Walking Blake Fell from Kirkland: Cogra Moss and High Pen

Woodland tracks, open fellside and views across some of the finest country in the western Lake District.

Blake Fell might not be one of the Lake District's best known summits, but it's one I've walked more times than I can remember. At 573 metres, it isn't especially high by Lakeland standards, yet the views towards Ennerdale, Loweswater and the surrounding fells are excellent.

It's also the fell that gave Blake Fell Apparel its name, so it seems only right that it should have its own walking guide.

I've been walking up here for years, and it's become something of a family favourite. I've carried both my children up in backpacks when they were babies, and they've since reached the summit more than once under the power of their own legs.

One of the things I like most about Blake Fell is the choice of routes. You can start near Kirkland, at Felldyke, or from the Loweswater side. The route shown here is a circular walk starting at the forestry track near Kirkland, climbing via Low Pen and High Pen before returning through the forestry around Cogra Moss.

Blake Fell walk at a glance

• Start and finish: Forestry track entrance near Kirkland
• Parking: Free layby parking near the forestry entrance; park considerately and keep access clear
• Summit: Blake Fell, 573m
• Difficulty: Moderate, with steep, uneven and sometimes boggy sections
• Terrain: Forestry roads, grassy fellside and open moorland
• Highlights: High Pen, views towards Ennerdale and Cogra Moss
• Other starting points: Felldyke and Loweswater

The circular route

Starting from Kirkland

The route starts at the forestry track entrance near Kirkland, where there's layby parking. This is the side I use most often. The forest roads give a fairly gentle introduction to the walk, with several options for gaining the higher ground.

I spend a fair bit of time here, both walking and out on the bike, often with the dog. There is something quite appealing about the contrast between the quiet woodland tracks and the open fellside above.

Climbing via Low Pen and High Pen

From the lower tracks, the route heads uphill towards Low Pen and High Pen. It becomes steeper in places, but the reward is seeing the views gradually open up as you leave the trees behind.

Cogra Moss appears below, enclosed by the surrounding forestry, with lower country stretching out beyond it. High Pen, at 475 metres, makes a good place to stop and take it all in before the final push towards Blake Fell.

Blake Fell summit

From High Pen, the route continues across the open fellside towards Blake Fell itself. It doesn't have the dramatic rocky character of some of the higher Lake District peaks, but the views more than make up for it.

On a clear day the higher western fells dominate the scene, with wonderful views towards Ennerdale, Crummock Water, Loweswater and Buttermere. Looking the other way, the countryside rolls towards the coast and the Solway.

I've been up here when the hills were white with snow and the sky was brilliantly blue, and on days when the cloud was so low there was barely anything to see. That's the beauty of returning to the same fell through the seasons. No two visits are quite the same.

Completing the forestry circuit

Rather than retracing the climb, this route carries on around the northern side of Blake Fell and descends towards the forestry. It is a longer way back, and some of the ground on the descent is steep, so it's worth taking your time.

The winding forest roads feel quite different from the open summit. You can follow the tracks back around Cogra Moss and eventually return to the Kirkland entrance. I enjoy this variation because you get woodland, reservoir views and a proper fell walk in the same outing.

Other ways to walk Blake Fell

Felldyke and Cogra Moss

Felldyke is the other obvious starting point, with free parking. For a first visit I'd certainly consider this approach. It gives you the chance to enjoy Cogra Moss before heading up onto the fell. You don't have to climb the summit to appreciate the reservoir and surrounding woodland, either.

From Loweswater

Blake Fell can also be approached from the Loweswater side, including routes over Carling Knott or linking neighbouring fells for a longer day. Despite living nearby and walking Blake Fell countless times, I've explored this side far less than the Kirkland and Felldyke approaches. It's a good option to look at if you're staying around Loweswater.

Blake Fell through the seasons

I've walked Blake Fell in just about every sort of weather. In summer there's the contrast of shaded forestry and grassy fellside. Autumn brings a different colour to the woodland. In winter, the whole landscape can be transformed.

Some of my favourite photographs have been taken here after a snowfall. The views can be spectacular, but snow, ice and low cloud make navigation and footing much harder, even on a fell you know well.

A few things worth knowing

There are quite a few forestry tracks and junctions around Cogra Moss, and some paths on the fell are less obvious in poor conditions. I'd take an up-to-date OS map or reliable mapping app rather than relying on signs. Forestry work can also affect access, so check for any restrictions before setting off.

Parts of the fell can be boggy after rain, and the summit is exposed to wind and bad weather. Wear suitable footwear, carry waterproofs and warm layers, and be prepared to turn back if conditions deteriorate. Keep dogs under close control around livestock.

And don't feel you have to race to the top. Cogra Moss and the woodland are worth exploring on their own, especially if you only fancy a shorter outing.

Why I keep coming back

There are bigger mountains in the Lake District, and certainly more famous ones. But Blake Fell is relatively quiet, has some excellent views, and offers enough different routes to keep me returning.

There's a family connection too. I can still remember carrying the kids up in backpacks when they were tiny. Now they've both climbed it several times on their own two feet. The fell hasn't changed much, but the little legs climbing it certainly have.

I love the contrast between the dark forestry, the sheltered water of Cogra Moss and the open hills above. It's a place I've known for years, and one I never really get tired of visiting.

If you're exploring the western Lake District and fancy somewhere a bit less obvious than the usual big names, Blake Fell is well worth a look. And when you reach the top, take a little time to enjoy the view.

This is a personal account of the route, not a turn-by-turn navigation guide. Check the weather, access and route on a current map before setting off.