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The walk starts from a lay-by at the junction of the Higham Hall and Embleton roads which is one mile east of Cockermouth |
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Walk back along a footway by the wide verge for 230 yards to a the start of a bridleway |
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The start of the bridleway to Isel Bridge |
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Watch Hill and Setmurthy Common from the start of the bridleway |
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Crossing the field to the first of four gates on the way to Watch Hill |
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The bridleway is part of the Allerdale Ramble, a long distance path between Seathwaite in Borrowdale and Grune Point on the Solway Coast near Silloth. |
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Skiddaw from the second field
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Looking over towards Grasmoor from the second field |
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Fellbarrow and the Loweswater Fells from the second field |
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The bridleway enters the third field and passes beside the edge of small wood |
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Watch Hill from the third field |
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Skiddaw from the third field |
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Looking over towards Grisedale Pike, Hobcarton Crag, Ladyside Pike, Hopegill Head, Whiteside and Grasmoor |
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The bridleway by the edge of the wood leads to a third gate |
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Watch Hill from the third gate |
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Grisedale Pike, Hobcarton Crag, Ladyside Pike, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor from the third gate |
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The bridleway now follows the course of a wall up to the fourth gate |
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We pass through the gate and climb up to a lone hawthorn tree on the horizon |
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Looking back along the route of ascent through the fields |
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The windswept tree grows from the foundations of an old wall an upright stone beside it is inscribed with a benchmark. We leave the bridleway at this point and follow the course of the demoished wall |
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The summit of Watch Hill appears on the left beyond a couple of mounds which are the site of some old quarries |
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The long abandoned quarries |
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The summit of Watch Hill from the old quarries |
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Approaching the summit of Watch Hill |
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The summit of Watch Hill |
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The summit cairn on Watch Hill |
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Skiddaw from the summit of Watch Hill |
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The Whinlatter Fells from the summit of Watch Hill with Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd on the left horizon |
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Grisedale Pike, Hobcarton Crag, Hopegill Head, Grasmoor, High Stile and Red Pike on the horizon |
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The Loweswater Fells from the summit of Watch Hill |
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Cockermouth from the summit of Watch Hill |
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The connecting ridge to the summit of Setmurthy Common |
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Skiddaw from the path to Setmurthy Common |
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Looking back to the summit of Watch Hill |
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Looking over to The North Western and Western Fells from the path to Setmurthy Common |
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We divert off the main path to visit the site of another small quarry |
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Skiddaw over Peel Wood from the quarry |
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Binsey over Setmurthy Plantation |
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The summit of Setmurthy Common is located near the corner of the woods |
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Approaching the summit of Setmurthy Common |
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Looking west from the summit of Setmurthy Common |
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Looking south west from the summit of Setmurthy Common |
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Looking south from the summit of Setmurthy Common |
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The highest point of Setmurthy Common is located in the trees on the right. We cross the stile and immediately turn left onto a path in Setmurthy Plantation |
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The path descends to join a forestry rad |
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We turn right on the foresty road |
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Caermote Hill and Binsey from the forestry road |
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Heading down to a turning area where we leave the road for a path through a firebreak in the plantation |
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Binsey and The Uldale Fells from the foresty road turning area |
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The clear path through the firebreak |
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The firebreak provides a shortcut to exit the plantation |
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A gate at the end of the firebreak gives access back to the bridleway |
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Passing a bridleway fingerpost which points to the gate in the Setmurthy Plantaion. The stone slab beside it is inscribed with a benchmark symbol |
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Passing the windswept tree and benchmark on the way back to the car |