There was a mix of gusty wind and rain through the night. By morning the cloud level had dropped a bit and the tops of Blencathra were lost in the cloud. The forecast was for brighter weather in the afternoon so I delayed a bit in starting. There was a very brief gap in the cloud and the sun hit the tent for about 30 seconds before vanishing again. I was packed up and on my way by 08:30am.

Lonscale Fell from the tent

Camp behind the wall

The wind was blustery but nothing like as bad as yesterday. Unfortunately the path was very wet due to the rain and I was forever hopping from one side to the other trying to keep my boots as dry as possible.

I went through the gate and soon got my first view of Skiddaw House and surrounding pine trees. Over the footbridge I took a minor path to the left to head for the gate that takes you to the front of the house. As I climbed I noticed a barbed wire fence had been put up since my last visit this way and I had to climb an adjacent wooden fence to get by.

Distant view of the trees around Skiddaw House

Unfriendly approach to Skiddaw House

Skiddaw House

Access track and Little Calva

Up through the trees I came to the gate which surprisingly had a ‘Private - No Right of Way’ sign on it. I always think it sad that such signs are erected in remote areas like this. I ignored the sign and went through the gate. There was a vehicle parked at the side of the house but no sign of anyone around. As I walked by the front I looked in through the windows but there was no sign of life. I left by the next gate and wandered down the long straight access track. The fells ahead were gloomy and overcast. At the ford on the infant River Caldew was in spate but fortunately there is a footbridge. I was now heading uphill and continued to Dead Beck where I knew a minor path headed up towards Great Calva.

It’s a while since I was last here and it was good to see the path still used and higher up the heather was well trampled down so eventually a proper path may get created. Higher up it became very wet and spongy but still much better than having to struggle through deep heather. The path ahead was marked by a succession of wooden posts heading to the summit. Before I got to the top I joined an even more substantial path coming up from my right. I reached the top where there was a large cairn and stone wind shelter but the wind was too strong to hang around and I descended towards the NW. My next call was Knott and a saddle connects the two. I headed up a well used path towards the summit where the views opened up impressively. My original plan was to camp before the summit but the wind was rather strong so I decided to press on. Over the summit I descended toward Coomb Height but I hadn’t been going long before I found a small tarn and an area of relative shelter. There was an almost flat spot to pitch my tent so I did. The water was discoloured but I had enough gas to boil all drinking water so I pitched the tent. The weather was a mix of windy sun and overcast with rain. Later in the afternoon the weather cleared enough for me to see the last camp of my last backpack on Cross Fell.

East view from the tent on Knott