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High Green Field Knott, upper Littondale.

By Hugh Stewart April 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

Chosen for Easter Sunday to have some peace, successful, as no-one seen on the hill at all, and no footprints in the snow. We saw this little known and lesser named hill from Ingleborough’s summit previously, so decided to take a look. As the wind was the easterly beast (2018), we struck north up the track from Halton Gill, to turn westwards on the four mile hill ridge at the summit. The marked path across “Great Pasture” we knew to be nebulous from previously, hence going up the good track. The ridge path is to the north of the wall. This looks easy going, although our track was obscured by snow. You pass the summit trig point of Horse Head, 605m, over the wall, and have to negotiate one barbed wire fence where a double wall/fence marking on the map leads north. After that there is one other non-barbed wire fence.

In the mid-ridge depression there are numerous Norway Spruces springing up, mainly of the same age, which we initially thought were of natural rewilding, but as they were localised in the depression and all of an age, it appears that this is a man made phenomenon. Not exactly rewilding as the Christmas tree is usually planted.

The summit plateau (there is no true summit, although supposedly 603m), is on limestone, with grassy hammocks, easier than the preceding mile of minor peat groughs, and the best view is from the Trig point at the west end of the ridge: the Three Peaks dominate south and west. From here strike east-south-east across easy grassland to the plantation at Cosh Beck Head, and a gate at the north of it. The Cave and potholes are easily gained through and south of the gate. A poor track to start doesn’t improve, crossing the Cosh Beck twice and leading to the renovated house at Cosh. A signed path leads beyond the house down to the beck, to cross it where a landslip blocks it. After the next small gate it disappears, so it’s best to climb the slope and follow the gates/stiles, crossing the Beck again north of Foxup on a bridge, not a ford. A track leads to the road, where a path on the south bank leads more pleasantly to the road from Stainforth to Halton Gill. This makes an 8.7mile walk, with only 1300ft of climbing, and is rougher in the valley than the top.

Halton Gill from the Horse Head Track
On the Horse Head Track
Small Norway Spruces on the ridge, with Pen y Ghent beyond
Pen y Ghent from the summit
View of Ingleborough from the Trig point
Cosh House
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: horse head.gpx

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Gauber Quarry addendum and correction

Strange to have taken so long after the 2014 reprint, you may think, to correct an error, and a further change to the route should help. So, walk 11 in the Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle railway stations, page 102,second para, it should read ".... a further 250 yards watch for an oblique

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Watendlath and Borrowdale circular

A suitable pre-Theatre by the Lake evening production, when the cloud level is low and you don't fancy walking with no views in the damp. It comes to just under 9 miles with 2100ft of ascent. From the Lodore Wood car park up the Watendlath road, take the road south till an obvious track leads off

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Addition to the book of Trespass: Warcop.

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

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