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 shooting did not take place the day I did it: I heard nothing and saw nobody, only sheep. I will come back to this at the end, but if you are afraid of authority, wait till the access is granted.
From the car park at Murton (furthest away from the rifle ranges south of Hilton) take the track then path to Scordale, keeping right when it splits. You enter the actual firing area at a gate through a wall, which the MOD have helpfully made so you have to climb it at present. Continue round the shoulder of the Fell and down to a stile beyond the bridge. Observe on the descent the obvious track on Swindale Brow ahead. Over the bridge take the track right up Swindale then very soon branch left on the Swindale Brow track, a green track which at first steeply then gently takes you to a large sheepfold at 638m, with a great panorama westwards to the Lakes. Re-find the track, which is less defined now, but in any case the going is good to the plateau of Little Fell. Nutallers may wish to find the highest point for a “tick”. Follow the track north along the edge of the Fell. The best way to return is by the track and animal tracks to Scordale head and down the defile south, as outlined in the Mickle Fell post of may 2014, but as I wanted to explore new gound I will show you a harder way. Looking NW from the end of the ridge, head for the barish rocky area with a large shooting butt at its northern end. The going to get there is not good, groughs and rough tussocks. Then descend in the same direction to find a tiny stream, Little Augill, and follow this roughly down to Scordale. At the main valley the path is poor, keep to the right side of the stream when it splits. Eventually you see a path signposted right, up the side of the steep valley. This is for the adventurous, surefooted folk with a head for heights. Be warned. It disappears at least twice, so follow sheep for the way, or retrace your steps and look up steeply. It does, however, show the impressive large mine workings, for lead since mediaeval times, see the chapter in “Hillwalks …etc”. After a gate and then a stile it improves somewhat, and takes you round the fell end and descends back to the car park.
A lovely, lonely walk. Why are we banned when there is no shooting? The website said there was shooting in 2 areas, A something and H something, but they do not want to tell you where these are. I tried to find out. No-one responsible wants to go into an area where there is firing, but if we are simply being treated like irresponsible youngsters, and its simpler to keep us out all the time, I for one will play it by ear, literally.
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