14th December 2024 - Middleton Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.3 miles
Total ascent: 2149 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Barbon-Eskholme-Millhouse Gill-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon
For my walk this weekend 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 seven 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 May). 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. I set off from Barbon with blue skies and sunshine, and I kept sunny spells through the morning. However, as I was starting the ascent of Calf Top and height was being gained I could see that the skies were going to cloud over. 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. If I'd known that that was what I was in for I'd have left this walk for a much better day.
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 then crossed the gill and made my way up the ridge using a quadbike track to finally reach the summit, Calf Top. My route back was south along the moorland ridge to Castle Knott, down to Eskholme Pike, and then to the gate in the intake wall, and down to Eskholme. After taking the footpath through Eskholme I walked along the lane to High Road, where I turned left and walked back to Barbon.
Total ascent: 2149 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Barbon-Eskholme-Millhouse Gill-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon
For my walk this weekend 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 seven 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 May). 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. I set off from Barbon with blue skies and sunshine, and I kept sunny spells through the morning. However, as I was starting the ascent of Calf Top and height was being gained I could see that the skies were going to cloud over. 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. If I'd known that that was what I was in for I'd have left this walk for a much better day.
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 then crossed the gill and made my way up the ridge using a quadbike track to finally reach the summit, Calf Top. My route back was south along the moorland ridge to Castle Knott, down to Eskholme Pike, and then to the gate in the intake wall, and down to Eskholme. After taking the footpath through Eskholme I walked along the lane to High Road, where I turned left and walked back to Barbon.
Route map
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It's a frosty morning in Barbon
I leave Barbon by taking the footpath along the track by St. Bartholomew's church..
..then through Barbon Park to Eskholme
To my left, a view across the fog-filled valley of the River Lune
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 misty countryside around the River Lune....
Following the wall down to Millhouse Gill..
Mill House Cottages below after crossing Millhouse Gill
Following a track up onto the ridge to Calf Top
Looking back down to Mill House Cottages and the Lune Valley
and down the Lune Valley towards Barbon
With increasing height I can now see the Lake District fells in the distance, sort of. The low-level mist and fog may be clearing, but I can't help noticing that the skies are clouding over.
The Howgills beyond the northern slopes of Middleton Fell
Views back across the Lune Valley..
..and to the Howgills as I make my way up
It isn't far to go to reach the top of the ridge as the path makes a left turn across the top of Thirnbeck Gill
Low cloud is forming on the neighbouring hillside. That can't be a good sign.
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.
No view. After waiting for a good ten minutes, and despite several times it looking like the cloud would break, I gave up.
Approaching the trig point on Calf Top
Brightness in the sky as I reach the trig point. I stopped for lunch here. Unfortunately this was as good as it got and only became duller with time.
Making my way to Castle Knott, and this fence is a new addition to the landscape. Fortunately a kissing gate was put in it.
Briefly below the cloud as I cross the saddle between Calf Top and Castle Knott
It's back into the clag as I head up Castle Knott
No view from the summit of Castle Knott
Making my descent to Eskholme Pike..
Taking in the view across the valley of the River Lune from Eskholme Pike
The village of Barbon below
Making my way down to the edge of access land
Looking back to Eskholme Pike behind Eskholme
Walking along High Road back to Barbon