**

A Short Walk From Ashness Bridge to High Seat

The fells of the Central Ridge have a fearsome reputation. Not for scrambling or other technical difficulty, but for the dampness of the ground. Wainwright was particularly disparaging of the ridge walk between High Seat and Bleaberry Fell. He said of it: "This is a walk to wish on one's worst enemy". Looking at the map you can see why, with all the becks and marshy ground symbols on the OS maps. So it is with some justifiable trepidation that a walk to any of the fells here be contemplated. However, Fix The Fells thoughtfully put a path across much of the upper route from Dodd to High Seat. Just two short sections that were presumably too wet and difficult for the builders to engineer a way through remain. It is enough though to give a flavour of the rest of this peaty high ground should this be a first visit here, and to give an explanation for this being a linear, out and back, route.

This walk starts at Ashness Bridge which is situated a little way along the narrow minor road to the hamlet of Watendlath. The bridge itself is barely over 7ft wide with low parapets much like a packhorse bridge. A National Trust car park being on the far side so folk with large vehicles should take note.