Name of walk	Great Mell Fell and Binsey
Date of walk	2016-03-31
Distance walked (miles)	4
Duration of walk	2 hours 50 minutes
Weather	Sunshine
Peaks on walk	Great Mell Fell, Binsey
Walked with	Ged and blind Kas
Parking	See text

After our recent energetic mountain walks in snow I thought it would make a pleasant change to walk up a couple of easy fells. We decided on Great Mell Fell (1762ft) and Binsey (1467ft), both are easy, short walks on grass but with excellent views out to the surrounding fells too. We would then take a walk to St. Bega’s Church beside Bassenthwaite Lake and finally admire the daffodils at Jesus Church in Troutbeck.

The mist was down for the entire car journey this morning, until we gained height on the Kirkstone Pass. Somewhere down there, below the thermal cloud inversion, is Ambleside. We were in blue skies and sunshine.

Islands in the clouds!

Looking across to the Coniston Hills.

There was a total absence of mist this side of the Kirkstone Pass. We stopped briefly below Stybarrow Crag on the shores of Ullswater to take this photo of the still lake, before heading off in the direction of Dockray.

There is ample parking on the lane entrance up to Great Mell Fell and on the road by Brownrigg Farm.

Don't take the first gate that is signed 'Mell Fell', take the next one about 100m further up the lane.

The grassy track leads all the way to the summit with no risk of getting lost!

This is a walk where you can leave ruck-sacks in the car. It was warm too, but we took our coats, just in case of a change in the weather.

Looks much the same as a Walney Island tree. There was no wind today.

The top section of the fell is wooded.

There were fell ponies.

Lots of uprooted trees, but there have been on all the previous times I have visited.

Summit view. Super panoramic views. This one looks out from the Helvellyn range to the Dodds.

Blencathra on the right.

A close up view of Striding Edge and Helvellyn with Catstycam in front.

A close up of Sharp Edge on Blencathra.

Helvellyn, Raise and Stybarrow Dodd.

Looking towards Grasmoor and Grisedale Pike.

View east. In the foreground is the last remains of the snow which Kas very much enjoyed eating.

To the right of Blencathra are Bannerdale Crags, Bowscale Fell, Souther Fell, High Pike and Carrock Fell.

We head back down. Looking over to Little Mell Fell. This is also a Wainwright. If you park at The Hause you can be on the summit in 20 minutes.

We saw no sheep anywhere on the way up so Kas gets a little run off the lead. Not that he would ever chase sheep. Being blind he usually ignores them or avoids them altogether. This walk was 2.3 miles and took us one hour and forty minutes. I then drove via the A66 past Mirehouse, turning off near Kilnhill for Binsey.

Usually there is ample parking by the wall, but being Easter there were five cars there already so we turned and parked by the field just before the final turn off. There used to be a stile to get on to the fell, but there is now a gate.

A wonderful way to avoid all the Easter traffic in the lakes, but offset by the increased risk of imminent death.

This is another gentle, grassy walk with excellent views. Looking towards Over Water and the Uldale Fells.

Looking towards Great Calva, Bakestall, Skiddaw and Ullock Pike and a glimpse of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Binsey summit is crowned by a tumulus whose stones have been raided to produce several small circular wind-shelters. There is also a trig point.

Trig point view to the north western fells.

The far northern cairn. The weather had begun to deteriorate to the north and west.

Still some blue skies to the east.

The view down to Bassenthwaite Lake.

A closer view as the skies darken.

An even closer view across the lake to Barf and Lord's Seat.

Skiddaw still with snow on it.

We head back down another path. Once again, not a single sheep to be seen. I was hoping for lambs but they are either not born yet or are still in the lambing sheds. This walk was two miles and took us just over an hour. The rain held off so we headed for St. Bega's Church on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake.

From the church parking spaces St. Bega's is still a 3/4 mile walk. No old or infirm parishioners allowed! The original method of getting to church was by boat.

The chancel and nave date from 950 AD. The rest is 12th and 15th century. It was restored in 1874.

The east window is by the Powell brothers.

Evidence of how far the flood waters rose. The church was protected by the surrounding stone walls.

Down at the lake shore looking north.

I am a great believer in following instructions....

But I'm not a miracle worker! The last time I visited there wasn't a hide here, I would imagine that the next time I visit there won't be one either.

View south.

I can't write a whole walk post and not put a sheep photo in, luckily there were some on the walk to the church......phew!

We stopped for a drink at The Royal in Dockray. A rather ancient looking ice cream van on the right.

View north up Ullswater.

We stopped at Jesus Church, Troutbeck. as they always have an excellent display of daffodils, and once again the sunshine and blue skies had returned, so we sat for a while on a bench at the top of the hill and admired the view.

Time to head home.

A relaxing and varied day! The total walking mileage for all activities was under six miles.

Jo.