The Queen's Head

Askham Fell and the Cockpit stone circle

Six and a quarter miles and about three hours for 250 metres of climb, up the broad green track from Askham onto the open limestone commons and out to the Cockpit, a Bronze Age ring on the old Roman road above Ullswater. It starts on the wide green in Askham village, where there is free roadside parking for a couple of dozen cars either side of the green - the only free parking of its kind this close to Ullswater. The going is short dry turf on ancient tracks, easy for a dog and with big open views, but this is unfenced common grazed by sheep and Fell ponies all year, the ground holds nesting curlew and lapwing from April to July when leads are essential, and there is no water at all on the fell.