#169: Carrock Fell – Great mountain days
...in which we celebrate the satisfaction of long days on the fells in a ‘rock and stroll’ ascent of enigmatic Carrock Fell in the northeast corner of Lakeland.
In a ‘Mark and Dave’ pod, we set out from Carrock Beck on a northerly pasture line onto the Back a’ Skidda’ massif, discussing what ‘great mountain days’ mean to us – long journeys, ever-changing scenery, a mix of natural and human interest, a sense of adventure… and the post-walk pint.
Climbing past tumbledown bields and chatting with fellow walkers, we swap favourite great mountain days – a high-level circuit of Great Gable, a greater Langdale traverse, the Kentmere Round – and reflect on the difference between bagging and wider journeys through the Lakeland landscape.
Arriving on Carrock Fell’s rocky summit, we discuss the enigmatic ‘hill fort’, the remarkable view (Cheviot visible on the northeastern horizon) and the fell’s unlikely place in one of English literature’s most celebrated travelogues.
Traversing the fell’s squelchy western ridge, we give mountain-day love to a Derwent Water circular, a Wetherlam wander and a Newlands round.
Descending the old sledway of Red Gate, we discuss the Caldbeck Fells’ extensive mining history – not least the remarkable Carrock tungsten mine – and close the pod by reflecting on the mounting stand-offs between walking ambitions and ageing limbs.
Mark’s new book, Best Walks in the Lake District, can be ordered direct from Cicerone here, or from all good Cumbrian bookshops.
Dave’s new book, Forty Fells, can be ordered direct from Inspired by Lakeland here, or from all good Cumbrian bookshops.
