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Lat/Long: 54.585532, -02.939443
OS
Grid ref: 39294 21567
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The weather forecast was for overcast but no rain. My drive
along the motorway was overcast, almost dark and rainy.
Fortunately it stopped by the time I reached Dockray. There were
already 2 cars in the small parking area by the bridge when I
arrived. I soon left the road and followed the track via Millses
in an easterly direction towards Gowbarrow Fell and the summit
trig post. I descended to the infant Riddings Beck and crossed
at the shallow ford. Downstream it joins the mainAira Beck and
then down to Aira Force waterfalls below. The muddy path
continued east and climbed the fell by following the wall. I
could see a couple of walkers above me but they're too far ahead
to see again. Some sections of the path were being rebuilt and
many bags of stone had been helicoptered in along the route. It
didn’t look like any work had been done for a while. There was
hardly any wind and it felt mild when I reached the stone trig
post on the summit. |
Gowbarrow Fell |
Gowbarrow Park. |
Ullswater. |
Gowbarrow path repairs |
Gowbarrow Trig Post. |
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The main path over the fell doesn't go to the summit so a short
detour is necessary. It continued to be overcast but the cloud
was high enough to get some nice views of Ullswater.. A steady
descent followed then I left the main path to take a minor path
across very wet ground and up to Great Meldrum which doesn’t
have any carn to mark its summit. I descended to the top of an
old plantation where a lot of tree felling had gone on. |
Trig post plate. |
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There was a forestry track which I followed for a short way but
my objective was to descend to a path below Little Meldrum. The
descent was much steeper than expected and through shoulder high
ferns that hid many deep ruts. It wasn't safe so I decided to
return to the track that I knew would eventually take me to the
road. In the distance a 4WD vehicle approached and when it
reached me stopped and was occupied by a man at the wheel and
woman in the passenger seat. |
By the road. |
Matterdale Church. |
No Glass Shades |
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They reminded my that this wasn’t a public right of way. I told
them I knew it wasn't shown on the map and about turning back
when heading for the path below.. They drove on and I continued
to the road below Little Mell Fell. My return route was now
along the road and it was interesting to see some houses having
building work done on them and none being farmhouses. Probably
holiday or second homes. |
Matterdale Church. |
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I reached Matterdale Church and decided to have a look inside.
It dates from around 1570. The main door was very stiff and I
didn't expect the inner door to be unlocked , but it was. Inside
was fairly basic, like St Kentigern’s. I returned to the road
and continued my walk back to Dockray and the car. |
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