Muncaster Fell

17 August 2015

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Muncaster Fell, 231m/758', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 97, SD 112983

We went slightly further south today to visit Muncaster Fell. The weather was great and it really was a delightful little hill although there was a catch.....read on!

There is a big car park for Muncaster castle a few hundred yards along the road from the fell track and it seems that you are allowed to park there for the hill, so I did. We walked up the track to Muncaster Tarn- a really nice bit of water.....

With lots of water lillies.....

Not long after, we reached a fence with a gate and the hill came into view. What was that object next to the trig, looks suspiciously like a cow?.....

Worse still, there were quite a few sheep scattered among the bracken so there was nothing for it but to put Ben on his lead. Now if there is one thing that he hates it is to be on the lead and he is a strong dog. I can manage going up hill but coming down is positively dangerous!

The cow that we had seen from a distance turned into a small herd and they also had possession of the trig.....

Taking no chances, we skirted round them and fortunately the highest point is 20 or so yards north of the trig. But I didn't waste much time before dropping down a bit out of sight of the cattle, who didn't seem that interested actually and neither did Ben. It was a good viewpoint, this is looking along the ridge of the Fell towards the high hills south of Wasdale.....

Across (hidden) Wasdale to Seatallan.....

and on the other side, down to Eskdale......

Of course, looking the other way we could see Sellafield.....

With the Isle of Man on the horizon.....

By this time the cows had moved away from the trig but we circled below it just to be sure and headed back downhill. I only landed on my back once trying to keep Ben from charging off! I was glad when we exited the livestock zone.

And then we were tourists for the rest of the day.