High Dam I've visited many times especially when the kids were small, Summer House Knott I've never set foot on, there's an awful lot of greenery up there so I don't know what the views are like, so here goes.

I left the car down a small side road next to the River Leven, signed Finsthwaite, from here I followed the Hawkshead Road over the railway line to be met by a finger post giving exact instructions, Summer House Knott, upwards through mixed woodland before reaching a small viewpoint, from the viewpoint I made my way past the Tower to descend west into the fields surrounding Finsthwaite House, across more pastures cloaked in frost to reach Tom Crag. My intended route was to ascend to Boretree Tarn, then make my way through the woods on Finsthwaite Heights to reach High Dam, no chance, permissive paths on the map were clearly marked private no right of way. I made my way over tarmac hunting for another route, it wasn't until I reached Finsthwaite a path allowed access to the hills, after crossing two small fields I found myself in the woodland surrounding High Dam, a quick circuit of High Dam before descending back to Finsthwaite. My route took me past the Church of St Peter through more pastures before entering Great Knott Wood, a thick pine plantation, I hate pine forests, to save myself a longer walk than planned I used the compass, without going wrong I soon found myself descending steeply back onto the Hawkshead Road a few hundred yards north of where I originally left it.

High Dam including Summer House Knott.	back to list view route map
	A wonderful winter morning on the River Leven at Newby Bridge.
	Newby Bridge over the River Leven built in 1651 to replace the origional wooden structure.
	Stunning views from the small view point on Summer House Knott.
	The Cartmel Fells as seen from Summer House Knott.
	Wrapped in swirling cloud the Cartmel Fells.
	Views to the south over Bigland Barrow.
	The Tower on Summer House Knott.
	It was a heavy frost last night, this marsh grass was on the path edge as I descended from Summer House Knott.
	Crunching my way through the fields near Finsthwaite House.
	My route took me over the hill following the line of the wall, unfortunately I was unable to ascend into the trees of Low Heights.
	Looking to the small hamlet of Tom Crag.
	Like walking through the pages of a black and white photo album.
	Views to Gummer's How rising above Windermere.
	St Peter's Church, Finsthwaite. One of the graves belongs to the Finsthwaite Princess, Clementina Johannes Sobieski Doglas of Waterside, buried in 1771 it was widely believed she was the daughter of Prince Charles Edward the Young Pretender.
	The icy waters of High Dam.
	High Dam from the west.
	A stunning view across the surface of High Dam.
	High Dam built to provide power for the Stott Park Bobbin Mill.
	One final shot, it's Gummer's How before I'm swallowed up by Great Knott Wood.
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