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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
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Walking past St. Bartholomew's church in Barbon..
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On the footpath over Barbon Beck to Barbon Park. Eskholme Pike is at the top of the hillside on the right.
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As I climb up to Eskholme Pike Lunesdale is gradually revealed
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On Eskholme Pike and there's a fantastic view with a long line of Lake District fells in the distance and Lunesdale below
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Looking down Lunesdale towards Kirkby Lonsdale with the village of Barbon below
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Barbon and Lunesdale..
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..and looking across Lunesdale to the Lake District as I head uphill to Castle Knott
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Castle Knott ahead from its lower top
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On the summit of Castle Knott
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Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill, with the ridge up to Calf Top on the left
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Looking southwest down Lunesdale with Barbon Low Fell on the left and the Forest of Bowland in the distance
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The Lake District fells in the distance beyond Castle Knott's broad summit ridge
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It's a long way down into Barbondale
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Lake District fells in the distance..
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..and Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill..
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..as I head for Calf Top. I'm not going to be able to resist taking lots of photos on such a glorious day.
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Looking back to Castle Knott
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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.
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The southern half of the Lake District fells in the distance
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Looking south along the summit ridge to Morecambe Bay
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Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill
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The Lake District fells from the trig point on Calf Top
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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
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The Coniston fells on the left, Scafell and Scafell Pike, Great End, Great Gable and High Raise
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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
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The Howgills behind the trig point
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Baugh Fell and Aye Gill Pike
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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.
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Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill. There seems to be some low cloud making inroads from the north.
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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
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The far eastern fells of the Lake District and the Howgills as I head for the western end of Calf Top's summit ridge
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and this is the reason for me walking to the end of the ridge. I think the view of the Lake District from this cairn is pretty good.
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Lunesdale and Morecambe Bay
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Heading back to the trig point and I can see low cloud on the neighbouring fell. Hopefully it stays away from here.
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Looking back along the summit ridge to the Lake District
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Nearing the trig point and this pool should provide a good photo opportunity
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It does, with the sun reflecting in its frozen surface
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Looking back along the summit ridge..
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Back at the summit wall and there's low cloud covering some of the fells around the head of Dentdale
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Still a great view of the Lake District though
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Dazzling sunshine looking out to Morecambe Bay
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One more shot of the view towards the Lake District
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Heading back to Castle Knott
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Barbon Low Fell, the Forest of Bowland and Lunesdale from Castle Knott
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Looking west along the summit ridge of Castle Knott to the Lake District
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Lunesdale at the bottom of Ashdale Gill
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There's a beautiful light developing as sunset gets closer
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Making my descent to Eskholme Pike
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Views across Lunesdale in the lengthening shadows
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The sun isn't far away from setting as I arrive at Eskholme Pike. It's giving the hillsides a lovely golden glow....
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Lunesdale and Barbon below
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Looking up Lunesdale as I head down to Devil's Crag
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The hawthorn on Devil's Crag is still hanging on
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The sun sets on my way back to Barbon..
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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2022                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
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  • Lake District Walks
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