Route: Bakestall
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 17th April 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.8 miles
Ascent: 1,800 feet
Weather: overcast, very windy and misty on the top
I parked near Peter House Farm and joined the Cumbria Way, heading along the easy track through fields full of sheep and new born lambs. The track gradually rises and becomes rougher as it approaches Dash Falls. It was so windy at this point that the falls were being blown back uphill
I then left the Cumbria Way to strike uphill along Birkett Edge. As I gained height it became apparent that the top of the fell was below cloud level, and much of the ascnet from here was in mist. These are lonely fells and the mist added to the feeling of desolation
I’d intended to make this a circular route by carrying on to Cockup, but there seemed no point is risking one by getting lost, especially when there was nothing to see, so when I reached the summit of Bakestall I retraced my steps back to the car
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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
To compensate for the lack of views that follow, here are three photos from the garden earlier in the morning
Bassenthwaite Lake from the parking space by Peter House Farm
The Cumbria Way
Some of the ‘Back o’Skiddaw’ fells
Further along the Cumbria Way, heading up towards Black Nettle Hause
I follow the sign to the falls
Approaching Dash Falls and the hause
It was blowing a gale here, and the falls were being blown back uphill
Looking back along the Cumbria Way from the hause
Birkett Edge, leading to Bakestall
A bleak scene. The small plantation of trees at Skiddaw House can just be seen
The Cumbria Way down below from the start of the climb up the side of Birkett Edge
About to go into the mist
Summit of Bakestall - no views from here today sadly
They shouldn’t be allowed to gambol at this age
