12th December 2025 - Middleton Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.2 miles
Total ascent: 2135 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Barbon-Eskholme-Millhouse Gill-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon
Today is my Friday off work, and to make the most of what is forecast to be a fine day I decided to head to the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales and the village of Barbon, from where I'd do a route that would take me to Calf Top, the summit of Middleton Fell. It's a fell that I've been to the top of many times, the last occasion being just five months ago. I did a longer walk then, to make the most of the much longer days and the better weather (you would expect it to be in July). Today's was one that I've done several times before and uses the western ridge of Calf Top for the ascent to its summit. Unfortunately, the weather didn't turn out as expected. Brighter skies were meant to arrive from the west as overnight rain cleared, to give some sunshine for being up on the moors in the afternoon. I could see blue skies getting closer but they never quite arrived, and then as I was making the ascent of Calf Top and height was being gained I could see that the skies were filling with low cloud. It didn't take long, and by the time I reached the trig point on Calf Top I was in low cloud and had no view. The rest of the day was dull and overcast until I made it down to Eskholme Pike. By then I was below the cloud and some breaks in it allowed a nice sunset. I had a sense of deja vu after this walk as I experienced a very similar day when doing the same walk on almost the same day last year.
From Barbon I made my way past the church of St. Bartholomew's and then turned left to follow the track over Barbon Beck. A footpath leaves the track to head for Eskholme past the woodland of Ellers, and then I walked uphill to reach a gate in the intake wall and access land. I then made my way north, more or less following the intake wall using sheep trods until I reached Millhouse Gill. I crossed the gill, and continued to follow the intake wall north until it approached Brow Gill, then made my way up the ridge, joining a quadbike track to finally reach the summit, Calf Top, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way south to Castle Knott, and then down to Eskholme Pike, the edge of access land, and the footpath down to Eskholme. From Eskholme a footpath took me south through Barbon Park to the bridge over Barbon Beck, and back to Barbon.
Total ascent: 2135 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Barbon-Eskholme-Millhouse Gill-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon
Today is my Friday off work, and to make the most of what is forecast to be a fine day I decided to head to the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales and the village of Barbon, from where I'd do a route that would take me to Calf Top, the summit of Middleton Fell. It's a fell that I've been to the top of many times, the last occasion being just five months ago. I did a longer walk then, to make the most of the much longer days and the better weather (you would expect it to be in July). Today's was one that I've done several times before and uses the western ridge of Calf Top for the ascent to its summit. Unfortunately, the weather didn't turn out as expected. Brighter skies were meant to arrive from the west as overnight rain cleared, to give some sunshine for being up on the moors in the afternoon. I could see blue skies getting closer but they never quite arrived, and then as I was making the ascent of Calf Top and height was being gained I could see that the skies were filling with low cloud. It didn't take long, and by the time I reached the trig point on Calf Top I was in low cloud and had no view. The rest of the day was dull and overcast until I made it down to Eskholme Pike. By then I was below the cloud and some breaks in it allowed a nice sunset. I had a sense of deja vu after this walk as I experienced a very similar day when doing the same walk on almost the same day last year.
From Barbon I made my way past the church of St. Bartholomew's and then turned left to follow the track over Barbon Beck. A footpath leaves the track to head for Eskholme past the woodland of Ellers, and then I walked uphill to reach a gate in the intake wall and access land. I then made my way north, more or less following the intake wall using sheep trods until I reached Millhouse Gill. I crossed the gill, and continued to follow the intake wall north until it approached Brow Gill, then made my way up the ridge, joining a quadbike track to finally reach the summit, Calf Top, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way south to Castle Knott, and then down to Eskholme Pike, the edge of access land, and the footpath down to Eskholme. From Eskholme a footpath took me south through Barbon Park to the bridge over Barbon Beck, and back to Barbon.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
I leave Barbon by taking the footpath along the track by St. Bartholomew's church..
..then through Barbon Park to Eskholme
Onto access land and I'll be more or less following the intake wall north to Millhouse Gill
As I head north I have views of the countryside around the River Lune...
Following the wall down to Millhouse Gill
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Crossing Millhouse Gill. Not as easy as it looks at first glance..
Mill House Cottages below after crossing Millhouse Gill. Those blue skies are tantalisingly close.
Views of the countryside around the River Lune as I continue to follow the intake wall north towards Brow Gill....
Brow Gill below, and the Howgills beyond the northern slopes of Middleton Fell
Time to head up the ridge to Calf Top
Views back across the Lune Valley, and with increasing height I can now see the Lake District fells in the distance, sort of
I join the track up the ridge from above Millhouse Cottages. It isn't far to go to reach the top as the path makes a left turn across the top of Thirnbeck Gill.
Looking back down the ridge, and I can't help but notice the low cloud that's developed and how much duller it's become
The well built cairn that sits at the western end of the summit ridge appears at last. It looks like I won't be getting a view from it.
I can just make out the Lune Valley below from the cairn
I reach the trig point on Calf Top, where I stop for lunch. There was brightness in the sky but unfortunately this was as good as it got.
The sun makes an attempt to break through the cloud as I follow the wall south from Calf Top
Making my way to Castle Knott, and this fence is a new addition to the landscape. Fortunately a kissing gate was put in it.
No view from the summit of Castle Knott
Dropping below the cloud as I make my descent to Eskholme Pike..
Looking up the Lune Valley to my right..
..and down to my left, with the village of Barbon below
Taking in the view across the valley of the River Lune from Eskholme Pike
It looks like the sun is going to set through gaps in the cloud. Might me worth waiting for.
The sun shines on the Lune Valley below
Watching the sun set...
Crossing the bridge over Barbon Beck back to Barbon and St. Bartholomew's church