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Although "Wainwright" describes a route up to Calfhow Pike from Fornside in St Johns in the Vale, there is actually no public access to the fells via the fields of Fornside Farm. This problem can be avoided by following the route described below. The walk follows a leat to reach an old "peat track" that ascends a rib to Calfhow Pike. The track was used to transport peat on sleds down to the farm from the Dodds ridge over 200 years ago. Because it is rarely walked the path is not eroded and the zig-zags to assist the passage of the sled mean that height is gained surprisingly easily over very steep ground. This walk is well worth doing with excellent and unusual views. It is also worth noting that there are some boggy sections on this walk as the presence of peat might suggest.
Start at the carpark at Legburthwaite (GR NY318196) half a mile down the B5322 from its junction with the A591. The carpark is on the west side of the B5322. Opposite the carpark on the east side of the road is a stile which marks the track leading up to Castle Rock. Take the path up the hill in the direction of Castle Rock until the 'leat' is reached. Turn left along the leat until you come to a second stile which after crossing, gives access to a wooden fence immediately upon your left connecting you to a path which follows the line of the intake wall, upon reaching the second gate above Fornside Farm at the beginning of a small wood head uphill before joining the old Peat Path. The old peat track zig zags up the rib and makes the steep climb relatively easy. The views south along St Johns in the Vale are good and can only really be seen from this rib. Beckthorne’s Rib reaches the peat moor near a small ruined sheepfold (GR327212). In clear weather, Calfhow Pike (looking like a Dartmoor tor) can be seen quarter of a mile away just south of east. A steadily rising climb with no path leads to the Pike which is a good viewpoint. Clear paths lead from the Pike north to Clough Head and southeast to our next objective Great Dodd. After half a mile the main path reaches the shoulder called Little Dodd and at this point branch left (east) and take a curving path leading to Great Dodd summit cairn after quarter of a mile. A better lunch stop is at a shelter 100 yards to the south east. From Great Dodd shelter follow a path leading over level ground to Watson’s Dodd which is reached after half a mile. Note: On the Dodds ridge it is easy to miss out the summits by accident. On this leg of the walk keep to the west, taking paths to the right when a choice is available. The summit is hardly noticable being a minor pile of stones on a flat moor. From Watson’s Dodd a path heading south east over level ground reaches the summit of Stybarrow Dodd after less than half a mile. Like Watson’s Dodd, the summit is hardly noticable. From the summit a path leads south west and then due south and drops down to the summit of Sticks Pass where a small cairn and post mark one of the least impressive passes in the Lakes. Turn right and follow a gradually steepening path which eventually reaches a sheepfold above Stannah Gill. From the sheepfold good views open up of St Johns in the Vale and High Rigg and a steeper path zig zags down the fellside to rejoin the road at the hamlet of Stannah. Turn right onto the B5322 and follow it for half a mile back to the carpark at Legburthwaite. OS Map showing start Ordnance Survey Map showing starting point of walk - Click Here Suggested Maps It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.
Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps. Hedgehog Hill, Keswick Helvellyn Cottage, Glenridding by Ullswater Fountain Cottage, Keswick Stybarrow Cottage, Glenridding, Ullswater Cherry Holme, Glenridding, Ullswater Peat Howe Barn, Keswick Stoneygill & Stoneyacre, Newlands, Keswick Bawd Hall, Newlands, Keswick Stay in the Lake District, Keswick Lake District Cottages, Keswick Self Catering Directory NOTE - all distances are "as the crow flies"
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