Orthwaite Bank - Great Calva - Whitewater Dash

Joe Jackson

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This is a fell walk with one main objective and that is Great Calva, and at 690m above sea level its no easy task and its remote location only adds to the intensity. This walk starts off at Peter House Farm (donation for parking) and follows the road for about a mile before it heads off the road and continues of footpaths for the rest of the walk.

The path is non existent to start with as you head off the main track and arch round to the low summit of Orthwaite Bank (348m). The summit is featureless except for a couple of stones marking the top and is listed as a Birkett Fell top (similar to Wainwrights except there are 541 of them!). The route continues off path round to a second Birkett summit called Little Cockup. This has a bit more shape to it and a larger cairn marking the highest point (and also offers better views north thanks to its 395m elevation).

After Little Cockup the route crosses over Great Cockup (a short detour can take in this summit if you are fit enough as there's a long way to go yet!) and joins the main bridleway deep into the valley head. A crossing of Burntodd Gill can be a little tricky and the walk after is damp underfoot as you head up to the hawse at 548m. A turn right will take you up a featureless expanse of upland moor until you reach the final steep ascent to Great Calva's summit. The view is excellent and extends a long way south between Skiddaw and Blencathra which are both viewd from their less seen sides.

Little Calva is the next port of call and its easy to reach across the boggy moorlands along a wet path before a steep descent is made along the fence line to the track above Whitewater Dash. Whitewater Dash (also known as Dash Falls) are spectacular but can be slightly awkward to see closeup unless you are happy to head off the track briefly which gives you outstanding views of the crashing water. The trackway you are on is the one that leads you all the way back to Peter House Farm (do take a look back at Dash Falls as you go though!).

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - North West