Faulds Brow & Clints Crags - MASARNEN RAMBLERS

Faulds Brow & Clints Crags - Friday 9 April 2021

We did a couple of walks on this day - both summits were Wainwright Outlying Fells and quite close to home. Both outings are listed separately below.

Faulds Brow

Route

Caldbeck - Knocker House - Faulds Brow - Whelpo - The Howk - Caldbeck

Parking

Plenty of parking in Caldbeck. We parked near the Village Green (Free) at Grid Reference NY 32258 39922. Nearest postcode is CA7 8EW.

Mileage

4.7 miles

Terrain

Grassy paths with some road walking on quiet lanes however care needs to be taken descending into The Howk.

Weather

Sunshine with very good visibility.

Time Taken

2hrs 35mins

Total Ascent

672ft (205m)

Wainwrights

1 Outlying Fell

Maps

OL5 The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
OL4 The English Lakes (North Western Area)

Walkers

Dave, Angie & Fudge

GPX File

gpx 9_april_21_faulds_brow_actual.gpx

If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.

Route Map - Faulds Brow

There is plenty of parking in the village of Caldbeck - we parked next to the village green

Caldbeck's pretty village green complete with large duck pond

Today's route headed up the B5299 in the direction of Wigton & Carlisle. The road is not that busy however there is a route that passes through the village green to join the road a few hundred yards further on thus reducing the road walking.

Leaving the B5299 on to this quiet lane that heads in the direction of Waverhead Farm

As height is gained the views open out to Carrock Fell & High Pike

As happy as Larry (whoever he is), Fudge puts in his doggy clutch and engages "joyful trot" gear

The route passes Knocker House (no tittering at the back now!)

Once past Knocker House the route reaches a road linking Keswick & Carlisle and joins the Wavergillhead & Wavergill Farm access road. However the route heads off to the left almost immediately to continue over moorland.

The Waverhead TV Mast

There are a few of these small craters scattered about. There are several theories as to what caused them however they are thought not to be shake holes.

The disused limestone quarry near the summit of Faulds Brow

Approaching the summit of Faulds Brow

Near the summit is a large cairn however the highest point lies 15 metres away to the north west

Fudge proudly indicating the position of the true summit of Faulds Brow. Behind him is the Solway Firth and Criffel.

From the summit the route heads downhill on a vague path towards the road that we crossed earlier near Waverhead

Another one of those craters - this one was twice the size of the one we saw earlier

Reaching the road we crossed over and headed down to Whelpo

Whelpo below

Whelpo Bridge

In Wainwright's Outlying Fells book (Page 213) the route returns to Caldbeck via the B5299 which can be seen across the other side of Whelpo Beck on the right. As can be seen here, there is a permissive path all the way back to Caldbeck via The Howk - Wainwright does mention that this route "is a much better way to finish the walk" - he is right, it is!

The footbridge over Whelpo Beck near Beckstones - only use this bridge if you are returning to the road, otherwise continue alongside the beck.

Whelpo Beck

Before reaching The Howk, the route passes through this lovely area of woodland

The Howk Waterfall at Howk Gorge

The ruins of the old Bobbin Mill near The Howk. The mill made bobbins for the textile industry from 1857 until 1924. It had the largest waterwheel in the country which was 3 feet wide and 42 feet in diameter.

Hardwood coppiced from around Caldbeck was stored in this large two storey coppice shed

Back in Caldbeck

The 17th Century Mill at Caldbeck (Outlying Fells Drawing, Page 213)

St Kentigern's Church in Caldbeck - it is a popular name for churches in Cumbria. There are others in Mungrisdale, Aspatria and Crosthwaite near Keswick.

St Kentigern's Church is the burial place of John Peel - not the Radio 1 Disc Jockey but the famous Cumbrian Huntsman. Peel even had a song written about him called "D'ye ken John Peel?" translated as "Do you know John Peel?" Whilst English counties have no official anthem. However, "D'ye ken John Peel?" is commonly regarded as a kind of unofficial anthem of Cumbria and the region.

Having finished this delightful walk we then drove over to Blindcrake.

Clints Crags

Route

Blindcrake - Allison House Farm - Clints Crags - Willie White's Well - Isel Park - Blindcrake

Parking

Verge parking above the village of Blindcrake (Free) at Grid Reference NY 15359 35428. Nearest postcode is CA13 0QL.

Mileage

3.7 miles

Terrain

Grassy paths with some road walking along quiet lanes.

Weather

Sunshine with very good visibility.

Time Taken

1hr 35mins

Total Ascent

429ft (131m)

Wainwrights

1 Outlying Fell

Map

OL5 The English Lakes (North Western Area)

Walkers

Dave, Angie & Fudge

GPX File

gpx clints_crags.gpx

If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.

Route Map - Clints Crags

Just above the village of Blindcrake is verge parking with room for 4 or 5 sensibly parked cars

The route heads back into the village of Blindcrake - no rucksack as this was only a short walk

A short distance after re-entering the village a track heads off to the left in the direction of Sunderland

A gate at the top of the track (just about in view) gives access to the open fell side

Fudge's favourite terrain - Clints Crags is ahead in the centre of shot

The summit of Clints Crags

The Skiddaw Range over Bassenthwaite Lake from the summit of Clints Crags

The route down to Thackray Cottage which can be seen to the centre right. Binsey is the fell in the centre of shot with the Back O'Skidda over to the right.