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Middleton Fell circular, Barbon.

By Hugh Stewart September 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

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.

  • Barbon church.
  • Devil’s Crag, Eskholme Pike.
  • A family shot from 2003 by the Cairn on Eskholme Pike.
  • A view back to the cairn from Eskholme Pike, the Lune Valley beyond.
  • Dentdale from beyond Calf Top.
  • Sedbergh and the Howgills from the descent.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: middleton fell.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)

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)

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