Another quiet Lakeland walk, (except the Walna Scar track descent), with 6.5 miles and 2330ft of ascent. The Duddon Valley makes a pleasant change from the classic walking valleys: no made steps, only old tracks and rough rocky terrain. Park near the Newfield Inn, a car park exists by the Parish room just north of it. Walk down to the bridleway starting at a right angled bend before the Inn and go up this towards the great rough triangle of Caw. After a short mile an old quarry track with an obvious banked wall leads acutely left and ascends to a disused quarry. This is actually Wainwright’s route in his Outlying Fells book. A path now leads up right from the building, to a stream, followed to the ridge and then a short ascent on this to the summit with a splendid view, particularly of the Scafell range and the Esk Pike to Crinkle Crags ridge. Head east on small paths around rocky obstacles to Pikes, although this can be easily bypassed to the north if you are not Birkett or Outlying Wainwright bagging, heading for the base of White Pike. Green Pikes can be added to the north for “Outlying” baggers. Head round the bogs of Caw Moss, initially on the good paths then on sheep tracks, east along the base of White Pike till a wall is met. Birkett baggers had best start up by the wall for White Pike, but an easier and pleasanter way is to cross the wall to a disused quarry and its sheltered seating (lunch) then head diagonally leftwards up the grassy slope towards the next wall, which leads unerringly to the top of White Maiden. An easy traverse leads to the Walna Scar track and a descent back to the valley. After the first house on the road take the path signed left and follow this to the road and a short distance back on this to the car and a drink in the welcoming Newfield, good value at £2.90 a pint!
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