A difficult route in Northern Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Roadside car park just north of Mosedale (NY 356 325)
IMPORTANT — MOUNTAIN SAFETY: This is a serious and demanding mountain walk in the Caldbeck Fells, covering four Wainwright summits with over 850m of ascent over 22.5 kilometres. This walk is suitable for experienced hill walkers with appropriate clothing, footwear and equipment. The weather on these northern fells can deteriorate rapidly — check the forecast before setting out and be prepared to turn back if conditions worsen.
A magnificent and varied day on the Caldbeck Fells — four Wainwrights in a remote corner of the Lake District that sees far fewer walkers than the central fells, with big views and a real sense of open space throughout. The walk begins with an honest admission: the original plan to climb Carrock Fell directly from Mosedale had to be abandoned when the path could not be found, but the improvised route that replaced it turned out to be excellent. The long track west from Mosedale to join the Cumbria Way gives legs and lungs time to warm up before the short wild walking section through the heather — brief and perfectly manageable — leads to the steep climb to Great Calva, where the cloud was obligingly high enough to allow views in most directions. Knott follows via a boggy col and High Pike completes a fine trio of northern summits, with the bonus of views stretching to the Solway Firth and Scotland. The traverse east to Carrock Fell over Miton Hill and Round Knott is a pleasure, and the summit of Carrock — the only fell in the Lake District with an Iron Age hill fort — deserves a long look around, though on my visit the incoming thunder clouds provided some urgency. The steep descent through Further Gill Sike and the road back to Mosedale rounds off a big and thoroughly rewarding day.