The Back of Blencathra

None of my clubmates wanted to join me on this walk so I set off on my own from the hut we were staying at in Patterdale.  After driving to the head of Mosedale in the northern fells I followed Grainsgill Beck, through a couple of drizzly showers, up to a point where the slope eased and I cut off rightwards towards Great Lingy Hut, probably more often known as the Lingy Hut bothy.  I added an entry to the log book and enjoyed the views of Carrock Fell and Blencathra, reminiscing that the previous time I’d been here was just over 26 years ago!

Mosedale from the Lingy Hut

Lingy Hut bothy

Hare Stones was my first summit of the day.  I could clearly see the summit of High Pike with a few people on it but as it’s a Wainwright, I’d been there before and it would need an unnecessary out-and-back to reach it again; today’s agenda lay in the opposite direction.

I followed the clear path towards Great Lingy Hill.  From the top I thought that I could just make out Criffel but the nearer fells of High Pike and Carrock Fell were very clear and terrain at the back of Blencathra showed its complexity which is not widely commented on.  Conversely, Knott lay straight ahead as a lump obscuring Skiddaw.

The top of Miller Moss had a modest cairn but my attention was held by Knott, taunting me with its apparent close reach but the ground to the tiny and rather inconsequential summit of Little Lingy Hill had no obvious path through the heather and hags before completing the dogleg to the day’s highpoint.

Helvellyn, Thirlmere and Lonscale Fell & Pike from Knott

Knott summit is a good viewpoint as the Vale of Keswick comes into view.  Lonscale Fell with its Pike were clear and behind me the Lingy Hut could be seen.  The descent from Knott steepened as the col was approached and the ascent of Little Calva took longer than I thought it might because of a combination of heather, bogs and marshy terrain underfoot.  The view to the south became much more interesting with Helvellyn, Thirlmere and Skiddaw House all clearly seen.  Across the Solway was misty but Cross Fell in the east was easily identifiable, despite its lumpen form.

Skiddaw House from Great Calva

I followed the fence around to Great Calva’s summit cairn and then to the south summit where the fence turned left to the descent of almost 1,000 feet.  No path was marked on the map but this is obviously a common way of travel, up, down or both, as there is a narrow but well-worn path.  Wiley Gill marked the end of the descent and only a two mile walk along the Cumbria Way was needed to get back to the car.