Start point - Junction of
Croasdale to Lamplugh road with road to Kirkland (NY
087183)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Kelton Fell
1020
311
NY 0940 1813
Godworth
1197
365
NY 1009 1829
Banna Fell
1496
456
NY 1162 1739
Floutern Cop
1480
451
NY 1223 1737
Gavel Fell
1726
526
NY 1169 1838
High Nook on Gavel Fell
1601
488
NY 1203 1891
High Pen
1558
475
NY 1099 1890
Low Pen
1427
435
NY 1044 1894
Knock Murton
1467
477
NY 0946 1907
Preface
"The weather is forecast to be
brilliant tomorrow with cloudless skies and hot sun", said
Shaun.
"Yes, replied Allen
breathlessly. "Dad has just told me that we are going to do
the first of those walks to tick off the Birkett tops in the
Western Fells".
"Magic", cried Tetley,
"I can't wait".
The Walk
We were up and off about 07:15, as
it was a long drive almost to Ennerdale. The start point was by
the road junction, Dad parking on the side verge nearby. The
track led off behind the football score signpost.
Through the gate, the clear track
led by hawthorn bushes glorious in blossom. At the end we passed
through another gate, and here Dad walked right along a track,
before climbing right to the summit of Kelton Fell at a cross of
walls. Here the wide view of the landscape opened up across to
the coast, and beyond through the haze we could quite clearly see
the Isle of Man. Aunt Tish and Uncle Eddie were in our thoughts,
as they come from the Isle of Man.
Descended to the track, and then
ahead over boggy ground to come to the path climbing up again.
"Wow", called out Tetley.
"Just look over there. What a fantastic view of Ennerdale
Water. That is Crag Fell behind and the crag below is Anglers
Crag. Do you remember that we walked along there and to that
summit with Uncle Bob."
"Yes", we all agreed.
After taking this
picture Dad walked on up, and very soon we were arrived at the
cairn marking the top of Godworth.
Beyond we climbed on up, then
descended into the ravine of Croasdale Beck. Hidden in a small
side ravine is the waterfall of Comb Gill. We thought this was
very pretty, and reckoned that very few people who visit the Lake
District ever see this.
A number of streams feed into this
ravine, and Dad got a little disorientated, so choosing the wrong
one to climb up by. In effect we did the other two sides of a
square, requiring a bit more ascent, to achieve the flat topped
summit of Banna Fell. No cairn to mark the position, so Dad used
the grid reference he had downloaded to his GPS. The whale back of
Skiddaw Slate forming Floutern Cop, our next objective was
clearly outlined ahead. Over the fence, a short descent to cross
boggy ground, was followed by a short climb to its thinly grassed
summit. Below pretty Floutern Tarn is dominated by Great Bourne.
Descended basically north to walk
over Whiteoak Moss, and come by the fence. Now ascended by this
over White Oak, and then on to the large cairn on top of Gavel
Fell. This was to be the highest point we reached today, so feel
justified in including our picture, with the dramatic backdrop.
What is rather strange is the the
OS map shows the spot height a bit further on, but we all thought
that it was higher at the cairn.
"The views are absolutely
fantastic all around", exclaimed Little Eric. "Do take
a picture Dad".
He did and here are Whiteside,
Hopegill Head and Grasmoor, with Mellbreak in front.
According to the book, the next
part was over thick heather, which makes for hard walking so Dad
was not looking forward to it. Imagine our delight however when
he discovered there was a clear path, so we soon reached the
cairned top of High Nook on Gavel Fell. Now for a while it was
harder going on the trackless and rough terrain to reach the
stile in the fence that descends from Gavel Fell. Walked the
clear track past the steep descending ridge of Blake Fell and so
gain it lower down. Now over the fence onto another clear path,
with the tarn of Cogra Moss away below.
The ridge now led first up over
High Pen, and then to the lower summit of Low Pen, with its handy
cairn for our picture.
Ahead stood our final challenge of
the day, Knock Murton, and yes, it is every bit as steep as it
looks.
From Low Pen the path descended to
the forest road, where we went right. Soon, however, Dad branched
left onto a track that descends towards Cogra Moss. To the left
thick forest clothes the lower half of Knock Murton, and Dad had
to find the narrow track through the trees, and by careful
observation he spotted it. The ascent was very very steep indeed
and hard going in the oppressive heat. Dad was really in a sweat
by the time he reached the stile in the fence. We were now on
open fell and there was more air, but the gradient was
unrelenting all the way to the summit of Knock Murton. There is a
large cairn and more extensive views to Blake Fell, Ennerdale and
the coast.
"Phew", said Dad, "I'm
glad that's over."
The descent was over mostly rough
trackless ground, but finally we were down to the wide track.
Then once through the gate we walked on the remains of an old
railway track to the road and then just uphill a short distance
to the car. The railway once brought ore from the long abandoned
iron mines. Apparently in 1888 alone it produced some 46,100 tons.
The latter part of the day had been
extremely hot, giving Dad a headache, and we were sorry he had
such a long drive home. Nevertheless we had all had a great day
and it felt really good having ticked off 8 more tops!!