CW5
Cumbria Way - Day 5
SATURDAY 7TH MAY 2022: A fresh start and a decent weather forecast set me up for another big day. A quick jaunt through Keswick town and I am soon climbing hills and forest tracks again, including a slight detour to Latrigg summit, which offers fantastic views over Keswick, Derwent Water, Borrowdale and a wide range of surrounding hills. I don’t know why this is not on the official route, it is fabulous
I linger for a while and enjoy, but finely turn around and head for the big stuff, in particular Skiddaw. The summit (at just over 3000ft) is still covered but the slopes dappled with sunshine and the winding track up clear. It is a busy Saturday morning and there are masses of people walking, running, even cycling up. Tempting (sort of) but not for me today, instead I skirt around and head into Glenderaterra Valley
This is much quieter, with tracks soon leading me onto a path perched high on the sides of the hill, winding around, leading eventually into big, open spaces of Back o’ Skiddaw. Again, the Cumbria Way offers such variety as this is barren, wild space, being away from everything. With the clear skies, sun shining, the temperature pleasant, this is lovely
About 7 miles in I come across a building stuck in remote isolation, a real oddity. This is Skiddaw House, a building with an interesting history, supposedly a youth hostel now. I take the opportunity to perch on a convenient rock for a lunch stop and enjoy the scenery. There are a few others about, including some runners and some mountain bikers (electric seems in)
A change in direction and I track the beginnings of the Caldew, a waterway I will be following tomorrow when it has developed into a proper river, this eventually leading me to an offshoot valley, from which I must escape by climbing up and out. This is up to Great Lingy Hill and from my starting point I can see a speck which is the Lingy Hut, my target. The route up (that I take, not all the official route) generally follows the beck, hanging on to the side of the slope, rocky and boggy in places. It is quite intricate so requires full attention, so much so that you sort of forget that you are climbing (well nearly!)
At the top I pop my head into the Lingy Hut. It is certainly exposed up here and I try to imagine bedding down for the night with the wind howling & rain lashing down, probably quite an experience. The building is well anchored, that’s for sure! Some great views, including back down the valley just trekked
From here it is a straight run of along the ridge and up to the final feature of the day – High Pike. This is the highest point on the CW at 658 metres / 2157 ft. The summit has a few people coming and going, so seems a popular spot. I take a break for snacks and enjoy the wide views
With that completing the main objectives of the day, it is just the final trek into the tiny village of Caldbeck. Initially, this is (unsurprisingly) a fairly long stint going downhill, so a little hard on the knees. Once the flatter, farm tracks are reached I have a final break to ponder on my day, then head towards the village, albeit getting totally confused with the signposting and navigation at one point (a common problem here I later learn)
To wrap up the day I have a tasty evening meal at a busy Oddfellows Arms, chatting to a couple of fellow walkers that I have been bumping into on & off, then it is off to my bed for the night at The Old Rectory. Another brilliant day on the Cumbria Way
