In the event of anyone actually doing the Settle to Carlisle walk, here's an alternative from Orton to Crosby Ravensworth which is less exposed in the event of a bad day, has more interest in the form of ancient settlement sites, but does have far more stiles and gates. We encorporated this recently
A suitable pre-Theatre by the Lake evening production, when the cloud level is low and you don't fancy walking with no views in the damp. It comes to just under 9 miles with 2100ft of ascent. From the Lodore Wood car park up the Watendlath road, take the road south till an obvious track leads off
This is an 8 mile walk over Little Fell and down and along the side of Scordale. A wild, lonely, and in places rough walk, with 2100ft of climbing. The trespass refers to the fact that most of the walk is in the MOD's land, with access granted by them on 12 weekends per year and other odd days. The