Where is this walk?

A walk from Caldbeck

January 23, 2018

Caldbeck is a quiet village on the northern fringes of the Lake District. It signifies the end of the high mountains. This walk from Caldbeck is a mix of farmland, forestry and moors which lies to its north.

The Walk

Caldbeck (Cold Beck) is an idyllic village, quieter and therefore more pleasant than many further south. It is said the village dates back to the 10th century and used as a hospice by the monks from the Carlisle priory. The church of St Kentigern is its finest building today and lying in the graveyard are at least two well known celebrities. One is John Peel of hunting fame. The other is the Maid of Buttermere, fictional or not she created quite a stir in these parts. The Cumbria Way passes through the village of Caldbeck.

The walk itself traverses the slopes of two rounded hills. As a result the walking is genteel and pleasant rather than dramatic. The area marks the fringes of the Northern Fells of Lakeland and the start of a Scottish dominated landscape. Faulds Brow gets a mention in Wainwright’s Outlying Fells but fortunately is still not of sufficient interest to attract the crowds.

The walk from Caldbeck has some lovely riverside sections at the start and finish. In addition there is woodland and plenty of open farmland with unusual views of Skiddaw and Blencathra and north over the Solway Firth. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering more about the lands nearby. It was virgin territory for me but worthy of further visits.

Recommend

On your return take note of the gorge the limestone gorge known as the Howk and the remains of an old waterwheel at Bobbin Mill.

Navigation Tips on a walk from Caldbeck

Do not miss the faint path heading directly up to Parkhead Farm from the Cumbria Way early in the walk. It is just after emerging from some woodland.

Fauld’s Brow summit is on access land and easily accessible from the quiet road.

3 Comments
  • Lee Cannon-Miller says:

    Well we tried this walk but the limited instructions and lack of any signposting made it very difficult and we went totally off track and landed at Hesket Newmarket. Having to walk back from there on the road with a dog was not very enjoyable.
    “Park in the free car park by the river, cross the road and join the Cumbrian Way heading east.” We still haven’t found “The Cumbrian Way” we crossed the road but there was nothing to give us any clue which path to walk down. We walked down the church path and asked one of the locals which was the Cumbrian Way path and despite them asking other locals no one had a clue.. We crossed the river and walked along a track and even the local farmer by the path had no idea if we were on the right path. We headed up the side of a small forrest and where the path split there was still no sign posting. needless to say we took the wrong path and headed in the wrong direction…

    • Jonathan says:

      Yes we have limited signposting on some walks but if you are on a walk you should follow a proper map. I only ever put a sketch map up and any walker should take this and transfer it on to a proper map before setting out. These instructions are not ‘turn left, turn right’ which are usually very misleading

  • Shaun says:

    Couldn’t recommend this walk enough. Thank you for sharing.

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