A 10km walk up Great Cockup and descending via Trusmadoor and Chapelhouse Reservoir.Route: leaving the car at the marked car parking area at the northeast end of Over Water (empty but space for ~8 cars) and walking 2km along the road past Orthwaite to reach a track leading into right to roam land. Climbing to turn sharp left along a quad-bike track and following this to the right at a fork but almost immediately turning further right on a clear path up the ridge. Where the path entered bracken, taking a subsidiary but still clear path higher and to the left skirting the patch of bracken. On gaining a sort of shoulder above Orthwaite Bank, entering bracken but on a distinct path and then climbing above the bracken onto the shoulder of Great Cockup itself. Passing a fine stone grouse butt to reach the summit ridge (slightly higher but with less good views at the far end). Descending into Trusmadoor and turning left, but keeping on the right hand side of the initial valley so as to anticipate the final direction, crossing occasional marshy patches. After 2km, reaching Longlands (the final 100m not as marshy as a previous experience) turning left on the road uphill and then right on a path to cross the dam of Chapelhouse Reservoir and head left and uphill on a road before descending to the car.
Conditions: Cloudy. Initially 15C but warming up later. Almost dry underfoot.
Pub: the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite (village), (under new management) for Marston’s Bassenthwaite Beauty.
