Hallin Fell

Early morning sunshine illuminates cairned Hallin Fell with Pikewassa (Steel Knots) - the pointed fell to the left still in shadow. The cairn is 12 feet high and of square structure.

On the horizon is the run of High Street falling away to The Nab and Rest Dodd. High Street has a Roman road along its ridge. They preferred the high roads as the valleys were the lair of wild animals and the Cumri - and warring non-client tribes. The route came in from north of Penrith (the route of the old A6) and continued to Ambleside and on to Ravenglass, a Roman port. Today the remains of the Roman bath house are standing there - the tallest Roman remains in England (excluding reconstructions).

There was also an annual horse race on the summit of High Street and a fair where local dales folk, farmers/traders and enthusiasts wagered money on horses and wrestlers and drank illicit whisky and gin, away from the eyes of the excise man.

These are fells you can walk for hours and never meet another soul, even in the height of summer. If you're lucky you'll catch a glimpse of the Martindale deer though they will more often see you before you see them and be off!