A long and pretty damp hike around the far north of the Lakes mountains.
All the drama and ‘mountaineering’ of this route is in the first mile, climbing the impressive rocky eastern face of Carrock Fell via a steeply slanting grass traverse and then an even steeper gully. Exhilarating, if lungbusting, stuff, but the path is clear enough and stays the coward’s side of being really exposed. Still a fair climb through the heather to the summit once the gradient eases, but nothing so breathless.
After dropping off Carrock Fell, the rock and heather disappear and the next few miles are over swampy grasslands. The way is always clear, but you spend plenty of time zigzagging and leaping between the firmer bits in the vain attempt to avoid a bootfull... By High Pike, you’re already grateful for its signature seat and a lovely vista west to the sea. As for much of the day, long views south were lost in the hazy sun, but – given conditions in recent months – that isn’t a real complaint!
It’s a long trudge over Knott, higher but otherwise lesser than the other peaks on this route, to Great Calva - the gentle slopes seeming to stubbornly refuse to drain at all – and it’s rather a surprise to find a decent path at the end steepening up to the summit; also to see, at this low level and after a warm week, deep drifts of snow still lying in the gullies beside the way.
After a steep, cling-to-the-heather descent from Great Calva, it’s a long, flat five miles footbashing home, first through the bleak unchanging Caldew valley and then, welcomely, into verdant Mosedale.
It really is a long, long way back… probably better in hindsight to park in Mosedale for this route, break it up a little, and finish with the best views of the day.
Warning
Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.