It's been a good weekend to be out and about on the fells, for the first time in what seems a long while I've managed to stay dry, the waterproofs have been redundant unfortunately so have the views from the summits, never mind there's always another day, the views from the lower slopes have been superb though, I don't have the right to complain.

To the affairs of today, Great Knoutberry Hill near the head of Dentdale it's upper slopes scarred by the remains of coal mining, it's lower slopes slashed by the railway in the clouds, the Settle to Carlisle. Dent Station sits proud on the lower slopes the highest station in England, and I have the advantage of the old Coal Road running from Cowgill to Garsdale Head, far easier to make the main part of my ascent behind the wheel of the car, some would say it's cheating, probably the same people who drive to the Three Shires Stone before ascending Pike of Blisco in The Lake District.

Unfortunately I left the sun in Kendal this was going to be another summit in the mist kind of day, near the summit of the Coal Road there's a bridleway with room to park, here I left the car. My route took me south along this excellent track passing Cross Coal Pits and a disused Colliery before reaching Arten Gill, just up the hill to the left a stile allows access to the upper slopes of Great Knoutberry Hill, the path was way marked all the way to the summit. My descent followed the fence (without crossing the stile) stopping only at the cairns on Pike Edge before reaching the bridleway at the sheep pens on Green Bank, a right turn followed by a five minute walk back to the car.

Over Great Knoutberry Hill.	back to list view route map
	On the Coal Road looking across Cowgill Wold Meas, it looks awfully wet I'm glad I don't have to walk across there.
	Baugh Fell rising from Garsdale.
	Sunlight catches the slopes of Rise Hill.
	Heading south with stunning views down Dentdale.
	Under cloud Baugh Fell.
	Under a dark cloud with sunlight on it's slopes Blea Moor.
	The highest of Yorkshires Three Peaks, Whernside from a very different angle.
	Brant Nook one of several deep cut gills in the flanks of Great Knoutberry Hill, across the valley Whernside.
	As I round the corner and start heading east the first view of Artengill Viaduct.
	Ascending to the summit, a minute ago I was looking to Wold Fell now all that remains is a few puddles on Arten Gill Moss.
	A window in the cloud, sunburst over Widdale with Wold Fell to the right.
	This strange dumpy trig point marks the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill, It's the same shape as me, perhaps it's sinking.
	Descending west over Pikes Moss.
	A wild sky to match a wild landscape.
	Shapely cairn on Pikes Edge with views to Rise Hill and Baugh Fell.
	Stretching to the northwest Dentdale the forgotten dale, not in my book, the best dale.
	Rise Hill seen across Cowgill from a sunlit Pikes Edge.
	Almost at the sheep pens on Green Bank, on the far horizon the hills above Barbondale.
	Looking to the pine plantations on Dodderham Moss with the slopes of Baugh Fell in dappled shade.
	The Coal Road drops steeply into Dentdale, the car's just out of shot to the left.
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