Howgill Fells. Carlin Gill. Docker Knott, Simon's Seat. Tue 18 Oct 2005

Drove to Howgill Fells, Longdale near Tebay. After last weeks tantalising wander up Uldale Beck and surrounding areas I decided to return and give a nearby area a look, especially as the weather forecast was a bit better. Last week I saw nothing because of rain and thick cloud but this week the weather was reasonably clear though overcast and no rain till later. I fancied checking out Blakethwaite Bottom area again but this time from the western approach. This meant a long road walk. Now I knew Longdale a bit better I parked by the old school and set off heading down for Tebay. It was the old minor road that I followed and so there was little traffic. At Tebay I had to follow the main A685 for a few miles south and this was a different matter. For quite a while there was no footpath and I had be very wary of high-speed traffic. At Low Borrow Bridge I left the main road and followed the lane down under the Motorway and Railway bridges and on to the site of the Roman Fort. Nothing can be seen from the road so I pressed on along the lane until I came to Carlingill Bridge. It was interesting following Carlin Gill beck, there being no discernable path to follow. At the base of Uldale head a path headed up the fell-side. It was steep but easy following the old track up to the summit. Across the fell were shepherds checking on the sheep. One using a quad bike to get around. The rain kept off but the wind was giving me quite a battering. At the summit I continued over to Blakethwaite Bottom which this time was clear of cloud and rain, but no sun.

The Blakethwaite Stone.

It was an interesting watershed and also a county boundary. I easily found the Blakethwaite Stone which, as Wainwright said in his book, is nothing more than a boulder in its own puddle.

Langdale from Middledale End.