Solitude to the north of Skiddaw from our latest walking route.
Walking Route - Caldbeck Fells, Lake District
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Mosedale > High Pike
> Great Calva > Mosedale
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Distance: 10.5 miles
(17km)
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Height Gain: 2817 ft (858
m)
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Between the Back O'Skiddaw and the sea lie the Caldbeck
Fells. Gentler and less rocky than their southern neighbours
these hills offer peace and solitude even in the height of
summer
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Maps: Landranger 90/89, Explorer
OL4/5,
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: NY
328 327
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North of the giants of Skiddaw and Blencathra the land drops away
towards the Solway Firth, but between the Back O'Skiddaw and the sea
lie the Caldbeck Fells.
Carrock Fell from Drygill Head - Andy
Wallace's OM album
Gentler and less rocky than their southern neighbours these hills
offer peace and solitude even in the height of summer. The area is
almost deserted, with the only easy access being along the single
road from Mosedale to Carrock Mine.
Section 1: Mosedale to High Pike
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Distance: 3.6 miles (5.8km)
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Height Gain: 1593 ft (485m)
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Average Time: 2 hours 25 mins
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From the end of the Carrock Mine road climb the hillside on
your right, starting alongside Poddy Gill, and bear right as you
ascend towards the obvious ridge line.
As you reach the cairn at Round Knott turn right along the
ridge to take a short half mile walk across to the summit of
Carrock
Fell. This most easterly viewpoint of the Caldbeck Fells
gives views across to the eastern Pennines and on a good day down to
the Yorkshire Dales.
From the summit shelter retrace your steps along the ridge to
Round Knott then continue a gradual descent to Miton Hill then Red
Gate. Here you meet several paths joining and Drygill Head to
the west gives you a marker to head for.
Atmospheric High Pike summit shot from Paul Langley's
OM
album
Skirt just north of this small top and turn right to join the
Cumbria Way path as it climbs from Hare Stones to High
Pike. This is the most northerly 2000ft mountain in the Lake
District, and with a bench and shelter makes an ideal break after the
three and a half mile ascent.
As you'd expect of such a location the views extend over the
Solway Firth into Scotland.
Section 2: High Pike to Great Calva
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43.6 miles (6.4km)
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Height Gain: 1163ft (354 m)
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Average Time: 2 hour 20 mins
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Drop down from
High Pike before a short climb up to the pile
of stones that marks the flat top of Hare Stones.
From here head south west, diverging from the Cumbria Way as you
head first over the top of Great
Lingy Hill with Knott ahead. Between Great Lingy Hill and
Knott lies Miller Moss, which is best avoided by moving west then
crossing the stream above the start of Roughton Gill.
Ahead lies almost 400 ft of ascent over unmarked slopes as you
climb steadily to the flat plateau of Knott
and its summit cairn. From Knott take the ridge south west over open
ground, dropping almost 700 ft to a col before climbing again. 400ft
of ascent brings you to the top of Little Calva, and a brief respite
before the continuation to Great Calva.
Great Calva viewed from Bow Scale Fell - John
Fitzpatrick
from his OM
album
Great Calva has windshelters at both the south and north
ends with the northern one being slightly higher. From the summit the
views south are dominated by Blencathra and Skiddaw, with the
recently refurbished Skiddaw House way below.
Section 3: Great Calva to Mosedale
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Distance: 2.9 miles (4.7km)
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Height Gain: 61 ft (19 m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 10 mins
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From Great Calva head east alongside a fence that drops steadily down
to join Wiley Gill, which you follow to again join the Cumbria Way.
Now turn left and follow an easy path alongside the fledgling River
Caldew. Two miles of steady walking on an ever widening track soon
bring you back to your starting point.
Note: Average time ratings are calculated for a notional
average walker and take height gain into account. You may be faster
or slower than the notional average, but they provide a starting
point.
