Clough Head
1 NY316232 From the small lay-by next to the T-junction at Wanthwaite, walk south for 100m and take the track on the left signed ‘Matterdale – unsuitable for motors’. Go through the gate and follow the bend to walk past Hill Top Farm on the right. Keep on the stony track as it veers left with old quarry workings on the right. Pass through the next gate onto Open Access land and continue gradually uphill for 220m to a distinct crossroads of tracks on the fellside.
2 NY321235 Go straight over, still climbing, on the obvious track known as the Old Coach Road (this once provided an important link over to Ullswater) and cross the open moor with Threlkeld Knotts and the scattered screes of White Pike rising to the south. There are memorable views looking north to the muscular slopes and ridges of Blencathra. After walking for 2.2km go through the gate at Hausewell Brow, where deep ruts were left in the wake of Storm Desmond in December 2015. Keep on for another 2.2km to cross the bridge over Mosedale Beck.
3 NY349227 Go through the gate and then immediately turn right on an often indistinct path that runs parallel to the beck. The valley is wild and the path passes through patches of wet ground and rushes. After 1km, pass a walled sheepfold at the foot of Rowantree Beck and continue up the valley, with the beck on the right, for another 1.5km towards the left of the broad saddle between Great Dodd and Clough Head. This is marked by the prominent rocky outcrop known as Calfhow Pike and from a distance this looks just like a Dartmoor tor.
4 NY331210 Turn left past the outcrop, drop down to the marshy col and climb easy-going slopes for approximately 1km to reach the summit of Clough Head, with a trig point and low stone shelter. On a good day, views extend north to the Solway Firth and south to Morecambe Bay. Wainwright obviously enjoyed the panorama, for he included himself in his sketch, looking to Blencathra! 500m to the west, dark crags tumble towards St John’s in the Vale and Red Screes fall northwards to Threlkeld Knotts.
5 NY333225 Walk west-south-west from the top and take the path descending along the crest of Red Screes. This quickly drops towards Bennesty Knott, but turn right after 550m to follow a path north-east over the lowest part of Red Screes. This continues over the southern flanks of Threlkeld Knotts and winds its way across Wanthwaite Bank to join the Old Coach Road near the old quarries. Turn left to retrace your steps back to the start.