Cogra Moss

Car to lake: 1.0 miles - from Kirkland Leaps
                   0.3 miles - from Fell Dyke

Round the lake: 1.2 miles

Time taken - whole walk: 1.5 hours 

The vast majority of Cumbria's 70 or so lakes and tarns are entirely natural and, many of the smaller ones in particular, are completely untouched by man. Some however, are the exact opposite; man made in the first place and modified by him subsequently.

Cogra Moss is one such place but none the worse for it. A century and a half or so ago there was no lake, just a flat piece of very mossy land where, I believe, sporting events occasionally took place. Then, in the mid nineteenth century, iron ore mines were developed in earnest and villages such a Arlecdon and Frizington, as well as Lamplugh itself, grew to the stage where they required their own reliable water supply. By building a dam at the western end of the "Moss" the area was flooded and a reservoir was formed to feed a public water supply which endured until the 1970's when modern pumping systems enabled the area to be supplied from the much larger Ennerdale Water over the fell to the south. The lake was drained sometime in the 1970's and the level lowered by a couple of feet or more giving rise to  number of islands which now look as if they've been there for ever.

For more on the history of mining in Lamplugh, visit www.lamplughheritage.org.uk

The first view of Cogra Moss approaching from Fell Dyke. The victorian iron fence runs the full length of the lake on this side.

Bounded by steep fells on three sides, Cogra Moss lies in a sort of amphitheatre shaped hollow on the extreme western edge of the Lake District and is best reached by turning off the A5086 Cockermouth to Egremont road at Crossgates or The Lamplugh Tip, Lamplugh. About a mile from either junction take the minor road past the caravan site where you will find a car park at Fell Dyke or, as I did this morning, proceed a further half mile or so to park at Kirkland Leaps and follow the forestry track along the north side of Knock Murton.

After ten minutes or so you reach a  gate after which the path forks; to the right it climbs up through some trees, to the left a more level path skirts around them. Take either one, the two paths meet again two or three hundred yards further. At this point you are looking down onto the lake a couple of hundred feet below and to reach the water's edge, you need to take a steep path known locally as the Donkey Trod. There is no evidence that this path is currently used by donkeys or any other equine species!

Cogra Moss and its little brother from the top of the Donkey Trod

As soon as you reach the edge of the lake, a decision needs to be made - at least if you are to walk around the water in an anti clockwise direction; it can be delayed until you are around the other side if going clockwise. Either you can cling to the water's edge or choose a slightly longer route by doubling back on yourself and crossing the head of the valley, back away from the water, and entering the forest. If you are nervous of swamps, or have non-waterproof footwear, choose the latter. Other than during a drought (rare events - the last one was in 1976) following the edge of the lake will be exceedingly damp underfoot - this place doesn't have moss in its name for nothing - it is no place for canvas shoes or sandals!

Indeed, it is likely to be wet underfoot most of the way until you reach the dam at the far end of the lake and you are unlikely to be troubled by hordes of hikers. There may well be an odd fisherman gamely trying to extract one of the rainbow trout with which the lake is stocked but even the fishermen tend to stick to the drier side of the water along the bottom of Knock Fell.

The view from the Dam end of the lake. Knock Murton, on the right rises so steeply that the right hand side of the lake is in shade all day in winter.

Having crossed the dam and climbed the stile over the old iron fence, you reach the gravel road shown in my first picture which provides access for the fishermen from Fell Dyke. (they have a key to a locked gate which prevents you or I from bringing our cars up to the lake). This road follows the shore of the lake for a short while before turning into a muddy path which leads to where the circuit began at the foot of the donkey trod. 

Looking across the water to Blake Fell. Had I not descended to the water's edge at the beginning of my walk, I could have followed a forest road along the side of Blake, before dropping down to the Lake through the trees in the sunny part of the picture. A longer but more rewarding walk.

A couple of fishermen in the 1940's when Cogra Moss was rather bigger and had no islands.

Once you've climbed the steep, but short, stretch up onto the forest road it is an easy walk back to the car. On your right is Knock Murton where the red spoil heaps of mining activity a century or so ago are still very evident and to your left the railway embankment gives a hint of how busy the area must have been when the mining was at its peak. Closer examination of the ground around here will reveal the remains of mine buildings as well as rather dangerous looking drift mines into the side of the fell.

The walk back, along the side of Knock, to the road. Much nicer in summer weather and coloured by the remains of iron ore mining many years ago.

All in all, a very pleasant walk but best enjoyed perhaps on a sunny summer evening and combined with a walk along the forest road above the lake itself or even a climb to the top of Knock.

Cogra Moss from above. Including some climbing in the walk will reward you not only with good views of the lake itself, but, on a clear day,spectacular views across the Solway Firth to Dumfries and Galloway.

Update
United Utilities have announced recently (Summer 2015) that they are reviewing the future of Cogra Moss. Apparently, to meet safety requirements, it will be necessary to carry out works to the dam in the near future if the lake is to be retained as it is. An option being considered is to "discontinue" Cogra Moss.This will involve removing the dam which will leave only a small remnant of the current lake - much like it was before the dam was built in around 1880.

Not surprisingly, this prospect horrifies anglers and others who enjoy this rather lovely little lake. They are urging all and sundry to write to Steve Magford, Chief Executive of United Utilities, United Utilities Group PLC, Haweswater House, Lingley Mere Business Park, Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington WA5 3LP or to their local Member of Parliament. 

Further update
It seems the pressure exerted by various groups and individuals with an interest in Cogra Moss was successful! By the end of 2015 United Utilities had taken the wise decision not to proceed and, for now at least, the future seems secure. It just shows that huge corporations can be influenced by sensibly applied public pressure and, I hope, that they accept a responsibility to protect such gems as Cogra!