Sunday 8th September 2013
Great Scafell, Knott, Little & Great Calva
10 miles Grade 2
Leader: Peter Flynn
Great Scafell, Knott, Little & Great Calva
10 miles Grade 2
Leader: Peter Flynn
With 10 of us gathered for a quiet ramble in very autumnal weather at the foot of the Caldbeck Fells, the last thing we expected was anarchy and revolution. We set off from the beautifully named Burblethwaite along the Cumbrian Way and went alongside Charleton Gill, passing Little and Great Sca Fell and on to the summit of Knott. In her innocence and unaware of the dark forces in our midst, Lauren did as all 10 year olds do - made the mountain a few inches higher by putting a stone on top of the cairn that marked the summit. “Tear it down” was the advice. This was from Frank who, it seems, is allergic to any form of mountain furniture. He suggested that all cairns are foreign to the landscape and should be demolished, and suggested that we start with this one and proceed to wreck all the others in the Lake District on the grounds that they are unnatural. The fells, we were told, should be open only to those who can read maps efficiently and dont need to have the summit of somewhere pointed out by a totally artificial pile of stones. We were shocked, stunned but defiant, and when we made our way to Little Calva took pride in the fact that there was even a tiny cairn there – to which we added our own contribution. Lauren duly attempted to sort out Frank with a specially sharpened walking pole but he wriggled and giggled his way free. The same with Great Calva which was chilly but in beautiful sunshine and gave us glorious views from the superbly constructed shelter – utilised on a first (five) come first served basis. A minor revolution from those left out in the wind came to nothing. We returned via Trusmadoor where yours sincerely indulged in the ancient sport of slipping down the shale into the river (as in the photo). A great day, a good laugh and all the cairns still intact.
Peter Flynn
Photos by Peter, Lauren and Alan
Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club
Great Scafell, Knott, Little & Great Calva
