Bakestall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bakestall |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 673 m (2,208 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 8 m |
| Parent peak | Skiddaw |
| Listing | Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 Bakestall
Location in Lake District
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Northern Fells |
| OS grid | NY266307 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 89, 90 OS Explorer 4 |
Bakestall is a fell (which means a hill or mountain) in the English Lake District. It's about 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) north of Keswick. This area is a quiet and hidden part of the national park, often called ‘Back o’ Skiddaw’.
Contents
What is Bakestall Like?
Bakestall stands 673 meters (2,208 feet) tall. It's not really a separate mountain on its own. Instead, it's more like a small bump on the northern side of the much larger Skiddaw mountain.
Why is Bakestall Special?
A famous writer named Alfred Wainwright wrote about Bakestall in his guidebooks. He thought it was special because of two main features:
- The amazing Dead Crags
- The beautiful Whitewater Dash waterfall
Dead Crags: A Rocky Wall
Dead Crags are cliffs made of a type of rock called Skiddaw Slate. These cliffs drop about 150 meters (500 feet) into a bowl-shaped valley called a corrie. The rocks here are crumbly, so they are not good for rock climbing. You'll also see lots of plants growing on them.
Whitewater Dash: A Stunning Waterfall
Whitewater Dash is considered one of the best waterfalls in the Lake District. Here, a stream called Dash Beck tumbles down in many steps. If this waterfall were easier to reach, it would be a very popular spot for visitors.
Old Lead Mine
Many years ago, there was a lead mine on the slopes of Bakestall. The entrance to the mine was near Dead Beck, on the western side of the fell. All the water from Bakestall flows north into Dash Beck, and then eventually into Bassenthwaite Lake.
How to Climb Bakestall
You can climb Bakestall as part of a journey to Skiddaw. This northern route is usually less crowded. You can follow a rough path called the Cumbria Way up to the Whitewater Dash falls. From there, you can walk up a ridge called Birkett Edge to reach the top.
You can follow a fence up Birkett Edge. But walking along the edge of the corrie lets you get a closer look at the impressive Dead Crags. From the top of Bakestall, it's about a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) walk further south to reach the very top of Skiddaw. This part of the climb goes up about 275 meters (900 feet).
Reaching the Summit
The highest point of Bakestall is where a fence makes a turn. However, Alfred Wainwright thought the best viewpoint was about 100 meters further north. This spot has a good-sized pile of stones called a cairn, which is unusual for the grassy northern fells.
From the top, the view to the south is blocked by the huge Skiddaw mountain. So, you can't see the main part of the Lake District. But you can see the Solway Firth (a large bay) and the hills of the Scottish Border in the distance.
