Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 2pm to 2.30pm.
Distance: About 7.4 miles.
Ascent: About 2250 feet.
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous).
Start point: The lay-by close to Stone Ends Farm (Full address: Stone Ends Farm, Stone Ends, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton CA7 8JS)
Postcode: CA7 8JS
Car parking: A very long lay-by close to Stone Ends Farm plus smaller lay-bys within a kilometre of the start point.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: Beginning from the lay-by it is an immediate steep ascent up a path that runs parallel to Further Gill Sike. When the gradient eases we come to the wide heathery top third of Carrock Fell (661 meters). Once on the stony top of Carrock Fell the most immediate view is of the River Caldew running through the very centre of the Northern Fells. Following the line of this river upstream goes straight to Skiddaw! For a northern fell outside of the Skiddaw Massif and Blencathra cluster, this has some amazing views.
The rest of the walk becomes very easy as the paths go along grassy terrain, which sometimes gets a bit boggy, to reach the mountains of High Pike (658 meters) and then Knott (710 meters). Knott is the highest mountain of the walk and from its summit we head east aiming for Coomb Height before beginning a steeper descent back to the River Caldew.
To make this walk a little shorter I have decided to make this walk linear whereby there will be a few cars parked just east of where Grainsgill Beck and the River Caldew join. If you have never been to these mountains before, or if you wish to bag Wainwrights, these three mountains are a great introduction to the obscure parts of the northern fells: the areas beyond Blencathra and Skiddaw.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 3 January if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)).
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.
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