sadgill in Longsleddale to tick off the Birkett top, Cocklaw Fell,
we have wanted to do for a while, and then on to Green Quarter
Fell again, which will allow Allen and Grizzly to get another
catch up of a Wainwright Outlying Fell.
"Great", said Shaun.
"They will be very happy about that", as he rushed off
to tell them.
The Walk
From the A6 north of Kendal, a
narrow road leads up the Longsleddale Valley and after a further
5.5 miles we arrived at Sadgill Bridge where the surfaced road
ends. Once Dad was ready we settled in his rucksack and off we
went. Crossing the bridge the route was along the Byway that
leads ultimately to the next valley Kentmere. It was a steady but
easy climb. As you would expect there were plenty of sheep about
with their lambs, and Dad snapped what we think is the epitome of
springtime on the fells.
After a gate we turned off the
Byway, going left on a bridleway and continuing to climb. The
view to the valley had opened up and Grizzly said, "that
will make a good picture Dad".
The buildings are the farm at
Sadgill Bridge, and you can clearly see the ongoing track that
leads over the Gatesgarth Pass to Mardale and the Haweswater
Reservoir. The prominent crags in the centre are Buckbarrow Crag,
that rises to the right to Tarn Crag on Sleddale Fell. Allen
remarked, "you have got to take me up there sometime Dad".
Dad did too a few months later.
At a convenient point we struck off
left to a gate, and once over, made the easy climb to the summit
of Cocklaw Fell. There was a fine view of Skeggles Water from
here.
Descending we crossed a boggy area
to regain the bridleway by a gate. Continued along the bridleway
to pass through another gate. Here we went right, and after Dad
had negotiated the fence it was a straightforward ascent of Green
Quarter Fell, its summit being Hollow Moor. This is adorned with
an old stone gatepost. While this is considered as the summit,
the Ordnance Survey actually marks the spot height a little
further on in the direction of Kentmere.
"Wow", exclaimed Tetley.
"Just look at that fantastic view of Kentmere. Please Dad,
take a picture." From front to back the tops on the left are
Rainsbarrow Crag rising to Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, and
distantly Thornthwaite Crag. Then going right at the back, High
Street and Mardale Ill Bell. The slopes to the right are of
Harter Fell.
The Green Quarter Fell chapter in
Alfred Wainwright's book on Outlying Fells, refers to visiting an
unnamed summit. Dad was determined to take us to it, so we
descended to a stile in the fence and then made a short ascent.
There is not even a spot height on the map, but someone has put a
few stones to mark the top. Using his GPS, Dad measured the
height and it was exactly 1370ft as AW states in his book.
Despite it being unnamed Dad took our picture to record our visit.
The descent led to another fence
that Dad followed to a wall corner. Climbing the wall, followed
by a steepish descent returned us to the Byway. Here going right
this was followed, passing where we had struck off on the
bridleway earlier, and then on down to Sadgill Bridge. Despite
being a short walk it had nevertheless been interesting and all
the tops in this area are now bagged by us all.