Loadpot Hill
Encyclopedia
Loadpot Hill is a fell
in the English
Lake District
, between Haweswater
and Ullswater
.
, Loadpot Hill is the last principal height on the main ridge of the Far Eastern Fells
, before the land falls away to Penrith
and the River Eamont.
The western slopes of the fell drop swiftly to Fusedale over a few outcrops of rock, Fusedale Beck flowing due north to Ullswater. North north west and north from Loadpot Hill, two short spurs fan out to the twin tops of Bonscale Pike
and Arthur's Pike
. These two fells, both with craggy faces overlooking Ullswater, are separated by Swarthbeck Gill.
North east from Loadpot Hill the main ridge becomes broad and indistinct, falling gently in stages between the rivers Eamont and Lowther. These empty Ullswater and Haweswater respectively and converge 8 miles(13 km) from the summit, just south of Penrith. In fellwalking terms the practical northern boundary of Loadpot Hill is the road from Pooley Bridge
to Askham
. This encloses broad slopes of heather and fell grass, with a wide depression at Moor Divock (1,060 ft) and then a steeper rise to the independent top of Heughscar Hill (1,240 ft). Continuing from here to the road, plantations and other forms of cultivation gradually increase.
Moor Divock is a site of historic interest, complete with tumuli, standing stones, boundary markers and stone circles. There are also sink holes and old quarries.
The north east ridge has Heltondale Beck to the south, a feeder of the Lowther. Beyond this an east ridge descends from Loadpot Hill between Heltondale and Cawdale, both of which are deeply cut. This ridge has a subsidiary top, The Pen, which bears a beacon (columnar cairn
). The Lowther valley and the Askham-Bampton
road form the eastern boundary of the fell.
South of Loadpot Hill a short ridge connects to Wether Hill, crossing a succession of peat hags.
marking its highest point. A little to the south of the summit stood Lowther House, an old shooting lodge, but nothing now remains but a pile of stone from the chimney. The roman road (the High Street
) which runs along the main ridge, makes a detour to the west around the summit of the fell before continuing north east via Moor Divock to Penrith.
An extensive Lakeland view can be seen to the west with the Pennines more distant to the east. Ullswater can be brought into sight by moving a little to the west.
or Helton
via the east ridge, Pooley Bridge or Askham
via the north east ridge, or Howtown
via Fusedale. Ascents via Arthur's Pike are also popular. A good path runs north and south, using the roman road periodically, and fainter paths also follow the branching ridges.
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
, between Haweswater
Haweswater Reservoir
Haweswater is a reservoir in the English Lake District, built in the valley of Mardale in the county of Cumbria. The controversial construction of the Haweswater dam started in 1929, after Parliament passed an Act giving the Manchester Corporation permission to build the reservoir to supply water...
and Ullswater
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles long and 0.75 miles wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than ....
.
Topography
Although of moderate height, Loadpot Hill and its descending ridges cover an area of around 12 square miles (31.1 km²). Standing to the north of Wether HillWether Hill (Lake District)
Wether Hill is a fell in the English Lake District, between Martindale and Haweswater. It lies on the main north-south ridge of the Far Eastern Fells between Loadpot Hill and High Raise. Lesser ridges also radiate out to the east and north-west.-Topography:...
, Loadpot Hill is the last principal height on the main ridge of the Far Eastern Fells
Far Eastern Fells
The Far Eastern Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Reaching their highest point at High Street they occupy a broad area to the east of Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass. Much quieter than the central areas of Lakeland they offer in general easier but less exciting walking as the...
, before the land falls away to Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
and the River Eamont.
The western slopes of the fell drop swiftly to Fusedale over a few outcrops of rock, Fusedale Beck flowing due north to Ullswater. North north west and north from Loadpot Hill, two short spurs fan out to the twin tops of Bonscale Pike
Bonscale Pike
Bonscale Pike is a fell in the English Lake District, standing above Howtown on Ullswater. It is the northern end of a spur running north north west from Loadpot Hill on the main ridge of the Far Eastern Fells.-Topography:...
and Arthur's Pike
Arthur's Pike
Arthur's Pike is a fell in the English Lake District, near Ullswater. It is a subsidiary top on the ridge falling north from Loadpot Hill in the Far Eastern Fells. An extensive craggy face stands above the lower reach of Ullswater.-Topography:...
. These two fells, both with craggy faces overlooking Ullswater, are separated by Swarthbeck Gill.
North east from Loadpot Hill the main ridge becomes broad and indistinct, falling gently in stages between the rivers Eamont and Lowther. These empty Ullswater and Haweswater respectively and converge 8 miles(13 km) from the summit, just south of Penrith. In fellwalking terms the practical northern boundary of Loadpot Hill is the road from Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge is a village in the Eden District of the northwestern English county of Cumbria, within the traditional borders of Westmorland....
to Askham
Askham, Cumbria
Askham is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 360. It is situated in the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park, about south of Penrith...
. This encloses broad slopes of heather and fell grass, with a wide depression at Moor Divock (1,060 ft) and then a steeper rise to the independent top of Heughscar Hill (1,240 ft). Continuing from here to the road, plantations and other forms of cultivation gradually increase.
Moor Divock is a site of historic interest, complete with tumuli, standing stones, boundary markers and stone circles. There are also sink holes and old quarries.
The north east ridge has Heltondale Beck to the south, a feeder of the Lowther. Beyond this an east ridge descends from Loadpot Hill between Heltondale and Cawdale, both of which are deeply cut. This ridge has a subsidiary top, The Pen, which bears a beacon (columnar cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
). The Lowther valley and the Askham-Bampton
Bampton, Cumbria
Bampton is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England, on the edge of the Lake District National Park. The parish had a population of 283 according to the 2001 census...
road form the eastern boundary of the fell.
South of Loadpot Hill a short ridge connects to Wether Hill, crossing a succession of peat hags.
Summit and view
The broad top of Loadpot Hill has a trig pointTrig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
marking its highest point. A little to the south of the summit stood Lowther House, an old shooting lodge, but nothing now remains but a pile of stone from the chimney. The roman road (the High Street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
) which runs along the main ridge, makes a detour to the west around the summit of the fell before continuing north east via Moor Divock to Penrith.
An extensive Lakeland view can be seen to the west with the Pennines more distant to the east. Ullswater can be brought into sight by moving a little to the west.
Ascents
The main ascents are from BamptonBampton, Cumbria
Bampton is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England, on the edge of the Lake District National Park. The parish had a population of 283 according to the 2001 census...
or Helton
Helton, Cumbria
Helton is a village in the Eden District, in the English county of Cumbria. It is about a mile south of the village of Askham. Helton has a pub and a place of worship. There is also the hamlet of Heltondale nearby.-Location grid:- References :*...
via the east ridge, Pooley Bridge or Askham
Askham, Cumbria
Askham is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 360. It is situated in the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park, about south of Penrith...
via the north east ridge, or Howtown
Howtown
Howtown is a hamlet in Cumbria, England, situated at a small harbour on the east shore of Ullswater in the Lake District.Howtown is about three and a half miles from Pooley Bridge and is best reached by water...
via Fusedale. Ascents via Arthur's Pike are also popular. A good path runs north and south, using the roman road periodically, and fainter paths also follow the branching ridges.