Blake Fell

Published 29 March 2020

Blake Fell in the distance
Blake Fell in the distance

Tucked in the far western corner of the Lake District, Loweswater is a delightful spot with some lovely fells to wander over. On a Sunday in September, I tackled four of them starting with Burnbank Fell, before carrying on along the ridge to Blake Fell.

I quite walking at the edge of the Lakeland fells. It’s something about the views. To be on that border being the ordinary and the special. To look out in one direction and see a landscape with few bumps or humps. To see farmland everywhere. Fields divided by drystone walls or bushy green hedges. And to look in the opposite direction and see dramatic mountains, and glorious lakes.

Don’t get me wrong, I love standing on a fell top in the middle of the Lake District. One of those spots from where you can see mountains all around you. But those border places offer something completely different. It’s the contrast between the two. The dramatic difference that the border territory provides.

Which was good as my route from to Blake Fell was definitely border territory. The three fells from Burnbank to Gavel Fell weren’t the most western of the Wainwrights. But they were close.

View of a hill and a lake, outside the Lake District
That my friend is outside the Lake District. Yes, that’s outside the Lake District.

Although border territory doesn’t always mean you’ll get the best walking experience. Truth is that whilst the ridge from Burnbank to Blake was easy, it was also a little bland. And wet. A grassy path running along a boggy patch of hillside. There wasn’t much of a view. At least not looking into the Lake District. There were only a few mountains visible. Although looking outwards, there were plenty of fields to enjoy.

My arrival at the summit changed all that. Reached after a short climb uphill, a grand panoramic opened up towards Crummock Water. And fells all around, all looking distinctly unreal in the dull, cloud filled skyline. Like they were a matt painting or something.

The summit came with a wind shelter, and I perched my back against its stone built walls as I sought to soak it all in. The mile long walk along the ridge to get here hadn’t been the greatest. But the finale? Well that more than made up for it.

Next time: Gavel Fell

Stone shelter at Blake Fell
Stone shelter at Blake Fell

Have your say