• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hugh Stewart

  • Home
  • Books
    • Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations
    • Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route
    • Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain
  • About Hugh
    • Author
    • Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Walking Blog
  • Contact

Durham Nuttalls: extreme social distancing.

By Hugh Stewart March 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

These hills of the north-eastern pennines are perfect in these times of plague. Although we saw two moving covered all terrain vehicles at the start, and two walkers on an intruding cross-wilderness path in the distance, no-one else on the moorland hills of Bellbeaver Rigg (actually in Cumbria) and Viewing Hill. This five and a half mile walk with 600+ft of ascent may look a pussy and possibly lacking interest, but this is untrue on both counts. Do it as per the chapter in the Nuttall’s book, starting just down from the 591 spot height on the B road from Alston to Middleton in Teesdale, on the through track to Cow Green reservoir. The friendly, snow speckled triumvirate of Great Dun Fell with its giant balloon, Little Dun Fell and Cross Fell are there ahead to cheer you on, and always visible, needed as the going is a bit rough in places. The lonely Tees is also a wonderful sight, especially from the ascent/descent of Viewing Hill looking north of west. Started at 2degC today, but warmed gradually by the lazy sun, so voles, the odd grouse and Plovers were seen, and the first skylark of the season heard. The moors are heavily managed for grouse, and patches of heather cut rather than burned, but this was a refreshing and surprisingly pleasant walk.

  • The start, The Dun Fells and Cross fell ahead.
  • Heading for the first cairn of Bellbeaver Rigg in the distance.
  • From the first Bellbeaver cairn to the summit one.
  • Bellbeaver Rigg “summit”, with the ever present triumvirate behind.
  • The Tees looking South.
  • There is a cairn on Viewing Hill! Burnhope Seat beyond.
  • Cow Green Reservoir from Viewing Hill.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: durham nutts.gpx

Filed Under: Walks

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Post Categories

The Latest Comments

  • Michael Watson on Scafell Pike from Wasdale, without the crowds. (Mostly.)
  • Hugh Stewart on Sheepbone rake, High Crag
  • Laurence Anderson on Sheepbone rake, High Crag
  • Hugh Stewart on Sheepbone rake, High Crag
  • Judy Moffitt on Sheepbone rake, High Crag

Enjoying the Blog Posts?

If you are enjoying my content please consider supporting my passion by purchasing one of my books. Many thanks, Hugh.

Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

View Book

Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

View Book

Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

View Book

Footer

A Suffolk Sandlings circular coastal walk.

Bored with the beach? Try this varied 15 mile walk past and through two reed marshes, heathland, woods, shoreline and farmland. Can be started at Westleton, New Delights car park, Minsmere Cliff or Eastbridge, and can be shortened by 1, 2 or any number of miles. From Westleton (two pubs, one posh,

Continue Reading

An Upper Swaledale round from Muker

This lovely 8 mile walk is best done in early to mid-June when the Muker meadows, and to a lesser extent the Ivelet to Muker meadows, are full of wildflowers. Starting in Muker, find the path through the village which leads onto the meadows. It is not signed so be careful. Go through the delightful

Continue Reading

Scafell Pike from Wasdale, without the crowds. (Mostly.)

A glorious friday in early June, the last weekday of the Whitsun holidays. I wanted to see what Piers Gill was like, as my late mother told me once that she had been cajoled by my father to take me and my one older and one younger brothers (aged maybe 3 to 7) up the Pike, but went wrong in bad

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2023 · Hugh Stewart All rights reserved. · Website created by LeePritchard.com