Walk Leader:             Ian

Number on the walk: 14

Distance:                    15.5 miles

Weather:                    Low cloud at first which soon lifted

I set off with a very clear plan: follow the Barbon challenge event route to Occupation Road then climb up to Calf Top and return to Barbon.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before my plan went out the window. When we reached the Barbon Manor wood I found to my disbelief that the footpath through the wood was closed due to tree felling!

To prevent delay, I quickly made the decision to do the walk in the opposite direction walking clockwise visiting Calf Top first then Great Coum followed by Crag Hill. As it turned out walking in this direction was more strenuous as there were two rather steep climbs one up to Eskholme Pike and the other up to Great Coum.

When we set off the weather was looking rather bleak with all the summits around us smothered in cloud just as they were last year when I led the same walk as one of our 40^th anniversary celebration walks. That day those on the walk saw absolutely nothing of the wonderful scenery in this area.

Fortunately, this year as we climbed Eskholme Pike the clouds started to lift and by the time we had just past Calf Top we started to see the views of the Howgill Fells, Aye Gill Pike and Whernside. A much better day this year!

Photo's of the walk can be seen 'here'