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Carrock Fell, Cumbria. Wed 08 Dec 2004

Starting from the Mosedale Valley, north of Mugrisdale, Cumbria we firstly headed east back along the road to Mosedale Village. It was just after 8am when we set off and the weather was overcast, gloomy and dull-grey. In the village we headed north to Stone Ends then left the road to climb the east side of Carrock Fell. The diagonal path we took has the wonderful name of Rake Trod which is shown on the 1:10K map but not on the smaller scale maps of 1:25K and 1:50K.

Eric on the climb of Rake Trod.

There was not a breath of wind as we climbed and it soon became quite warm even though it was early December. There is documentary evidence to show that Carrock Fell is one of the few places visited in Cumbria by Charles Dickens, but there are no details of what route he took. The upper reaches of the path are very eroded and have to be climbed out of to continue. Suddenly the gradient eases and the path climbs gently upwards. But then we entered cloud and the wind began to get up. The boulders became larger and then the summit cairn loomed out of the mist.
This is the site of an ancient Hill Fort but there was nothing of it to be seen today. Perhaps another time?

 Eric and Boyd on Carrock Fell summit.
We stopped for a quick coffee and then headed west and down the steep slippery boulders. I knew the drop was only short but I wanted to find the path as quick as I could and the thick mist made it necessary to follow a compass bearing.
The path levelled off and was easy to follow through the mist, though occasional wet patches had to be avoided with short detours.
After a mile the views cleared a bit and we could see the way ahead, though the summits were still in cloud.
High Pike came in to view and soon we joined the major track that forms part of the Cumbria Way. We turned SW and soon saw the Lingy Hut ahead. This was our planned lunch stop and there could not be a better place to stop on a dull and dismal day. I'd called at the hut several times in the past but it was Eric's first time. A dry and comfortable interior was an excellent place to eat our sandwiches and the guest book was the usual good read.

The Lingy Hut.
A direct path took us back down into Gransgill and the remains of the Carrock Mine. I remembered walking the Cumbria Way in about 1980 and seeing the mine being worked. Apparently it was re-worked from 1977 - 1985, though little is to be seen today. We were soon back at the car and set off back home.
 


St Kentigern, Mungridale.


St Kentigern interior.
As we drove through Mungrisdale I spotted the tiny Church of St Kentigern, which I thought was worth a look. It turned out to be another fascinating Church in Cumbria. The current building dates back to 1756 but the original Church is supposed to have been founded in about 552 by St Kentigern.