Wild and Windy on Calf Top

[johnkaysleftleg]

Following a period of hill walking inactivity I was going stir crazy so Hughie and I decided to brave the predicted gale force winds and head over the Pennines for a walk.Taking the decision to leave the Lakes alone we headed for a long time target that I have often over looked in the shape of the fairly recently promoted Hewitt of Calf Top. I say fairly recently, turns out it was August 2016 when what was long suspected was confirmed as Calf Top's height was set at 609.606m a fraction over 2000ft. Does this matter? well not really but it does give an excuse to climb a new hill, one which I have managed to avoid for two and a half years.

There are a few reports for this hill but as my route was very similar to that taken by Trailmasher I'll go easy on the details. I parked up in the layby just after turning off the A683 close to Hodge Bridge. I don't particularly like parking in villages if I can help it as it must get very annoying for the residents so this fitted my MO perfectly.

Barbon looked a nice village from the little I saw of it as I was soon wandering through the pasture of Barbon Park before emerging on the steep slopes of Eskholme Pike.

St Bartholomew's Church, Barbon by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Bit of Early morning sunshine by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Hazy morning to the South by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Onto the open fell side by Anthony Young, on Flickr

I mentioned my lack of hill walking earlier, well it turns out this combined with copious amounts of chocolate, cakes, beer, wine etc etc over the holidays doesn't go well with attempting a steep slope at a healthy pace. I was soon predictably gasping for breath and it came as a blessed relief when the cairn came into view.

Very windy of Eskholme Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Esk Holme Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr

I'd been largely sheltered from the wind up till now but there was no ignoring it here as it blasted in from the South making standing difficult and causing my eyes to water. A few quick snaps and I retreated before resuming the now far more gentle ascent.

A blast of Light on the way up Castle Knott by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Back towards Eskholme Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Barbon Low Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Close to Castle Knott by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking back along the track by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Last blast of Sunshine by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Castle Knott Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr

The walk from to Castle Knott was blessed with some wonderful light as a gap in the clouds provided what was to be the last sunshine of the day. The summit provided fine views and goes down as another fine little hill in the list of Deweys (hills of over 500m but below 609m (2000ft) with a 30m prominence)

Looking towards Calf Top by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Hughie by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Great Coum, Gragareth Panorama by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Approaching Calf Top summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Epic Hughie pose by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Calf Top by Anthony Young, on Flickr

I descended a little to find a sheltered spot before having a break and a bite to eat. My Christmas health kick continued with a few slices of cold Pizza which were delicious before the fairly easy climb up to the days high point. Calf top turned out to not be as good a view point as Castle Knott but I find it is often the case that a subsidiary summit is better in the Pennines. A few pics later we set off down Middleton Fell.

Nameless Tarn by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Ingleborough dwarfed by the winter skies by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Currick on Middleton Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Hazy views to the Howgills by Anthony Young, on Flickr

This was a very easy descent even with the constantly nagging wind and would be quite idyllic on a calm blue sky day. Various trods take you all the way down to the cottages at Mill House where some confused signage is encountered. I ignored it and took the decision to return to Barbon via tarmac rather than the fields.


Snow Drops by Anthony Young, on Flickr


...and again by Anthony Young, on Flickr

The roads were very quiet and I was soon back at the car before the clock struck 12. Given my fairly quick walking for the day I decided to make a detour on the way home and visit Scalaber Force, A set of falls I've long since wanted to see but never got around to it. The detour turned out to be well worth it as they are every bit as good as the photos I'd seen suggested. All in all a fine day out.


Scalaber Force from above by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Scalaber Beck by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Scalaber Beck and swirls by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Scalaber Force by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Tumble Down by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Scalaber Force again by Anthony Young, on Flickr

...and a last shot of Scalber Force by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Calf Top.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[martin.h]

I keep forgetting about this one, we'll have to give it a go this year, maybe on one of those blue sky days.
Lovely photo's again, the waterfalls look superb.

[trailmasher]

Another fine walk well documented with lovely photos, especially like the waterfall shots I must say that the first part of the walk is not conducive to carting around the aftermath of feeding the desire of a sweet tooth and copious amounts of wine Anthony

It's a funny situation when the views get worse the higher one climbs sometimes but unfortunately is one of the downfalls of some of the larger and higher fells Well done for getting this one ticked off, in a fairly fast time as well

[johnkaysleftleg]

I keep forgetting about this one, we'll have to give it a go this year, maybe on one of those blue sky days.
Lovely photo's again, the waterfalls look superb.

Well worth a visit if you feel like a largely easy day. Scalaber Force is one of the best waterfalls I've visited and just a 5 minute walk from the road.

Another fine walk well documented with lovely photos, especially like the waterfall shots I must say that the first part of the walk is not conducive to carting around the aftermath of feeding the desire of a sweet tooth and copious amounts of wine Anthony

It's a funny situation when the views get worse the higher one climbs sometimes but unfortunately is one of the downfalls of some of the larger and higher fells Well done for getting this one ticked off, in a fairly fast time as well

Thanks TM, my consumption of food and alcohol has done me few favours so I am currently on the wagon
I always tend to walk quicker when it's windy, but given my fitness, or lack of, I'm not sure how I made it round in the time I did.

[trailman]

Hi Anthony, the 'confused signage at Mill House' is not so confused any more (October '22), it's been replaced by a dire warning saying don't you dare go through here it's not a right of way. I believe that these days Mill House is a collection of dead posh holiday lets and maybe the owners don't want hillwalkers anywhere close (no matter that there is a right-of-way inches away).

So instead I crossed Millhouse Gill - it's quite a drop down and up - and stuck to the fell side of the intake wall, there's a helpful sheep track, to the point marked 'Sheepfold' on the Explorer map at 635848. There's a rusty gate to climb but then follow the (imaginary these days) track towards Low Fellside. You don't need to go to the farmhouse though, just cut across a grass field to a pair of gates at 632849 and join the right of way. Technically the imaginary track and the field aren't a right of way but I doubt if anyone would have a go at you.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Hi Anthony, the 'confused signage at Mill House' is not so confused any more (October '22), it's been replaced by a dire warning saying don't you dare go through here it's not a right of way. I believe that these days Mill House is a collection of dead posh holiday lets and maybe the owners don't want hillwalkers anywhere close (no matter that there is a right-of-way inches away).

So instead I crossed Millhouse Gill - it's quite a drop down and up - and stuck to the fell side of the intake wall, there's a helpful sheep track, to the point marked 'Sheepfold' on the Explorer map at 635848. There's a rusty gate to climb but then follow the (imaginary these days) track towards Low Fellside. You don't need to go to the farmhouse though, just cut across a grass field to a pair of gates at 632849 and join the right of way. Technically the imaginary track and the field aren't a right of way but I doubt if anyone would have a go at you.

Thanks for this. Good info for myself or anybody else passing this way. I do find it quite sad however that a few walkers, and let’s not pretend it will be anything other than that, passing through a gate and onto a tarmac road, comfortably away from any houses should cause someone to react in this way. Good to here the situation can be easily bypassed but it still rankles.

[WildAboutWalking]

An interesting account - Calf Top/Middleton Fell is a neglected gem. The approach from the north west is worthwhile too.

PS - the trig point has been adorned with some interesting graffiti since your visit.