19th May 2024 - Middleton Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.3 miles
Total ascent: 2363 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Barbon-High Road-A683-Low Waterside-A683-Fellside-Holme Knott-Brown Knott-Long Bank-Combe Top-Barkin Top-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon
For my second walk of the weekend I decided to head for the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales and do a route that I last did in September 2022, and walk the whole length of Middleton Fell. Just as I've done on the previous occasions that I've done this route I did the road walking part of it first to get to the northern end of Middleton Fell, so that I could walk south along its length in the afternoon and enjoy the great views. It was a lovely spring day for being on the fells. Blue skies and sunny spells, although a bit of cloud built up during the afternoon, but with great visibility there were fantastic views from Middleton Fell as I walked across it during the afternoon, as I knew there would be.
After parking in Barbon I set off by taking the lane of "High Road" north below the slopes of Middleton Fell and when I reached the A683 I crossed this onto the bridleway opposite to reach Low Waterside by the River Lune. From here I followed another bridleway north through fields and woodland to the A683 opposite Jordan Lane. Fortunately I only had a brief walk south along this road to reach the access road up to the farm of Fellside. Once I'd made my way through the farmyard I was finally onto the open fell. There's a rough track to follow at first but since I wanted to visit Holme Knott I was going to have to leave this. On the way up I met a quad bike track that headed north towards Holme Knott so I used this and then left it and made my way up to the trig point at a convenient place. After having lunch here and taking in the view I had a long walk up the ridge of Middleton Fell to its summit, Calf Top. At first there's a trod in the grass that follows the wall from Holme Knott to Brown Knott and then the rough track from Fellside is met and this took me up onto Long Bank. Before following the ridge up to Combe Top I made a detour across a stile in the wall to visit the cairn on top of Combe Scar to take in the view. Once back over the wall a clear enough path then makes its way uphill over Combe Top and Barkin Top to finally reach the trig point on Calf Top. After a stop for a break and to take in the view I made my way south down the fell to Castle Knott, then down to Eskholme Pike and off access land to reach Eskholme. From here I followed the public footpath south across Barbon Beck and back into Barbon.
Total ascent: 2363 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Barbon-High Road-A683-Low Waterside-A683-Fellside-Holme Knott-Brown Knott-Long Bank-Combe Top-Barkin Top-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon
For my second walk of the weekend I decided to head for the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales and do a route that I last did in September 2022, and walk the whole length of Middleton Fell. Just as I've done on the previous occasions that I've done this route I did the road walking part of it first to get to the northern end of Middleton Fell, so that I could walk south along its length in the afternoon and enjoy the great views. It was a lovely spring day for being on the fells. Blue skies and sunny spells, although a bit of cloud built up during the afternoon, but with great visibility there were fantastic views from Middleton Fell as I walked across it during the afternoon, as I knew there would be.
After parking in Barbon I set off by taking the lane of "High Road" north below the slopes of Middleton Fell and when I reached the A683 I crossed this onto the bridleway opposite to reach Low Waterside by the River Lune. From here I followed another bridleway north through fields and woodland to the A683 opposite Jordan Lane. Fortunately I only had a brief walk south along this road to reach the access road up to the farm of Fellside. Once I'd made my way through the farmyard I was finally onto the open fell. There's a rough track to follow at first but since I wanted to visit Holme Knott I was going to have to leave this. On the way up I met a quad bike track that headed north towards Holme Knott so I used this and then left it and made my way up to the trig point at a convenient place. After having lunch here and taking in the view I had a long walk up the ridge of Middleton Fell to its summit, Calf Top. At first there's a trod in the grass that follows the wall from Holme Knott to Brown Knott and then the rough track from Fellside is met and this took me up onto Long Bank. Before following the ridge up to Combe Top I made a detour across a stile in the wall to visit the cairn on top of Combe Scar to take in the view. Once back over the wall a clear enough path then makes its way uphill over Combe Top and Barkin Top to finally reach the trig point on Calf Top. After a stop for a break and to take in the view I made my way south down the fell to Castle Knott, then down to Eskholme Pike and off access land to reach Eskholme. From here I followed the public footpath south across Barbon Beck and back into Barbon.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Setting off from Barbon I walk north along High Road towards the A683..
To my right the slopes of Middleton Fell rise behind Borwens Farm
Lunesdale and buttercup filled fields to my left..
It's a narrow lane and fortunately I don't meet any traffic where I couldn't get out of the way
The buttercups are putting on a good display today
Another shot of Middleton Fell from High Road
Walking north along High Road and I pass High Green Farm, which means I'm nearly at the A683..
Having reached the end of High Road and crossed the A683 I'm on the bridleway to Low Waterside..
Through Low Waterside
A brief chance to see the River Lune
I have a view of the Howgills in front of me as I follow the bridleway from Low Waterside to the A683
On the lane up to Fellside and I can't resist taking a photo looking up Lunesdale to the Howgills across this buttercup filled field
At Fellside and finally..
..I'm heading onto the open fell
This field full of buttercups and daisies was just over the wall to my left in the photo above
There's a clear path to follow up onto the fell
I leave that path and take another one north towards Holme Knott. The trig point is on top of the knoll ahead.
At the freshly painted trig point on Holme Knott and I can finally sit down and have my lunch, and while I do I can enjoy the view across Lunesdale to the distant Lake District fells
Looking northwest across Lunedsale to Firbank Fell, with Holme Knott Tarn below..
..and north to Sedbergh and the Howgills
Wild Boar Fell and Baugh Fell to the northeast
The ridge heading up to the top of Middleton Fell
Looking south down Lunesdale to part of the Forest of Bowland in the distance
I've left the trig point behind, and I'll be following this wall up the slopes of Middleton Fell for some time to come
If I look over the wall I can see Dentdale and the fell of Aye Gill Pike..
..as well as the Howgills, the valley of the River Rawthey, Wild Boar Fell, and Baugh Fell
Heading up onto Long Bank from Brown Knott. The footpath from Fellside joins the moorland ridge a fit further on.
Looking back to the Lake District fells in the distance
The Howgills from Long Bank
The Lake District fells in the distance from Long Bank
A stile lets me cross to the other side of the wall so that I can visit a cairn that sits at the top of Combe Scar. It's worth the detour for this view. Looking north across Dentdale and Frostrow Fells to the Howgills.
Baugh Fell behind Long Moor and Aye Gill Pike on the other side of Dentdale
Finally, Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and the village of Dent, and Great Knoutberry Hill in the distance
Looking back to the Howgills as I make my way up to Barkin Top
Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill from Barkin Top
Finally, Calf Top, the summit of Middleton Fell is in sight. It feels a long time since I left Holme Knott.
At the trig point on Calf Top. Morecambe Bay in the distance to the southwest.
The Howgills to the north
Wild Boar Fell, Baugh Fell and Aye Gill Pike to the northeast
Looking down into Dentdale, and to Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill
The western slopes of Crag Hill on the other side of Barbondale, with the top of Ingleborough peeping over its right shoulder, and Barbon Low Fell down on the right
To the west a long line of Lakeland fells beyond the broad western shoulder of the fell..
Leaving Calf Top I follow the path south down to Castle Knott..
Looking out to Morecambe Bay from Castle Knott
The Lake District fells in the distance beyond the western shoulder of the fell
Barbon High Fell and Barbon Low Fell on the other side of Barbondale
Heading from Castle Knott down to Eskholme Pike
On the home straight as I arrive on Eskholme Pike. There's a final long distance view across Lunesdale to the Lakes.
The village of Barbon below
Looking up Lunesdale to the western edge of the Howgills
The hawthorn on Devil's Crag is still hanging on
The church of St. Bartholomew's ahead as I arrive back in Barbon