| Name of walk | Arthur's Pike & Bonscale Pike |
| Date of walk | 2025-05-06 |
We have had a long spell of dry weather so Sue and I decided on a walk up Barton Fell from Pooley Bridge to explore The Cockpit Stone Circle and generally have a mooch around before heading to Arthur’s Pike and Bonscale Pike without the risk of boggy ground. The weather was superb. We set off early and were the first walkers to park in the roadside parking area. The walk was 9 miles.
We made a brief stop in the car park at Pooley Bridge. View south from Pooley Bridge.
View north from Pooley Bridge. Good reflections.
Sue at the parking places at Roehead at 7.30am. The track up to Barton Fell is ahead through the gate.
View to Arthur's Pike.
Looking across Ullswater to the Duke of Portland Boathouse.
Just before we reach the cairn and the 2000 year old Roman Road we head off right to the Roman Seat, built by local craftsmen and part of the Ullswater Way Heritage Trail.
I never realised that we are that close to Lowther Castle, especially as I am visiting it again tomorrow. We take the track up towards The Cockpit and the Stone Circle. Arthur's Pike on the right.
The stone circle.
View back to the stone circle and Heughscar Hill.
One of the cairn stones on our meandering route up.
We head off path back towards the Roman Road (High Street).
View back.
There are loads of paths/sheep trods. We can now see the summit. Someone is there.
Summit view back.
Ullswater with Hallin Fell on the left. We will be back here later to explore. For now we head down to the depression between Arthur's Pike and Bonscale Pike.
The old ruin sits in the depression between the two fells. We make for the summit of Bonscale Pike.
Bonscale Pike summit.
View up the lake.
The best views are from the two pillars on the side of the fell. Arthur's Pike beyond.
Bonscale Tower, the lower pillar. We stopped here to admire the views.
Tower selfie.
The views are superb! Looking towards the Mell Fells.
We watch the Ullswater Steamer stop at Howtown Jetty.
Views from above the higher pillar.
Back at the depression.
Swarthbeck Gill.
Green Hairstreak butterfly.
Back at Arthur's Pike summit we meet some horse riders.
Summit cairn.
We head down to the edges for the views.
Viewpoint cairn.
Close up of Hallin Fell.
We now make our way back along the edge path.
View of our route back.
A very easy path.
View back.
The way forward. As the ground was so dry we took a shortcut path back.
US Air Force C-17. I saw photos on Facebook showing the crew sat on the open cargo doors. What a view they would have had!
A few cars now parked behind my car. The 9 mile walk had taken 5 hrs and 15 minutes, including the lunch stop.
On our drive back we had a coffee at The Inn On The Lake.
A walk with excellent views!
