Carrock Fell to Great Calva

Lake District walks - Carrock Fell to Great Calva

If you are familiar with the usual majestic, imposing pictures of Blencathra and Skiddaw, on this walk you will see the other, northern side of these fells - and lots of other interesting things as well. The fells are smoother in outline, but this walk has plenty of ups and downs. In fact, Carrock Fell can be a real trial if, as I once did, you fail to find the narrow path from the valley up its southern face. Off the path is a mixture of scree, boulders and deep heather. The path begins just above the road in the first picture below, which shows Mosedale, Bowscale Fell on the left, Knott in the far distance - and Carrock Fell on the right..

A few hundred feet into the climb, in the midst of the heather.

The top of Carrock Fell. In the distance is Skiddaw, on the right: Skiddaw Little Man in the centre; and Lonscale Fell left centre.

Looking south from the top of Carrock Fell, to Bowscale Fell across Mosedale - and Blencathra in the distance.

This is the valley down which the Caldew river flows - and down which you will be returning. Skiddaw is the backdrop.

Looking back at Carrock Fell from near the top of High Pike

The top of High Pike is a gentle curve, with this pile of stones, a cairn and a seat erected in memory of a young man, who died at the age of 16 and who "loved all these hills".

This curiosity, unmarked on the OS maps, is Lingy Hut, formerly a shooting box. All around here was not a good place to live if you were a grouse. Now the hut is maintained, less destructively, by the National Park as a walker's hut; my inspection revealed two items: a champagne bottle, and a beer bottle, both unsurprisingly empty. The champagne is possibly a left-over from New Year's Day when, every year, the Park Rangers congregate here for a party.
That is Carrock Fell in the distance, High Pike is up to the left, and Knott is up to the right.

From the top of Knott, looking between Lonscale Fell and Blencathra towards Thirlmere in the far distance. Great Calva, our next objective, is in the foreground.

This is the path to Great Calva which, despite all appearances, is not flat - there is a large depression down to the right.

Skiddaw is in the distance.

Looking west from Knott you can see Bassenthwaite Lake (this picture is at full x5 zoom). Is this the only place from where you can see both Thirlmere and Bassenthwaite Lake?

The top of Great Calva

Skiddaw from the top of Great Calva

Blencathra looks a bit different from this angle, doesn't it?

Looking north-east from Great Calva: Carrock Fell in the distance.

This is the way down into the Caldew valley from Great Calva.

And this would be the way up, if anyone were so foolish. At least it's not scree and heather...

A great place to finish a long and tiring walk...

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For somewhere to stay nearby, try

Highbridge Cottage.