KYQ4: Carrock Fell

Carrock Fell summit

Saturday, 1 July 2023

Ascent: 920 metres

Distance: 19 kilometres

Time: 4 hours 16 minutes

High Pike 658m 46mins

Hare Stones 627m

Great Lingy Hill 616m

Knott 710m 1hr 48mins

Miton Hill 607m

Round Knott 603m

Carrock Fell 662m 2hrs 56mins

The contrast couldn't have been greater. A week ago it was 32°C as I walked in some rough Corsican mountains in dry mountain air. Today it was 10°C, blowing a gale with frequent showers as I battered my way around some Lakeland hills at the Back o' Skiddaw. It was the start of the annual week in the Lakes, this was the 40th year the family have had the lodge in Langdale and the first year without Aileen. We usually began with a pub lunch, some shopping in Keswick and then a swim on arrival. Today I was on my own, others would arrive in the next couple of days so I decided to tackle High Pike, Knott and Carrock Fell, an unusual combination but I had missed Knott on an expedition earlier this year.

I parked at Nether Row, a few kilometres south of Caldbeck, a wind top was needed as I began the easy ascent along a track that shuffled its way up to High Pike. The gradient allowed a decent pace although the strong wind made it harder than normal. I was about a third of the way up when the rain began, sleet at times, after all, it is mid-summer. The tops of the hills were buried in low clouds and the shelter near the summit only appeared within 100 metres of reaching it. I joined a couple for some respite from the weather and to organise lifts for people coming tomorrow. I had intended to go out to the distant hill called Knott but had second thoughts as visibility was poor and it involved heading directly into the wind. Sense did not prevail as I considered the consequence of not doing it today, it is in the middle of nowhere and all nearby hills were already in the bag.

Surprisingly, I managed to find a rhythm and took a more direct route over Great Lingy Hill and a couple of other unnamed hills, crossing a couple of steep valleys before the final slog up the eastern flank of Knott, not a route I would recommend. The summit of Knott is an anti-climax, a scattering of stones on a fairly flat plateau. It was redeemed by views of Skiddaw and Blencathra, both bearing their grey-green profiles in a moody light. I wasted no time at the summit and took the well-used path to the east with the wind behind me. I had to climb most of the way back to High Pike before taking a sheep path out to the distant Carrock Fell. With the wind still behind me, it was easy going and the sun had made a welcome incursion.

Carrock Fell is a geologist's dream and inundated with former mining activities. It has a splendid summit cairn that seemed to be the epicentre of the high winds, it was difficult to stand at the summit and I had to hunker down below the cairn hoping that it was well constructed. The obvious return was to High Pike and then to follow the ascent route back to Nether Row but it was into the face of a gale. After a few hundred metres I found myself on a path that curved and descend towards to the north and decided to follow this down to the Carrock Beck. It was easygoing until the deep boggy grasses as I approached the beck. On the other side there was a 3-kilometre walk back to the car. It might have been quicker to return via High Pike but given the choice I usually take the route less followed.

It was after 4pm when I reached the car and began the long drive via the picturesque villages of Hesket Newmarket, Mosedale and Mungrisdale to reach the A66. Nevertheless, it was quicker than going via Bassenthwaite and Keswick. We normally arrived at the lodge at 4pm, today it was almost 6pm when I collected the key. As I unpacked I realised that despite my best efforts I had forgotten to bring key foods like milk, flour and salt. I made some pasta and the Laophraig helped me relax after what had been a difficult day both physically and emotionally..