Route: Great Calva
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 30th March 2013
Walkers: Andrew Gilly and David
Distance: 7.7 miles
Ascent: 1,500 feet
We parked near Peter House Farm and started out along the Cumbria Way, climbing gently along this well made track
It was easy going, until the moment came to leave the main path and head uphill to Great Calva. This part was a real slog through deep snow and heather and with no sign of a path
We eventually reached the top and there were amazing views of the surrounding fells and we all agreed it was worth the effort
We returned over Little Calva and there followed an easy descent back to the Cumbria Way and then to our car
It had been another wonderful day out in these quiet Northern fells
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map). This shows the recommended route rather than the one we took today, when we strayed from paths which were buried under snow
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The Cumbria Way provides an easy walk in
Looking back along the track
Further along the Cumbria Way
The path carries on gently uphill along the flanks of Blake Hill
Looking back along the path
David Gilly and Bonnie, just before we leave the path to turn left uphill to Great Calva
There was mutinous talk about turning back at this point as it was very hard going, no path just deep snow and heather....
...but the threat of worldwide exposure on my website soon got the troops back into line and onwards and upwards we marched
I could hear some muffled curses behind me, until we eventually reached an easier section with a visible path
At last - the lower summit of Great Calva, looking towards Blencathra
Looking along the Great Central Fault - described by AW as like ‘looking along the sights of a gun’
David and Gilly on the summit of Great Calva, smiling through the tears
Looking back over our ascent route, with Binsey and Scotland in the distance
Heading back down along the Cumbria Way
Towards Bassenthwaite and nearly back to the car
