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Scorton, Harrisend Fell circular: another walk for a bad day.

By Hugh Stewart November 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

That is, for a wet and or windy day, although a wet north-westerly gale would make Harrisend Fell very unpleasant. It has a mixture of moor, riverside and woods in its nine miles, but only 1100ft of ascent. Unfortunately, the M6 does aurally spoil the Wyre Way section. Start at the small carpark at Grizedale Bridge on the road from Dolphinholme to Oakenclough, and go north long the road a short while till a track on the left takes you down then along past two plantations. DO NOT BE PUT OFF by signs indicating this is a private track with no public access, this is open access land. I have asked (Oct 20) the countryside access officer about this and they are going to ask for the signs to be removed. Don’t try and follow the line of the signed path through very rough terrain back to the road, (picture of this below), but carry on beyond the end of the second plantation till a green track turns acutely right and leads more easily upto the road again. The signposts here indicate the line across Harrisend Fell, a good small path with extensive views. An interesting large cairn is at halfway.

As the path joins another at right angles, turn sharp left and descend first on paths then a road lined with grand oak trees from Lane Head, itself a tastefully extended farm house. Keep on the roads to Street, past Sir Bradley’s pad on the right with an extensive “gym” with cycling machines, and turn left onto the Wyre Way over  the Wyre Bridge. This is now wooded, mainly sycamore now, and from here to Scorton the main activity is commercial fishing in the extensive man made lakes, and the river itself, hence many private and keep out signs that go with the commerce. Signs keep you right all the way to Scorton, through Sunnyside Caravan park, deserted today, Guys Farm, the Guide’s campsite base, no longer over the M6 on a pedestrian Bridge, see the addition of January 2020, but follow the path to Nan’s Nook then straight on, guided by yellow cubes to the side of the M6 then under it by the Wyre. A pleasant wooded stretch to Cleveley Bridge follows. At Scorton the Barn café beckons for snacks or teas, or the Appletree café, although this a bit off the route up Snowhill Lane. Continue through Scorton to turn left up Tithe Barn Lane, and after the sharp left hand bend take the second path right, to Higher Lane by Slean End Farm. Turn down the lane right, then left at a corner into Grizedale along the side of a lovely oak and beech wood. Cross the little beck and turn up the valley on a good track, enjoying the wooded valley, although higher up Rhodendrons have taken over. Today chainsaws were buzzing hard to halt these invaders. Past the northern “inlet” of the Reservoir, dry today and obviously for some time in this dry year, take the path right, round the inlet and up through more woods and over duckboards direct to the car.

The rough field from Fell End looking towards Harrisend.
The specially made cairn on Harrisend.

 

  • The tastefully extended Lane Head.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: harrisend3.gpx

Filed Under: Walks

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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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Malham Tarn and More

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