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Meldon Hill, remote Nuttall.

By Hugh Stewart August 9, 2014 Leave a Comment

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.

The track above Dufton Pike.
Woolbeck Band, a path!
The shake holes, having descended from Meldon Hill in the background.
The sides of High Cup in the distance.
Yet another view of High Cup, south side.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: meldon.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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