And has a bad press: “..bleakest,boggiest and most forbidding moorlands in England…”, in a Pennine Way guide. Its not that bad. Here is a 13+ mile walk including Backstone Edge, another Nuttall, but missing out Knock Fell which is in the Nuttalls’ chapter on these hills. the latter is on the Pennine Way so do it, and you will have done it!
From Dufton take the track that passes Dufton Pike on the south and east, and after the gate at 710271 turn right by the wall. At the top a track is supposed to appear through a gate on the right and lead up the hill. It only appears towards the steepening, near some workings. Take it up, then a path for a short while, continuing pathless up a level moor then up a further steepening, to the cairn of Backstone Edge northeast of the Trig point. Aim towards Great Rundale Tarn, a path starts then peters out. Boggy. From the Shooting box a track a few yards NE leads right, down to the Tarn and alongside Tarn Sike, servicing the butts. There is a good path on top of Woolback Band, so aim for this at any stage. (It may come from the track going north from the Shooting Box) It ends around the Curricks on the map, after which its a little rough going to the ridge and down to the “col”, improving as you climb Meldon Hill, as Limestone appears. The Nuttalls say head for Maize Beck bridge, but it’s less distance on mainly pathless moor to head for the bridge, unmarked on some maps, taking the Pennine Way over the Beck at 766267. The alternative northern PW path is not a good one. Lovely afternoon walk down to the Stag Inn past the wonderful High Cup.
This is harder than Mickle Fell and took us 3/4 hr longer, 6 and 3/4hrs, which isn’t that bad really for a good day out.
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