KNOTT 5 September 2005
A cloudy day, with showers regularly threatening but never actually arriving. We parked in the lane just south of Orthwaite where we had a nice view across the fields to Binsey.
We followed the bridleway which leads up into the Uldale fells. From this point above Brockle Crag there is a view across the foot of Bassenthwaite Lake to the Solway in the haze beyond.
Our route led up Great Cockup. We turned off the bridleway at its highest point, and the path was this green strip between a profusion of flowering heather.
The heather makes a colourful foreground for this view across to the Skiddaw massif.
On the col between Little Cockup and Great Cockup there is a succession of circular grousebutts.
A view of Longlands Fell.
On the summit of Great Cockup at 1720 feet.
From Great Cockup we headed for Meal Fell. Jonathan is looking down into the cleft called Trusmadoor.
"Nobody ever sung the praises of Trusmadoor, and it's time someone did. This lonely passage between the hills, an obvious and easy way for man and beast and beloved by wheeling buzzards and hawks, has a strange nostalgic charm. Its neat and regular proportions are remarkable - a natural 'railway cutting'! What a place for an ambush and a massacre!" A Wainwright
The highest ground on the summit of Meal Fell - 1770 feet - is occupied by a well-constructed shelter.
We followed the path directly up the shoulder to the next top, Great Scafell, at 2131 feet.
Then we went along the broad ridge to our highest point of the day, the top of Knott at 2329 feet.
Our descent was initially down the ravine of Hause Gill.
We rejoined the bridleway on which we had started the day and once again passed the interesting rocks on Brockle Crag.