| Name of walk | Great Calva and Bakestall |
| Date of walk | 2009-09-22 |
| Distance walked (miles) | 8 |
| Duration of walk | 5 hours 30 minutes |
| Weather | Dull and overcast, windy on summits |
| Peaks on walk | Great Calva, Little Calva, Bakestall |
| Walked with | Ged and blind Kas |
| Parking | Roadside at Peter House Farm |
Today Ged, Kas and I went to do a couple of fells from Back O`Skiddaw. Great Calva (2265ft) and Bakestall (2189ft). We parked at Peter House Farm and walked part of the Cumbria Way path which leads to Skiddaw House.
In the first field we met some awesome looking sheep. (Belltex) The type you don`t argue with! They weren`t even bothered by Kas. They were Rams of course, but the biggest and beefiest I have ever seen (Can sheep be beefy?.....Lamby? mmmmm?......)
In this part of Cumbria Sheep chase dogs! Great Cockup behind....... (Honest, that is the name of the fell!)
Heading up towards Dash Falls. Little Calva to the left and the slopes of Bakestall on the right.
Looking back down the valley towards Binsey.
We walked a good way around the base of Great Calva before heading upwards through the heather.
Looking back down in the opposite direction at the back of Skiddaw. It was in mist all day.
The track down to Skiddaw House. The house is bottom right. Derwent Water can be seen in the distance.
Close up of Skiddaw House under Lonscale Fell. Skiddaw House was empty for a few years but it is back up and running as a Hostel. Lovely and isolated!
Even more close up! I was surprised this came out as it was very windy. I got Ged to steady my shoulders to stop me rocking!
Mungrisdale Common and the Back O`Blencathra. Sharp Edge can be made out above right of Ged. The wind was getting really fierce
Looking over to Bowscale Fell and the back of Bannerdale Crags.
Looking across Knott to Carrock Fell.
Thirlmere in the distance.
We had lunch in the shelter of Great Calva.
Wind made it difficult to stand on the summit. It would also keep blowing my hood off!
We then had to head into the wind on route to Little Calva. The grasses were showing their autumn colours already.
Little Calva.
The route off back down to the track was very steep and through heather. We then had a steep climb up Bakestall. The route up can be seen quite clearly. No rest for the wicked!
Looking back over to Little Calva from the Birkett Edge route up Bakestall.
Summit view out to Binsey and Over Water.
Summit cairn with Great Calva on the left.
Looking across the slopes of Skiddaw to the end of Bassenthwaite Lake.
The Uldale Hills.
The final part of the route off was quite steep.
Looking back up to the final part of our route off. It doesn`t look that steep from this angle.
.......but it looks a bit more vertical from this angle! (on the right)
Looking across the field to Longside Edge and Ullock Pike.
The walk took us five and a half hours and was eight and a half miles long. Pity it was so dull. We could have done with a bit of sunshine!
