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High Cup Nick, shortened version of Walk 23.

By Hugh Stewart September 12, 2018 Leave a Comment

That is, walk 23 in the “Walks from the S2C stations”. It is shortened to 8.6 miles and just under 2000 feet of ascent for ageing limbs. You can park down the lane to Bow Hall just outside Dufton, or, if really idle, at the top, just beyond Bow Hall. Go up past Bow Hall, noting the trees to the north, not to the south-west, as windbreak against the vicious Helm winds off the fells in winter, and turn right down the path to Town Head. The winery buildings looked neither open or in use, and there were no signs here. Hope it hasn’t shut. Follow the signs to the minor road and turn left, taking a footpath to the left off this just after Keisley Bridge. Go round the small hill to the left and head for a track to the left of Harbour Flatt. This leads up to the limestone cags of Middletongue , where a path now goes to the right round these and then up diagonally to the plateau above it.

Make your way whichever way takes your fancy to the obvious quad track leading up middle tongue. When it eases and you see two curracks, take the left fork, which leads to the left of the stony hillside and down to a stile. After this a delightful mile goes along a shelf, with splendid views across the valley, and ending at the Nick. Curve round this and make your way down the well used highway back to the car, the panorama of the Eden valley with Lake District hills in the distance is wonderful, and note the string of volcanic knolls along the skirt of the fells: from the north, Knock Pike, Dufton Pike, and Murton Pike to your right this morning. The Stag at Dufton closes at 3pm!

Looking toward middletongue crags.
Approaching the stile
On the shelf approaching the Nick
A stream on the northern flank in spate.
A view from the northern return path
…. the same in winter.
View of Dufton Pike and the Eden valley from the descent.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: high cup.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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Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

Note, this is now fully described in the Second Edition of "Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations", 2014, walk 1b. If the long Langcliffe Scar track does not appeal, but a bit more hillwork does, try this start: as per the book, walk 1, but at the Malham/Settle road turn right … Read More » about Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

Another plague walk which we could do from home, and although this seems to be a popular walk for locals, we had never done it, and decided to do it both because of that and as we thought it would be less popular and hence less boot-churned muddy than others round Caton and the Bowland Fells. The … Read More » about The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

I.e. avoiding any crowds parking there. Start at Little Cragg car park and go down the road, turning right to go over the top of Baines Crag for your first view of Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells. At the road go down then left over the first ladder stile and cross the infant Condor by stone or … Read More » about A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

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