Walk

Walk : High Pike (2,157 feet), Carrock Fell (2,174 feet)

Date : 1^st October 2018

Weather : Overcast, dry for the main @ 12°C strong cold wind on tops

Distance : 7 miles round trip

Time Taken : 1hour 30 mins to first summit (High Pike)

Which part of Lakeland is this walk situated

Terrain Overview

Overview

The group of fells that lie to the North behind Blencathra in the Caldbeck / Mosedale region offer some long gradual climbing over vast expanses

of moor land and disused mining areas and a perfect reintroduction to fell walking after a sport related ankle injury. The whole route throughout

is a good track and easy to navigate. This was the first walk of our week long stay in Ambleside so we took advantage of the dry conditions

From the A66 out of Keswick towards Penrith take the minor road signposted for Mungrizedale and Mosedale. After a few miles along this road

you will see the traffic warning signs as you approach Carrock Beck

Depending upon conditions at the time a little care is needed crossing the Beck

Soon after the Ford there is an area of off road parking for several cars, this particular part is right opposite the start of the walk, an old mine track

Carrock Fell towering in the background

The track heads off towards the base of West Fell (centre right) which is part of the ridge to High Pike itself and the opportunity to gain the ridge

presents itself further along if you choose to – however this walk description does not follow this

The optional path to gain the ridge on West Fell

About a mile or so into the walk the path swings round to the right to pass through a disused mining area

There is no merit in taking any short cuts – the main path surface is the better walking option to gain the approach ridge to High Pike

Looking back at the top of the old mining area towards Carrock Fell

The final part of the track up to the summit – the shelter cairn can just be seen top right

Looking west towards Blencathra over the top of Driggerth Mine from the summit track

The summit Trig point

Sue and Jones on the summit of High Pike

The Trig point commemoration plate

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of High Pike … https://youtu.be/UqJ9eFfKO-E

The Memorial bench on the summit “He is a portion of that lovliness that once he made more lovely” a tribute to a 16 year old Mick Lewis who

died 8^th May 1944. I`m not sure if the spelling of loveliness was deliberate or an oversight ???. Either way due to previous misdemeanours on the

way up to the summit Sue and Jones are not on speaking terms at the moment

We take the path south that crosses the top of Drygill Head as we journey round to Carrock Fell. No navigation problems at all as it swings round

to the left and heads eastwards

Following the track to the summit of Carrock fell – a bit boggy in parts but other than that no problems

Wainwright said of the ridge route from High Pike “The finish is the best part of the route” – by that I presume he meant that the small amount

of scrambling required to reach the summit, nothing too onerous though

The summit cairn on Carrock Fell

Me and Jones the Bastard on the summit of Carrock Fell

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of Carrock Fell … https://youtu.be/WMiMFtWnxUs

Looking towards Skiddaw across the Caldew valley