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Barf, Lord's Seat, Ullister Hill and Seat How

As you drive along the A66 from Keswick heading west towards Cockermouth your eye is drawn to a brilliant white rock perched high above to your left: The Bishop Of Barf. Legend has it the Bishop of Derry fell off his horse at the site of this rock pinnacle and was killed after a bet he could ride to the top. He couldn't! The rock is white as it used to be painted by staff from the nearby Swan Hotel, but since it shut the local Mountain Rescue Team have taken on the task. It is said the Bishop and his horse are buried somewhere near The Clerk: a much smaller white painted rock immediately beside the footpath.

Actually visiting The Bishop is a bit much for this walk, but you do pass the bottom of the scree slope up to it.

Our route passes The Clerk and climbs up beside Beckstones Gill through the woods and it certainly takes some effort! The ground is steep and the infamously slippery Skiddaw Slate gravel does not help. Bear in mind as you puff your way up that you come back this way, though this isn't as bad as it may seem. On the return leg just take it slow placing each foot step with care. The author sometimes puts in her own zigzags to help lessen the gradient. The views from the summit of Barf, on a clear day, are breathtaking. From here the way to Lord's Seat can be rather wet and boggy, and in mist it would be quite easy to head off in the wrong direction. Coming back the long way: through the woods, we pick up the Birkett's of Ullister Hill and Seat How. The latter with views towards Whinlatter Pass and over to Grisedale Pike.