1st December 2019 - Middleton Fell

Walk Details

Distance walked: 7.5 miles

Total ascent: 2127 ft

OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas

Time taken: 6 hrs

Route description: Barbon-Eskholme-Eskholme Pike-Castle Knott-Calf Top-Castle Knott-Eskholme Pike-Eskholme-Barbon

I had been thinking about doing a walk in the Lake District today for my second walk of the weekend, but changed my mind when I started worrying about the frost and ice on any ungritted roads that I would encounter. As an alternative I decided to do Middleton Fell from Barbon. It's been three years since I was last on its summit, by far the longest gap I've had between visits. This was no poor second choice though, as there are fantastic views to enjoy, especially when you have a winter's day like I had for it. Wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine (for the most part), and excellent visibility for taking in those views, which included the part of the Lake District that I didn't go to.

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 to Calf Top, the summit of Middleton Fell, via Eskholme Pike and Castle Knott. While I was up there I paid a visit to the stone man at the western end of the summit ridge. I simply reversed my route to head back.

Route map

Walking past St. Bartholomew's church in Barbon..

On the footpath over Barbon Beck to Barbon Park. Eskholme Pike is at the top of the hillside on the right.

As I climb up to Eskholme Pike Lunesdale is gradually revealed

On Eskholme Pike and there's a fantastic view with a long line of Lake District fells in the distance and Lunesdale below

Looking down Lunesdale towards Kirkby Lonsdale with the village of Barbon below

Barbon and Lunesdale..

..and looking across Lunesdale to the Lake District as I head uphill to Castle Knott

Castle Knott ahead from its lower top

On the summit of Castle Knott

Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill, with the ridge up to Calf Top on the left

Looking southwest down Lunesdale with Barbon Low Fell on the left and the Forest of Bowland in the distance

The Lake District fells in the distance beyond Castle Knott's broad summit ridge

It's a long way down into Barbondale

Lake District fells in the distance..

..and Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill..

..as I head for Calf Top. I'm not going to be able to resist taking lots of photos on such a glorious day.

Looking back to Castle Knott

As I approach the summit of Calf Top a dry stone wall appears on the scene. It will add a bit of interest in the foreground, along with frost covered grass where the sun hasn't been shining on it. I now have a view out to Morecambe Bay.

The southern half of the Lake District fells in the distance

Looking south along the summit ridge to Morecambe Bay

Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill

The Lake District fells from the trig point on Calf Top

Zooming in there's Helvellyn on the left, then the Ill Bell ridge running up to High Street, the fells around Longsleddale, and the Shap fells on the right

The Coniston fells on the left, Scafell and Scafell Pike, Great End, Great Gable and High Raise

I've sat on the summit wall for my lunch, and this roll of rusty fencing wire makes an interesting foreground as I look up Dentdale to Great Knoutberry Hill

The Howgills behind the trig point

Baugh Fell and Aye Gill Pike

I'm walking north of the summit towards Barkin Top to see the changes it makes to the view. Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill.

Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill. There seems to be some low cloud making inroads from the north.

I particularly like this shot looking towards the Lake District, with the contrast between the cold, frost covered ground and the warmth of the sunlit slopes