Seven members of Cumbria LDWA met on a bright spring morning at the free car park in the centre of Caldbeck village.

 

The party first took the Cumbria Way up to the hamlet of Nether Row where the long-distance trail splits into high-level (good weather) and low-level (bad weather) routes.

Two years previously when this walk had been attempted we took the low-level route, making an alternative 14 mile round trip back to Caldbeck. However it was good weather this time so the party followed the high-level route steadily uphill, past some old mine workings, to reach the top of High Pike with it's collection of summit paraphernalia (photo).

 

A cold breeze from the North meant we had a brief pause to catch our breath and admire the view before continuing on the Cumbria Way down to the Lingy Hut (photo).

Luckily we had the place to ourselves for our morning break, out of the wind and admiring the view down into Mosedale (photo).

The Cumbria Way descends into Mosedale but the group left the trail just below the hut to cross Miller Moss, a normally very boggy area but which today, after the long dry month of March, was relatively squelch-free.

 

Next, a short steep climb was followed by a gradual ascent up the long ridge to the summit of Knott, the highest point reached on the walk (photo). Another pause here to take in the view which took in a distant Isle of Man which was seen more clearly than is suggested by the (photo). From this airy summit the group descended over High Sca Fell, Little Sca Fell and on to Brae Fell, our fourth Wainwright Fell of the day.

 

Retracing our steps on the main path for a few metres we then followed a fainter path to the right which descended and curved round to the head of the ravine at Charleton Gill which proved to be a reasonably sheltered spot for lunch.

 

Following the faint path above the ravine we eventually came down to the Cumbria Way low-level route where we turned east and crossed the gill at the ford. As with Miller Moss previously, the recent dry spell meant the crossing was not a problem.

 

At the end of the track (photo), the Cumbria Way followed a minor road all the way to Fell Side, a former outdoor pursuits centre.

Continuing on the trail we then crossed some moorland before descending through Potts Gill farm where daffodils bloomed in profusion.

Shortly afterwards, Nether Row was again reached and the outward route reversed to reach the cars.

 

Walk Stats: 23.4Km (14.5 miles), 800 metres (2,600ft) ascent in 6 hours 49 mins