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Walking archive - January
Brilliant Bleaberry Fell
View from Bleaberry Fell
Distance - Short route (1) approx. 8.5 miles
Long route (2) approx. 11 miles
The following is a brief outline of the route, but we recommend the use of a map & compass.
Starting from the Moot Hall in Keswick, walk towards Birketts cake shop (stopping for refreshments at this point shouldn't be necessary!), continuing up past the cinema and along to Springs Road on the right. Follow this to its end at the farm and take the stoney path up through the woods (ignoring any turnings to the left) and across a footbridge onto the road and turn right.
Cross another footbridge at the end of this road and ascend the clear path to the wall surrounding Walla Crag. At this point the path leads south towards Ashness Bridge and after a few minutes, veer left along another path which heads towards & eventually ascends Bleaberry Fell.
From the top enjoy the 360 degree view which makes the effort worthwhile. Now you should follow the fence to the next fell on the ridge, High Seat. The land in between these two fells is very marshy at the best of times, therefore we recommend that you do this walk in winter when hopefully it will be frozen, as it was when we did it on Boxing Day 2000.
From the top you now have a choice of routes:
1. If you have had enough climbing, you can descend from High Seat to the world famous Ashness Bridge (try to avoid the crowds!), then follow the road down to the shores of Derwentwater which can be followed back to Keswick.
2. Alternatively you can follow the ridge along to the next fell, High Tove, and from here descend to Watendlath where you can make full use of the limited facilities (tea room & toilets!), then follow the river along to Ashness Bridge and follow the road as above.
Ashness Bridge with Skiddaw in the background