Sale How, Skiddaw, Bakestall

27 April 2013

Today's walk was to the Northern Fells of the Lake District, approaching the Skiddaw family from the northwest, both to see things from a different angle and to visit two summits new to me, Sale How (my 155th English Nuttall) and Bakestall (my 188th Wainwright).


The farm lane from the road at Peter House Farm to Dash Farm is tarmacked and makes for rapid initial progress. On the right are the slopes of Cockup with Bakestall unseen higher behind. My route lies straight on towards the pass above Dash Falls


The easy track winds away behind the hill before returning closer to the impressive Dash Falls


Getting closer to Dash Falls


A glorious retrospective look down the valley of Dash Beck with Binsey in the distance


Looking down on part of Dash Falls from the track


Bakestall and the steep fall of Dead Crags. I will descend alongside the fence and then wall later in the day.


Approaching the top of the pass, and the snowy upper slopes of Skiddaw start to come into view.


Skiddaw across Candleseaves Bog


Blencathra from behind


A little descent as I head for Skiddaw House among the trees. High on the right is the splendid viewpoint of the eastern summit of Lonscale Fell, from where the ground falls steeply giving wonderful views.


Skiddaw as I cross the infant River Caldew.


Ascending Sale How and leaving Skiddaw House behind, there is a great view down the valley of the Caldew, with Caldbeck Fell in the distance.


Panorama of Skiddaw from Sale How - click the picture for a larger version


From the slopes of Skiddaw, snowy Blencathra is on the left, Lonscale Fell is centre, and stretching away to the right is the Helvellyn range.


Joining the main tourist path up Skiddaw, Little Man is looking splendid, and a fine prospect of more fells starts to open up. Click the picture for a larger version.


Little Man again with Derwent Water centre and a wonderful array of fells beyond.


A closer view.


To the northwest, across the ridge of Longside Edge and Ullock Pike, partly hiding Bassenthwaite Lake. Not well seen in the photo but better to the naked eye, the hills of Dumfries and Galloway are in the distance.


Walking along the ridge of Skiddaw, not nearly as snowy underfoot as it had appeared from a distance


Another view of Blencathra and the infamous Mungrisdale Common, with the Pennines reaching down to the Forest of Bowland in the far distance.


Descending towards Bakestall with Scotland in the distance beyond the sea. I counted 14 wind farms visible from here - and lots more to come, it seems.


Looking back along the eastern slope of Skiddaw to Little Man centre-right, and Lonscale Fell centre-left and Blencathra to the left. The Helvellyn range is in the distance of the centre of picture. Click the picture for a larger version.


From the northern top of Skiddaw, a look back to the main top


Descending towards Bakestall alongside the fence, with Knott the high point toware the right, and the northern Pennines merging into southern Scotland


A last look at that glorious picture of Blencathra and Mungrisdale Common, with the Helvellyn range running off to the right, and the High Street range visible between them, while the Pennines are to the left.


Scotland across the Solway Firth


The summit(s) of Bakestall


Time to head down - the route earlier in the day can be seen along the lower slopes of Little Calva and Great Calva. The descent alongside the fence and wall is easy (the last little bit a little wet and starting to suffer from erosion)


Back on the track from earlier, and an easy walk back to the car.

A delightful walk, easy going almost the whole way, with some wonderful long views.

Total distance 15.2 km and 883 metres of ascent in 5 hours 37 mins

 

 

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Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright (c) Stephen and Lucy Dawson