Walk
of the Month - Contributed by Ian Smith
Walk
of the Month - Contributed by Ian Smith
Meal Fell
Information
Maps: OS 1:50000 Penrith and Keswick Landranger 90. Harveys Superwalker 1:25000 Lochnagar.
Grading: Here's the description of a pleasant half day's fellwalk in the 'Back-o'-Skidda'. It's ideal for a family and is simple and pleasant throughout, ending in a fun anorak sliding opportunity!
Time
Take: 2 hours
Ascent:
400 metres
Distance:
6 km
Walk
Objective: Meal Fell, 550 metres
Start:
Route
taken
This
walk is well suited for a Family outing, in clear weather. If the kids get
bored, tell them to get themselves ready for an Anorak slide at the end!
You need to begin this walk at the entrance to the Dash Valley near
Bassenthwaite. A hundred yard or so north of the small Hamlet of Horsemoor
Hills, on the right-hand side of the road, is a small cart track heading for
Brocklecrag Farm. There is a space to park a car without obstructing
access. Head up this track until a wide path branches off on the left
(north). This ascends gently up the slope of Great Cockup, and then easily
traverses around its shoulder, above Brocklecrag. After crossing a rather
boggy depression, a good track rising from Brocklecrag Farm is joined and
followed N.W. into the secluded little valley of Burn Todd Gill. You can
actually progress through this by hopping from one side of the Gill (no more
than a smallish stream at this point) to the other until the miniature valley
opens out just beneath the pass of Trusmadoor.
At this point, continue up
the shoulder of Meal Fell (the Fell comprising the eastern side of Trusmadoor)
on a narrow track, making a beeline north for the summit after a few hundred
yards. The is the only stony top of any fell hereabouts
,so make the most of it! The views are pretty circumscribed, although you can
get a distant view looking N.W. Return back to the track and turn right
for Trusmadoor. Carry on up the opposite slope on a track which climbs
around and above the broken rock face onto the flat top of the fell. Head
due west; the highest point lies about 400 yards from the top of the Trusmadoor
edge. Again, the view isn't particularly impressive, although Skiddaw is
imposing. Now continue generally westward on a good track ,past the summit
of Little Cockup, and then strike out south to the shoulder of the fell. A
direct and slithery (anorak sliding, here we go!) descent will take you directly
down to the cart track for Brocklecrag Farm. Turn right for the short walk
back to the car.
Ian.
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