Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
We`ve taken a real shine to the Fells in the Northern region. Friendly giants but
also abundant in peace and solitude by and large. For our first climb of 2019 after
an aborted attempt to climb Mungrisdale Common in January we decided on this
lung buster to get all the moving parts working again. No navigational issues on
this climb and a fantastic vista on top.
From the A66 towards Keswick, take a right hand turn at the Mungrisdale / Caldbeck
junction and head towards Mosedale. At a point near a telephone kiosk a signpost
points left towards Swineside. Take this turn and follow the tarmac road for as long
as possible towards Grainsgill Beck Bridge and the start of the Cumbria Way
Driving down the Mosedale valley road for around one and a half miles
At the bridge the road surface changes from tarmac to stone and signifies the time
to find a parking space
Suitably parked, sun screen applied and ready to set off along the Cumbria Way
Walking along the Cumbrian Way that runs parallel with the River Caldew
along the Mosedale valley
A unique way to cool off!
Skiddaw Little Man and Skiddaw in the far distance
Looking across the lower slopes of Mungrisdale Common towards Lonscale Fell
Looking back to Bowscale Fell from the track
After travelling for roughly around a mile and a half down the track we near the
bridge at Wiley Gill and our first view of Great Calva, and from this angle it looks
extremely steep
The gate leading to the footbridge over Wiley Gill
Ignore the obvious path to the left, it is a continuation of the Cumbria Way
that leads to Skiddaw House
Take the very faint path leading right that runs parallel with Wiley Gill towards
an area of dense bracken
We deviated slightly to take this shot of the Circular Sheep fold that AW noted ...
"it is refreshing to come across craftmanship of the highest standard and to be
reminded of the days when the humblest of Servant took pride in his work.
The man who built them lived a hard life working for a few pence a day. Only his
work remains just an unknown labourer, but how many of us today will be
remembered by our work hundreds of years later after we are gone? - Few indeed
Idleness builds no monuments"
How very true
Anyway, on with the walk. follow the Gill for a couple of hundred yards or so and look
out on the left for a steep sided cutting into the hill seen here on the left
A small amount of scrambling is required to reach the level ground slightly further up
On reaching the higher ground the path continues towards a gate in a fence
At this point put away the map or navigation device away and gird the loins for some
serious hard work. The fenceline itself leads directly to the subsiduary summit. The
true summit can be seen to the right along the ridgeline
Looking back down from the steep climb
Nearing the subsiduary summit and looking South towards what Wainwright
called "The Great Central Fault" of Lakeland
Approaching the subsiduary summit and thankfully the slope eases somewhat
as it passes over several rock outcrops
On the ridgeline now and looking towards the true summit of Great Calva
The last few hard yards for Sue as she reaches the end of the hard toil
Made it! - Sue, Ste and a rather disgruntled looking Jones (the Bastard)
on the summit of Great Calva. Click here for a 360 degree view
Looking South towards Skiddaw
The less than impressive summit cairn on Great Calva
So glad to have got that steep climb out of the way
Jones (the Bastard)
Looking across to the rear of Blencathra and in particular .. Foule Crag which
is the steep scrambly bit that a climber is faced with after crossing Sharp Edge
On the way back to the car after a 5 hour hot and sticky slog. A chance to stop
off and cool down in the freezing cold water of Grainsgill Beck
