Great Calva & The Cumbria Way - Tuesday 3 February 2015
Route
Threlkeld - Blencathra Centre - Roughten Gill - Cumbria Way - Skiddaw House - Dead Beck - Great Calva - Dead Beck - Skiddaw House - Gale Road - Brundholme - Threlkeld
Parking
Plenty of parking in Threlkeld (Free)
Mileage
14 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths generally throughout. The route up to Great Calva from Dead Beck is patchy in the lower levels but becomes apparent further up the fell.
Weather
Very cold but gloriously sunny with excellent visibility for the most part.
Time Taken
6hrs 45mins
Total Ascent
2923ft (891m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Threlkeld - Blencathra Centre - Roughten Gill - Cumbria Way - Skiddaw House - Dead Beck - Great Calva - Dead Beck - Skiddaw House - Gale Road - Brundholme - Threlkeld
Parking
Plenty of parking in Threlkeld (Free)
Mileage
14 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths generally throughout. The route up to Great Calva from Dead Beck is patchy in the lower levels but becomes apparent further up the fell.
Weather
Very cold but gloriously sunny with excellent visibility for the most part.
Time Taken
6hrs 45mins
Total Ascent
2923ft (891m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
After a short walk yesterday over to Low Rigg & Castlerigg Stone Circle we fancied a good old stretch out with a bit of climbing thrown in. The last time we were up on Great Calva (link), the views down the fault line were non-existent. Therefore, with the promise of excellent visibility on the tops we decided to walk from the door in Threlkeld. Our route would take us out via the Blencathra Centre, on to The Cumbria Way and back via the way also but this time remaining on it for most of the journey back to Threlkeld.
We were staying in Threlkeld therefore walked from the door and the path headed out along the back road to the Blencathra Centre. Passing this former sanatorium, we were soon enjoying superb views up to Blencathra and over to The North Western Fells. The path headed up and along the lower slopes of Blease Fell and we were in constant company of both Blease & Lonscale Fells all the way to Roughten Gill. From the gill the path headed left to join The Cumbria Way and it was here that we started to encounter patches of deep snow that made progress time consuming although this did not last long.
Reaching Skiddaw House we had still not seen any other walkers and continued to head up to Dead Beck where our route today would turn right to head up to the summit of Great Calva. The path was a tad intermittent today, more than usual because of the snow but was still easy to find thanks to the few walkers who had made this transit over the past few days - we simply followed their prints. Reaching the first cairn on Great Calva the view down the fault line really opened up and with the visibility excellent we were treated to a feast of fells before us. There was now a short transit over rough ground to the summit itself which was festooned with lots of ice patterns and shapes all over the top - it was magical up here today.
Tearing ourselves away from the summit we headed down to Dead Beck to head for Skiddaw House again from where we made the long transit down the Cumbria Way to join up with the path coming down from Skiddaw near Gale Road. Our route then headed over familiar ground down to Brundholme and on to the railway path before reaching Threlkeld.
We had absolutely superb conditions today. The snow and clear sky made for fantastic photo opportunities plus it was good to see right down the fault line from the summit of Great Calva. A long way today but definitely worth it - and one to take your time over.
We were staying in Threlkeld therefore walked from the door and the path headed out along the back road to the Blencathra Centre. Passing this former sanatorium, we were soon enjoying superb views up to Blencathra and over to The North Western Fells. The path headed up and along the lower slopes of Blease Fell and we were in constant company of both Blease & Lonscale Fells all the way to Roughten Gill. From the gill the path headed left to join The Cumbria Way and it was here that we started to encounter patches of deep snow that made progress time consuming although this did not last long.
Reaching Skiddaw House we had still not seen any other walkers and continued to head up to Dead Beck where our route today would turn right to head up to the summit of Great Calva. The path was a tad intermittent today, more than usual because of the snow but was still easy to find thanks to the few walkers who had made this transit over the past few days - we simply followed their prints. Reaching the first cairn on Great Calva the view down the fault line really opened up and with the visibility excellent we were treated to a feast of fells before us. There was now a short transit over rough ground to the summit itself which was festooned with lots of ice patterns and shapes all over the top - it was magical up here today.
Tearing ourselves away from the summit we headed down to Dead Beck to head for Skiddaw House again from where we made the long transit down the Cumbria Way to join up with the path coming down from Skiddaw near Gale Road. Our route then headed over familiar ground down to Brundholme and on to the railway path before reaching Threlkeld.
We had absolutely superb conditions today. The snow and clear sky made for fantastic photo opportunities plus it was good to see right down the fault line from the summit of Great Calva. A long way today but definitely worth it - and one to take your time over.
Heading out of Threlkeld with the sun peeping out over Clough Head
Glorious views over towards the North Western Fells
Looking to Blencathra
Down towards Thirlmere with the Helvellyn Range to the left
Leaving Threlkeld the route reaches the Blencathra Centre - used to be a Sanitorium apparently
As we got into the walk the light started to improve - looking over towards Borrowdale, The Scafells & Great Gable. Walla Crag is right of centre.
It felt a bit longer than that by the time we got to Skiddaw House
Just before reaching the bend in the path, Lonscale Fell comes into view
What a great view this is over to Robinson, Causey Pike & Eel Crag to name but a few
Grisedale Pike
It just got better and better
Another superb view over to Lonscale Fell
Zooming in on today's destination - Great Calva.......
..... and zooming back out again
Lonscale Fell from near the junction with the Cumbrian Way
Looking down the fault line towards Thirlmere
Fudge in "zoomie" mode
Now on the Cumbria Way with Lonscale Fell behind
Glorious
There is the option on the return leg to head up Burnt Horse & then to Lonscale Fell.
From the summit of Lonscale Fell you could then meet up with the path coming down off Skiddaw Little Man
From the summit of Lonscale Fell you could then meet up with the path coming down off Skiddaw Little Man
Where's my lunch?
Skiddaw House ahead and some fascinating Sastrugi patterns
Skiddaw House in mono
Dead Beck where the route to Great Calva leaves the Cumbria Way
A superb view from the ascent of Great Calva over to the Skiddaw range
Striding out to Great Calva with Blencathra for company
Another view down the fault line towards Thirlmere, this time from the first cairn on Great Calva
The first cairn near the summit of Great Calva
It has clearly been a bit nippy up here recently - super ice patterns
The summit of Great Calva with Blencathra distant
Looking to Scotland
A final view down the fault line from the summit of Great Calva
It was like someone had left a load of envelopes on the summit and they had frozen over
Heading down off Great Calva
Back on the Cumbria Way and nearing the junction with the Skiddaw path
Not today thanks - there is always tomorrow!