What's in a name?

Barf is actually the name of a nearby mountain which is visible for many miles mainly due to a large white stone with a legend attached...

Barf

The "Bishop of Barf" is a white painted stone visible from the road from Keswick, marking the spot where, according to local legend, the Bishop of Derry was killed falling from his horse in 1783, after drunkenly betting he could ride up the hill. Both the Bishop and his horse are said to be buried near a smaller stone, the Clerk, at the base of the hill. The stone was whitewashed each year by staff at the nearby Swan Hotel where the bet was placed. Unfortunately the Swan Hotel has now closed and the whitewashing is done by others. The Bishop stands about 7 ft high, while the Clerk is a smaller conical stone said to be the spot where the original Bishop met his end. Watch a video by Country Walking magazine about Barf House & the legend of the Bishop

The Bishop of Barf