Gavel Fell and Blake Fell from Loweswater

This is a 6.1-mile (9.9 km) circular walk from Maggie's Bridge, with about 558 m of ascent. Allow roughly 3 to 4 hours for the full circuit. The route follows the track through High Nook Farm, climbs past Highnook Tarn and over the rough ground of Gavel Fell, crosses the damp saddle at Fothergill Head, then climbs to Blake Fell before descending back toward High Nook.

The climbing is steady and sometimes steep, but the main difficulty is the combination of boggy ground, rough grass, stiles and faint paths. It is a remote-feeling fell walk rather than a maintained summit path. There is no technical scrambling on the described circuit, although the descent beside Highnook Beck is steep and needs care.

Gavel Fell gives the first broad high-level views over the Vale of Lorton, Highnook Tarn and the surrounding western fells. From Blake Fell, the outlook opens toward the Irish Sea, the Solway coast, Ennerdale and the larger peaks around Buttermere. The summits are grassy and open, with fences and cairns providing useful navigation references. Heather, bilberry, moss and rough fell grass dominate the higher ground; look for skylarks on quieter days and red squirrels in the woodland near the valley.

The route is most enjoyable in settled, clear weather when the coastal and mountain views are visible. After rain, the moorland becomes much wetter and Highnook Beck can be awkward to cross. Mist makes the faint upper paths and fence junctions harder to follow, and wind can be surprisingly strong on both summits. Dogs are allowed, but keep them under close control around livestock and expect stiles and cattle near High Nook Farm.

This is a good choice when you want two Wainwright summits and solitude matters more than a polished path or dramatic rock scenery. It is quieter than the popular walks around Buttermere, but the tradeoff is less certain footing and more navigation. The shorter Gavel Fell-only circuit is a better fit if you want a lower-commitment outing; the larger Loweswater-fell circuits add Burnbank Fell, Hen Comb or Mellbreak and are substantially longer and harder.