"Amazing what an extra ½ inch can achieve. In 2016 surveyors upgraded Calf How so it broaches the magic 2,000 feet height and becomes the new member of the Dales 30 (making it 30!). Excellent news all round as the ridge to the north of Barbondale (where Calf Top sits) offers some of the most pleasant walking in the area whilst the dale itself is picture perfect.
Barbon is an attractive, out of the way, village with a pub. It is famous (amongst those in the know) as the venue for the Barbon Hillclimb Championship. Run twice a year along the driveway of Barbon Manor the race is less than 1 km long. However I have never seen the race and it is the valley that bears the village name which I really enjoy. Barbondale is a classic U shaped valley (there is none better) with a pretty river winding gracefully up the floor of the dale. In the summer this is busy with families splashing in the river and enjoying the scenery.
Up above Calf Top is the highest point of the ridge which flanks the vale. It is steep sided and uniform, contrasting with the more gradual lands to its north. The walking along the ridge though is just a delight with the short grass offering a better than even chance of surviving with damp feet. The main decision is whether to take the direct descent from the summit or the more leisurely, but longer, descent beyond Calf Top, the latter is my recommendation."
