Bakestall

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Bakestall
Bakestall and Dead Crags with the bulk of Skiddaw behind in cloud. Seen from Great Cockup 3 km to the north.
Elevation	673 m (2208 ft)
Location	Cumbria, England
Range	Lake District Northern Fells
Prominence	c. 8 m
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, 90 OS Explorer 4
OS grid reference	NY266307
Listing	Wainwright

Bakestall is a fell in the English Lake District, it is situated seven kilometres north of Keswick in the quieter even secluded northern sector of the national park known as "Back o' Skiddaw". The fell reaches a height of 673 metres (2208 feet) and strictly speaking it is not a separate fell being just an insignificant rise on Skiddaw’s northern slopes. Alfred Wainwright gave Bakestall a separate chapter in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells because of the impressive Dead Crags which fall beneath the summit and the fine waterfall of Whitewater Dash at the fells foot. Indeed Bakestall was not even mentioned on the old Ordnance Survey one inch map for many years, a situation now rectified on its metric equivalent probably because of Wainwright drawing attention to the fell.

Dead Crags are composed of Skiddaw Slate and drop 150 metres (500 feet) down into the corrie on the northern side of the fell. The crags do not attract rock climbers because of the crumbly nature of the slate, the crag has much vegetation growing within it. Whitewater Dash is highly rated as one of the finest falls in the national park as Dash Beck descends in a series of cataracts; were it situated in a more accessible part of the Lake District it would be a major attraction. Bakestall had a lead mine on its slopes many years ago, the adit is situated at the side of Dead Beck on the western periphery of the fell. All drainage from Bakestall goes north to join Dash Beck and then to Bassenthwaite Lake.

Bakestall can be climbed as part of the less crowded northern approach to Skiddaw using the rough track to Skiddaw House (part of the Cumbria Way) as far as Whitewater Dash falls and then ascending up Birkett Edge to reach the summit, a fence can be followed up Birkett Edge although walking at the side of the corrie edge gives an opportunity to examine the crags. The summit of the fell is at a turn in the fence, Wainwright had his top of the fell 100 metres further north, which is a better view point and is marked by a fair sized cairn which is unusual in the grassy northern fells. The view from the top of fell is severely curtailed by the bulk of Skiddaw to the south and there is no view of the main part of Lakeland, however it is possible to view the Solway Firth and the Scottish Border hills. From the summit of Bakestall it is a two kilometre walk south west and then south with 275 metres of ascent to reach the summit of Skiddaw.

[edit] References

Wainwright, A. (2005). A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: Being an Illustrated Account of a Study and Exploration of the Mountains in the English Lake District, Book 5, "The Northern Fells", 2nd ed., London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 0-7112-2458-7.