Middleton Fell circular, Barbon.

This high level semi-circular walk, linked to a 4.5mile jaunt to return, mainly on quiet minor road, makes for a scenic 12mile plus outing, with just over 2200ft of ascent. The soft and easy underfoot on the grassy hills unfortunately turns to hard road for the last 3 miles, although adding further distance and ascent is possible on paths. From Barbon head north past the church into the Manor grounds, where signs lead you to the corner of Ellers wood. Head diagonally right and up, going over a stile into the open access land just below a north-south wall. An obvious path then leads all the way round the Fell, at first steeply round a small crag (Devil’s), unusual for Silurian grit terrain, then upto a cairn on Eskholme Pike and easing of the slope. The Calf Top is a disappointing summit, but beyond here the view of Dentdale enfolds, then Sedbergh with the Howgills behind. They disappear when your footpath veers left off the ridge, the latter leading over Brown Knott, just past “Grouse Butts” on the map, which may actually be a stone shelter by the path, with a hidden heather lined wee house inside. Past the rather neat and clean Fellside complex, a road zig-zags down to the A683, where turn right for a short distance and left into a wood. The bridleway passes Low Waterside and on, signs becoming sparse, to come out by Middleton Hall Bridge. Here, a temporary metal single carriageway bridge with traffic lights had been in place following damage by Storm Desmond in December 2015, nearly 4 years ago. The new bridge of a month old is rather neat. Over the A683 the quiet narrow lane leads back to Barbon and the welcoming Inn.

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Download file: middleton fell.gpx