Cockup, Broad End, Skiddaw, Dodd Wood, Cumbria
[ 14.9 km] Tue 06 Jul 2010

NY 2361 3098
I drove north on the A591 near Keswick and turned right about a mile before Bassenthwaite to follow the narrow lane to small parking area near Hill Crest cottage. I continued walking along the lane to Tenter Hill and Peter House Farm. This is where I left the road and turned right along the farm track heading towards Dash Farm and also Skiddaw House.

It is also on the Cumbria Way and as I went through the gate a large party of walkers were just setting off the same way as me. They had parked by the gate so were probably just out for the day. I didn’t stay on the track long as I left it at the first gate to head up the field to the right. I kept by the wall and climbed steadily towards Cockup. There was no gate access through the top wall but it was relatively low and easy to climb over without disturbing any stones. I followed a sheep track steeply up to a rocky outcrop where I found some shelter from the wind and sat down for a coffee and to take in the wonderful views of Bassenthwaite Lake and Sale Fell. Another climb took me up to the flat expanse of Cockup which only had a small stone cairn to mark it.

I walked across to Dead Beck where the map shows an abandoned mine but even with an accurate grid reference I couldn’t find any trace. I was standing on the top of a deep ravine and the climb down to the river bed was a vertical rock face, which I didn’t fancy tackling, so it is possible that the mine is down by the river. I followed the river up a while then headed SW up the grassy slop of Broad End. I was surprised to come to a substantial path coming up from Barkbethdale so I followed it up towards Skiddaw. The views down in to Barkbeth Gill were very impressive and much more interesting than the normal ascent via Bakestall. The summit of Skiddaw was a bit windy and the temperature had dropped to 10degC which made it feel cold.

There were 3 people sheltering near the summit trig point but they soon headed down. A few metres to the east of the summit is a small grassy area where the ashes of an ex-colleage of mine rest. Small pink flowers were growing and I thought of Val Robinson who wanted her ashes scattered here. I continued south for a short way then took the indistinct branch to the right to pick a more substantial path heading steeply down towards Carl Side. It is fairly loose and very steep and not a recommended descent rout. It is however a good way to come up. At Carl Side I sat for a while to look down in to Slades Beck before continuing down to White Stones.

I turned right and followed an intricate path down to the forestry road at Long Doors by Dodd. There were quite a few people around as this is a popular walk up from the main car park at Mirehouse. I set off down the track but it soon split and I wasn’t sure which the correct way was. I took the lesser walked way down to the left of Skill Beck and eventually followed a nice path through woods which took me down to the main car park at Mirehouse.

The other route would have brought me to the same place but with more track than path. Instead of following the main A591 road back to the car I followed a nice woodland path which ran parallel to the road. After Sandbeds Gill I headed upwards and back to open fell at Watches. The weather had now improved a lot and some sun was breaking through thinning cloud. After Kennedy plantation there was a lovely soft descent over grass back down to the track leading to the lane and my car. Subsequent to my walk I phoned Ian Tyler at the Keswick mining museum to ask about the mine on Cockup that I couldn’t find. He confirmed that it was there but couldn’t be seen from where I was. I needed to be on the other side of the river or in the river bed.

the final descent showing Bassenthwaite Lake