Great Calva
690m (2264ft)
The Northern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Great Calva & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Great Calva and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Great Calva and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7ml (11km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,860ft (567m) |
| Time: | 4½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Grainsgill Bridge - Swineside - Grainsgill Beck - Knott (Uldale Fells) - Great Calva - The Cumbria Way - River Caldew - Grainsgill Bridge - Swineside.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.5ml (17km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,903ft (885m) |
| Time: | 6.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Over Water Reservoir - Orthwaite - Uldale Fells - Great Cockup - Meal Fell - Great Sca Fell - Knott (Uldale Fells) - Great Calva - Brockle Crags - Orthwaite - Over Water
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14ml (22.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,978ft (908m) |
| Time: | 8.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Stone Ends Farm - Apronful of Stones - Rake Trod - Further Gill Sike - Scurth - The Trough - Carrock Fell - Round Knott (Caldbeck) - Miton Hill (Caldbeck) - Red Gate (Track) - High Pike (Caldbeck) - Hare Stones - Great Lingy Hill - Miller Moss - Lingy Hut - Grainsgill Beck - Knott (Uldale Fells) - Great Calva - The Cumbria Way - Grainsgill Beck - River Caldew - Swineside - Mosedale (Mungrisdale) - Stone Ends Farm
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Great Calva
James Hughes walked up on May 15th, 2025 [from/via/route] c200 High Pike, Knott & Great Calva [weather] Cold start in morning. Cool on tops with strong breeze on Great Calva. Warm on descent in afternoon. - Parked near Home Farm so needed to walk to Mosedale Bridge. Plenty of parking Quakers Meeting House. Also good parking for direct route up eastern side of Carrock Fell. Walked up from Swineside approach. Good climb then onto flat plateau. Impressive top with cairn. Easy enjoyable walk to High Pike. Return to join Cumbria Way to Linghy Hut & then up to Knott. Fairly easy descent & ascent up to Great Calva. Impressive views & prominence of Fell. Descent not overly enjoyable, steep through heather. Enjoyable lunch stop at Wiley Beck. Feet revived by water dip. Pleasant return via Cumbria Way alongside River Caldew. Stayed at Hudscales Farm & few pints at Old Crown Hesket Newmarket.
David Higginbottom climbed it on February 5th, 2025 [from/via/route] Own loop 13k left half of c200 knott & great Calva walk up the beck in the middle [with] Carolyn [weather] Clear but cold & windy , very boggy going up to Knott - Nice walk easy steady loop , a little steep in places
Simon Myerscough bagged it on December 4th, 2024 [from/via/route] C188 - From Grainsgill Bridge - meal at The Crown Inn afterwards [with] Joanne [weather] Bright start, misty on tops - Wind blew straight into shelter for our dinner spot, freezing so rushed it down
Martin Hartshorne hiked it on May 24th, 2024 [from/via/route] From mosedale [with] finley [weather] Low cloud on the tops,no views.
Geoff Hand summited on May 21st, 2024 [from/via/route] Walk C200 Carrock Fell, Round Knott, Milton, Hill,High Pike, Hare Stones, Gt Lingy, Knott, Littel & Great Calva from Mosedale. Return by River Caldew. [with] Solo [weather] Sunny Intervals, warm in the sun. Breezy from the north east. - Long hard walk with tough climb from the onset. Mose dale valley on the way back beautiful. Chap lost his dog on Round Knott & Milton, but found him. I lost my map & waterbottle!
Tim Winn conquered it on March 23rd, 2024 [with] Barry, Roger, Andy and Paul [weather] Overcast & strong gusty wind.
Paul Macey scaled on July 17th, 2023 [from/via/route] Using walk c200 in reverse as couldn't find start! [weather] A dry day more sun than cloud about 16 degrees
Ian Ashton walked up on June 17th, 2023 [from/via/route] I [with] JPH
Christine Shepherd climbed it on July 23rd, 2008 [from/via/route] Walked from Mosedale using walk c200. Climbed again using walk c188 from Grainsgill Bridge 16.08.2021 [with] On my own [weather] Bright & sunny on the tops but quite humid when I set off. - Climbed for a third time using walk c200 on a lovely sunny day on 31.5.23
Angeline Grieveson bagged it on September 19th, 2022 [with] Dotty
Stephen Batson hiked it on August 6th, 2022 [from/via/route] Mosedale [with] Clare [weather] Cloudy
Caroline Winter summited on April 17th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked pull in below Peter House Farm, well laid path towards Black Nettle Hause,divert off Cumbria Way & follow fence line up Little Calva, then Great Calva [with] Becky [weather] Warm & humid, getting windy on top. - Great views to back of Skiddaw & to see views of less frequented Fells; hence not being on OS Explorer map.
Richard Marchant conquered it on May 28th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parking the car at Peter House Farm & then followed the Cumbria Way up past Whitewater Dash Water Falls to Black Nettle Hause. From here I went right up Birkett Edge to Bakestall then back to Black Nettle Hause & up the other side following Dry Gill to Little Calva then traversed around to Great Calva keeping to the ridge. Had a rest here then basically followed my route back to the car. [with] On my Own [weather] Dry Day & a bit overcast in the morning although it did become sunny & clear in the afternoon.
Kate Peacock scaled on May 14th, 2022 [from/via/route] Dropped off at Peter House Farm, ascended from the Cumbrian Way, descended onto the road where the junction is for Bassenthwaite [with] Me & Sheila [weather] Cool initially but turned hot, very good weather. Low winds. - We made parts up today to get three boxed off which were a distance apart. Still quite boggy in places but not to sink into.
Richard Fulcher walked up on July 24th, 2021 [from/via/route] Walked from Knott as part of a circular route taking in Carrock Fell, High Pike, Knott & Great Calva. About 12.5 miles from/to Mosedale village. [weather] Warm sunny day with a little high cloud. A breeze on the tops. T shirt weather.
Julian Parry climbed it on July 8th, 2021 [with] Rachel Parry
Christina Lander bagged it on April 24th, 2021 [from/via/route] Thelkeld - Hall's Fell Ridge - Blencathra - Mungrisdale Common - Skiddaw House - Great Calva - Skiddaw House - Blencathra Centre - Blease Farm - Thelkeld [with] Dick [weather] A beautiful sunny day - During our holiday staying in Embleton
Kevin Foster hiked it on October 8th, 2020 [from/via/route] Little Calva. [with] Henry. [weather] Sunny, clouding over later. - Unfortunately the route to Great Calva involved retracing my steps to the col between Great & Little Calva (more wet feet). Then it was just a short easy climb to the wind shelter & cairn on top of Great Calva where the unexpected view South of Thirlmere between Blencathra & Lonscale Fell captivated the view.
Darren Wilson summited on December 29th, 2020 [from/via/route] Mungrisedale Common & Great Calva from Threlkeld [with] Mike [weather] Beautiful day, snow underfoot
Nick Dobson conquered it on August 9th, 2020 [from/via/route] car park at top of Blease road Threlkeld [with] Margaret and Ralph [weather] Hot sunny clear day. - 9 mile there & back via Skiddaw House, a great walk with tremendous views the whole way.
Tony Rogerson scaled on December 25th, 2019 [with] Charlie
Andrew Johnson walked up on October 18th, 2019 [from/via/route] Longlands [with] Ted [weather] Cloudy, misty on tops
Jamie Bryan climbed it on August 18th, 2019 [from/via/route] c200 [weather] Windy af
Dave Eyes bagged it on July 8th, 2019 [from/via/route] Parked at Peter House Farm & walked up the Cumbrian Way route to the stile & then up the side of Bakestall. Back down to the Cumbrian Way & around to Great Calva. Retrace steps back to the car. 8.4 miles. [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Warm day - a few spots of rain - decent views
Tom Mcbeath hiked it on June 26th, 2019 [from/via/route] Walked from Knott Fell [with] Ursula [weather] Sunny, day with a good breeze - Waked back to Gainsgill Beck carpark
Chris Sheard summited on April 14th, 2019 [from/via/route] Across from Knott starting from Mosedale [with] Solo [weather] Staying very cold & windy easterly - very blowy - Across fro Knott found a quiet spot for a ssnack on the saddle - quite tough heather off slope, broken ground with sharp boulders - knee scraped on rusted fence - Vey long off back to Mosedale
Craig Steeland conquered it on October 6th, 2018 [from/via/route] From car park in Mosedale village [with] Sue [weather] Cool, sunny & dry.
Mark Davidson scaled on August 31st, 2004 [from/via/route] go4awalk.com walk c200:- Mosedale (Mungrisdale), Carrock Fell, Round Knott, Miton Hill, Hare Stones, High Pike (Caldbeck), Hare Stones, Great Lingy Hill, Lingy Hut, Little Lingy Hill, Knott (Uldale Fells), Little Calva, Great Calva, The Cumbria Way, Grainsgill Beck, River Caldew, Swineside, Mosedale (Mungrisdale) [with] Mike [weather] Lovely & sunny
Richard Marshall walked up on October 7th, 2018 [from/via/route] Made up [with] Bo [weather] Bright but windy
Michael Nolan climbed it on April 24th, 2018 [from/via/route] walked c127 how can it be this cold in April!! good morning rotten wet afternoon [weather] decent a.m. rotten p.m.
Wayne Baxter bagged it on April 2nd, 2018 [from/via/route] Mosedale, along Cumbria way & up Great Calva & return same way. [with] Sue, Wendy & Trevor [weather] Cloudy with sun later
Derek Parkin hiked it on March 19th, 2016 [from/via/route] Knott [with] Lynn Parkin [weather] cloudy
Anthony Scott summited on March 7th, 2017 [from/via/route] Mosedale [with] me [weather] 8 degrees, blue sky at start but clouded over & cool - Bit boggy between Knott & Great Calva. Walk 188
Leon Harvey conquered it on January 8th, 2017 [with] Solo
Simon Boddy scaled on December 4th, 2016 [from/via/route] Peter House Farm [with] My girlfriend [weather] Sunny but very cold.
John Almond walked up on October 10th, 2016 [from/via/route] go4awalk c200 from Mosedale - Carrock Fell - High Pike - Knott - Great Calva [with] Solo [weather] Increasing cloud with a cool wind on the tops
Adrian Sherriff climbed it on September 18th, 2015 [from/via/route] c200
Phillip Bulley bagged it on July 14th, 2016 [from/via/route] Knott [with] Ruby [weather] Sunny & very hot.
Elaine Grayson hiked it on October 4th, 2015 [from/via/route] grainsgill bridge wiley beck great clava knott [with] robin [weather] good
Nick Christian summited on September 19th, 2015 [with] Mick Ottey
Victoria Bates conquered it on August 31st, 2015 [from/via/route] c200 with Bakestall [with] Mark
Claire Lloyd scaled on August 27th, 2014 [from/via/route] Dash Falls [with] Family and friends
Elaine Evans walked up on April 17th, 2015 [from/via/route] Parked at Orthwaite, walked up Great Cockup, across to Knott via Frozen Fell, then on to Great Calva & Little Calva, down to Dash Falls & back to Orthwaite. [with] Sue [weather] Beautiful day, sunny but hazy & a cool breeze in places. - Some boggy ground & tricky descent to Dash falls.
John Tippins climbed it on April 7th, 2015 [from/via/route] Longlands [with] Me [weather] Warm & sunny
Clive Ward bagged it on October 8th, 2014 [from/via/route] Fell Side. One of 8.. See Brae Fell [with] Ian, Chris [weather] Ok
Keith Eastman hiked it on June 21st, 2014 [from/via/route] c200
David Noble summited on April 17th, 2014 [from/via/route] Mosedale, up Cumbria way to skiddaw house then up & down along side fence & back to mosedale [with] Me and Jack [weather] Overcast, heavy rain then clear skies
Kevin Parnham conquered it on March 17th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Swinside via Knott [with] Jo [weather] Clear & windy
Harry Meijer scaled on June 3rd, 2014 [from/via/route] Great Calva & The Northern Fells [with] The Lake District Walker
Darren Mortimer walked up on August 31st, 2013 [from/via/route] Mosedale [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Nice at first then the wind picked up & rain followed. Full winter gear entailed
Tony Aspden climbed it on September 13th, 2007 [with] Andy [weather] Sunny
Iain Taylor bagged it on April 24th, 2011 [from/via/route] Nr Applethwaite (NY 28047 25403)
Paul Carmichael hiked it on August 20th, 2012 [from/via/route] basenthwaite [with] solo [weather] sunny
Christine Knowles summited on September 22nd, 2011 [from/via/route] After Skiddaw & Little Man - [with] Graham [weather] Nice by this time. Pretty windy still
Charlie Housley conquered it on November 9th, 2010 [from/via/route] Up the valley path along Skiddaw House path. [with] Joanna. [weather] Changeable to say the least. Snow & blizzard on the tops then sun in the valley.
Stephen Byrne, David Hallam, Patrick Rogozinski, Melanie Dunn, Adrian Roberts, Jenny Godfrey, Clare Houlihan, Matthew Thomas, Mr M A Blanchard, Jonathan Tobin, Louis Smith, David Watson, Linda Mckeogh, Trevor Longman, Louise Sandwith, John Walter, David Shaw, David Laws, John Grimes, Raymond Barnett, Patricia Dilley, Simon Duerden, Colin Egan, Tracey Cowell, Paul Booth, Jeanette Coward, Tracey Cordes, Trevor Williams, Paul Henderson, Alan Davidson, John Cuthbert, Stephen Millington, Neville Rapley, Jacqui Smith, Ray O'hara and Libby Burns have all walked, climbed & bagged Great Calva.To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Great Calva
The North Western Fells (far left distance), Carl Side, Skiddaw and Lonscale Fell (centre left), Great Calva (centre) and Belncathra or Saddleback, Bannerdale Crags and Souther Fell (centre right) and the shoulder of Clough Head (far right) from the summit of High Rigg
Great Calva and Whitewater Dash from The Cumbria Way at Melbecks, Back o' Skiddaw
*Bakestall, Great Calva, Skiddaw House, Blencathra (Saddleback) and Lonscale Fell from Skiddaw
Carl Side, Skiddaw and Lonscale Fell (centre left), Great Calva (centre) and Belncathra or Saddleback, Bannerdale Crags and Souther Fell (centre right) from the summit of High Rigg
Great Calva, Burnt Horse, Blencathra and Lonscale Crags from (North of) Lonscale Fell
*Great Calva, Burnt Horse, Blencathra (Saddleback) and Lonscale Crags from (North of) Lonscale Fell
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