Black Fell

Walked on 13/11/2015

Start point: Knipe Fold (SD 391 994)

Black Fell from Knipe Fold

Distance: 3.4 miles Total Ascent: 215 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes Start Time: 09:30

Weather: Strong wind, frequent heavy showers. 6C

There has been lots of ‘weather’ around all week – rain, wind, hail – you name it. This morning didn’t seem so different when I set off in full waterproofs but I thought it didn’t turn out so bad in the end really…

Hmmm, today didn't seem to be too promising. There were frequent heavy hail showers and the sky was duller than dull as I headed for the top of Black Fell.

A dusting of snow on Helvellyn and Fairfield.

...when I turned around I could hardly believe it! The wind had blown through the cloud and there was blue sky and the odd bit of sunshine around.

Looking across to Bowfell and The Langdale Pikes.

Sunshine on The Old Man.

Looking back to Tarn Hows and Coniston Water.

Where are we?

Lingmoor Fell lit up by the sun.

It was all I could do to stay upright the wind was so strong - here is a fleeting moment of sun and clouds that tells the story of the day quite well.

The summit looking to Coniston.

Close up on Helvellyn and Fairfield.

What's the weather like Fletcher?

Dougal takes it a little more regally than Fletcher.

A wider view of the Eastern fells.

The Fairfield Horseshoe.

Drama over Windermere.

The south east cairn.

Black Fell

Walked on 05/01/2012

Start point: Knipe Fold (SD 391 994)

Black Fell from Knipe Fold

Distance: 3.4 miles Total Ascent: 215 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes Start Time: 12:45

Weather: Sunny with a cold, strong wind. 5°C

I didn’t think we would see any clear skies today, it was blowing a gale all night and most of the morning with frequent heavy showers. Everywhere was wet underfoot as you might imagine and once out of shelter the wind was still quite strong but thankfully it blew all the rain clouds far away.

A submerged jetty at Low Wood shows how much rain there has been around this week but the strong winds of last night and this morning have blown it all clear again.

The tide line shows how high the water has been.

Looking across Windermere to Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes. On with the walk...

A pastoral view to the east from the track from Knipe Fold.

Casper and Dougal on the throne initialled 'CD'...made for those two, obviously!

The view through Iron Keld plantation to Windermere. The Low Wood Hotel (where the first photos on this page were taken) is the white building centre right.

'The Woolly Jumper' - I don't know what Dougal was up to but I stopped for a second and boi-oing, he was up here as quick as a flash, up a 7 foot wall in a single leap. Get him signed up for the Olympic squad quick!

Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell is to the left with the trig. column visible. To the right is the large south-east cairn.

The Langdale Pikes and High Raise with Lingmoor Fell in the foreground.

A wider view across Low Arnside.

Dougal and Casper on the summit.

Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell.

The view from Great Cobble.

Helvellyn and Fairfield.

Despite the sunshine it was still blowing a hoolie up here.

Looking across Ambleside to the Far Eastern fells.

Close up on the Langdale Pikes.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

The boys check out the best way to the south east cairn, Esthwaite Water beyond.

Windermere, the Howgills to the right.

The south east cairn.

Helvellyn to the left, the Fairfield fells to the right beyond Great Cobble.

Esthwaite Water from the descent.

Moon rising to the east.

The Howgills to the left, Latterbarrow with the large obelisk visible to the right. On the way back...

Dreamy Coniston Water.

Black Fell

Walked on 21/09/2009

Start point: Knipe Fold (SD 391 994)

Black Fell from Knipe Fold

Distance: 3.4 miles Total Ascent: 215 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes

Weather: Very dull with showers. 15C.

Today was a complete contrast to last week with the weather being really dull and threatening throughout the walk. It was a big day for young Dougal though as he completed a walk to his first Wainwright summit, something he managed with aplomb and he got a taste of the changeable Lake District weather for good measure!

Black Fell route map.

Approaching Iron Keld, the felled plantation.

It was so dull this morning here heading through Iron Keld. In fact it was almost dark, which made it really difficult to get any photos of anything.

Windermere from Black Fell.

Casper and Dougal on Black Fell, Dougal's first Wainwright summit.

Ambleside and Windermere during a passing shower.

'No one told me it would be this windy!'. There are all sorts of colours going on with Dougal now - slate around the eyes and a browny red mixed in with the black.

Windermere from the large cairn to the south-east of the summit.

Looking back to the summit.

We found this 'throne' cut from the stump of a felled tree complete with initials. 'CD'? - it must stand for Casper and Dougal of course!

Black Fell

Walked on 18/01/2007

Start point: Knipe Fold (SD 391 994)

Black Fell from Knipe Fold

Distance: 3.4 miles Total Ascent: 215 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 15 minutes

Weather: Very windy with showers. 9°C

This morning it was as windy as yesterday, similar to conditions all over the country I expect. Today’s walk was relatively low to try and keep out of the worst of the weather. The track we used to get to Black Fell is relatively sheltered so that was not so bad; once out onto the open fellside, however, it was a different story as we were battered by the constant wind and returned in driving rain.

First stop today was Tarn Hows to check out the conditions. There were leaden skies beyond The Tarns today.

Wetherlam looming large.

Walking the track from Knipe Fold to Black Fell - there was even some sunshine

Up onto Black Fell and Wetherlam gets some sun.

The Helvellyn ridge and Fairfield.

Heading for Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell. The trig. column is to the highest point on the left and on the right is the south-east cairn.

Windermere from Black Crag.

Really strong winds up here today!

Looking north from Black Fell to Helvellyn, the Fairfield Horseshoe and Red Screes.

Casper keeps his back to the wind, spying something down below.

Tarn Hows.

Coniston Water and Tarn Hows.

Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell - no mistaking this one.

Wansfell Pike on the right with Ambleside nestling between them. Beyond are the eastern fells with the familiar outline of Ill Bell and Froswick behind Wansfell Pike.

A windswept Coniston Water from High Hollin Bank.

Holme Fell

Walked on 16/02/2006

Start point: Glen Mary Bridge (NY 321 999)Glen Mary Bridge – Holme Fell – Hodge Close – Oxen Fell – Black Fell – Tarn Hows – Glen Mary Bridge

Distance: 7.3 miles Total Ascent: 660 metres Time Taken: 2 hours30 minutesWeather: Dull and overcast, turning to rain. 5°C

More grey skies this morning and it was quite cold – the higher tops all had a dusting of snow on them. At lower level, that turned to rain – at least the rivers and falls were looking good!