Date: Monday 23rd August 2021
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 11.2km, Ascent: 603m
Time: 3Hrs 10Mins
This morning we drove to Barbon for an ascent of Calf Top. I was surprised to find that Calf Top is apparently in the Yorkshire Dales despite being located within Cumbria. I incorrectly assumed the Yorkshire Dales were located within Yorkshire.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
From St. Bartholomew's Church in Barbon we followed the footpath marked on the OS Landranger map towards Eskholme and then towards Castle Knott and beyond to Calf Top.
St. Bartholomew's Church, Barbon:
It was great to walk in sunshine with blue skies overhead albeit it was very warm.
Approaching Eskholme:
Ascent from Eskholme:
Looking back towards Barbon:
After a couple of hundred metres of reasonably steep ascent we reached the cairn at 307m. Beyond this cairn, the ascent to Castle Knott and beyond to the summit of Calf Top was a long gentle stroll.
At the 307m cairn:
View towards Castle Knott:
Large cairn on Castle Knott:
The underfoot conditions were pretty good apart from a short section at the col between Castle Knott and Calf Top which was very wet.
Ascent of Calf Top:
Final ascent of Calf Top:
I spent around fifteen minutes at the summit waiting for Ann-Marie to catch-up, taking photographs and admiring the views. It was nice to see the nearby Howgill Fells a circuit of which I enjoyed a few years ago.
At the summit of Calf Top:
From the summit we returned via the same route as far as the 307m top. From the 307m top we followed a different path in descent which involved having to climb over a stile.
View towards Barbon:
An enjoyable short day on the hills.