8:50am Friday 28th May 2010
By Mary Welsh
BLAKE Fell, a Wainwright, towers above Cogra Moss reservoir, and stands just inside the National Park boundary.
On your ascent to the summit you pass the great bulk of Knock Murton, quiet now but once full of activity as its extensive iron ore mines were worked and served by a railway.
Once beyond Knock Murton, Blake Fell shows an almost sheer face to the Moss, but there is a delightful winding path that takes you steadily up to the summit shelter.
From here the views are spectacular.
This walk guides you on a pleasing circular route to the summit of Blake Fell but if the weather changes, or you wish to do a shorter walk around attactive Cogra Moss, turn left along the red road instead of just crossing it and going on.
Park in Felldyke car park, grid ref 086198. To access this leave Ennerdale Bridge for Kirkland where you turn right.
After nearly a mile, turn left and drive on for just over a mile 1 Leave Felldyke car park by the top right corner and walk on along a narrow path.
At the T-junction, wind left and take, right, the signed kissing gate beside a locked gate. Climb the rising reinforced track, with ahead, an unbelievably dramatic horseshoe of fells.
Beyond the next gate, descend through clear fell on one side and fine trees on the other to the edge of Cogra Moss, once a marsh, drained by Rakegill Beck.
On building a dam and an overflow, a reservoir was created and today it appears entirely natural.
2 A short way beyond head of lake, climb right, a distinct, narrow, slanting path up the steep slopes of Murton Fell to a col and a bright red forest road. (Here if you wish to shorten the walk, or the weather has changed, turn left).
Cross and take a grassy trod, leading towards a gate into moorland. Do NOT go through but turn left and walk uphill on a distinct trod beside the fence on right.
Over it you can see Anglers’ Crag on far side of Ennerdale Water. Continue to a small cairn on Low Penn (1,191 feet) and a breathtaking view.
3 Carry on to the cairnless High Penn, 33 feet higher than its ‘cub.’ Ahead is Mellbreak with Coledale horseshoe beyond; but centre stage is huge Grasmoor.
Remain beside the fence as it winds left and climbs the ridge towards Blake Fell. Look, right, for a tiny triangle of blue - Buttermere, shadowed by Fleetwith Pike and Honister Crag.
Look also for the splendid High Stile range and beyond, Pillar. Wind on to arrive at the summit (1,878 feet), with its small stone shelter.
4 Leave the summit by a steepish trod, north-west. Keep right of Sharp Knott, then descend a steep slope towards a very steep sided gill.
Halfway down look out for a reinforced path, left, into conifers to join the end of a wide forest ride. Walk left for half a mile to join the far end of the red forest road (this is where you rejoin the high-level walk if you have turned right as detailed above).
Turn right into a large open area. Follow the track as it loops around, left (south), and then left again beside mature larch woodland to your right. At the corner of the plantation, follow the track right, with Cogra Moss away to your left. On reaching the fence ahead, walk left beside it. Climb the low section of some ancient iron fencing and wind right, picking your way carefully if muddy.
5 At the path end, climb the ladderstile to head along the dam at the foot of the lake. Cross the overflow and go on through a large ornate iron gate. Wind right, and retrace outward route.
Information Distance: 5.5 miles longer walk/4 miles shorter walk Time: 3-4 hours/2-3 hours Terrain: Some good tracks and grassy paths. Muddy paths north side of reservoir.
Map: OS Explorer OL 4 NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.
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