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18 02 2004 - The Knott, High Street, Thornthwaite Crag, Caudale Moor and Hartsop Dodd

This was a beautiful day in late winter. There was lots of blue sky and it was sunny throughout the walk. There was a slight, cold breeze on the tops but nothing uncomfortable. As it was half-term there were quite a few people about although you wouldn't know from the photographs. The walk started from the car park on the A592 at Hartsop and followed the path through Hartsop to the Filter House. I crossed Hayeswater Gill by the bridge and followed the path up towards the reservoir. Just before the reservoir I took a path off to the left that zig-zags up towards The Knott. From here the path drops slightly to join the Roman road that climbs towards the summit of High Street. There was still a little snow left from the previous week. The views were excellent in all directions. From High Street's summit I continued to Caudale Moor via Thornthwaite Crag and its enormous beacon.  The path swings round to the south west while the Roman road goes off to the south east in the direction of Mardale Ill Bell. From the beacon the path towards Caudale Moor then drops steeply towards Threshthwaite Mouth. It was wet and slippery in parts and care had to to be taken with every step. A pack of beagles appeared out of nowhere and accompanied me down. At Threshthwaite Mouth I had the choice of cutting the walk short and going back down over Gray Crag or making the rocky climb up towards Caudale Moor. I had done this walk a couple of times years previously (see above) but had no photographs of the summit. Although feeling a little tired I was still ok for time so after a brief debate with myself I set off up the very steep path towards the summit of Caudale Moor. I wasn't always sure where the path was here but managed to pick my way through the rocks until it became clear again. I had a good view of Froswick and Ill Bell from the climb up. Stoney Cove Pike, the summit of Caudale Moor, is far from distinct. There are a number of cairns dotted about the flat, featureless top of the moor. I think I found the right one. From Stoney Cove Pike I took the path that drops down following a wall to the top of Hartsop Dodd. The views were still excellent with the late afternoon sun catching the tops of Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes. The steep descent off Hartsop Dodd followed and by the time I reached the village my knees had had enough.

I had an excellent pint of Hawkshead bitter at the Kirkstone Pass Inn to round off the day.