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3rd February 2015 - Middleton Fell

Walk Details

Distance walked: 7.5 miles

Total ascent: 2127 ft

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

Time taken: 5.5 hrs

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

The fine, cold spell of weather is forecast to last for a while yet and with lighter winds than there were at the weekend I decided to do a walk today that included a summit. This lonely outpost on the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales has become one of favourites since I first paid it a visit in 2010. On the right day there is a great all round view and if you like a bit of solitude this is the place to go. I can probably still use my fingers to count the number of people I've met up there on my visits. I set off in gloriously sunny weather and it stayed that way for the climb to the top. However, while I was up there the cloud and wind increased so that my return was done in cloudy skies and a cold wind.

From Barbon I made my way past the church of St. Bartholomew's and then left to follow the track over Barbon Beck. A footpath leaves the track to head for Eskholme and then I walked uphill to reach a gate in the intake wall and access land. I then made my way to the summit of Middleton Fell, Calf Top, via Eskholme Pike and Castle Knott. While I was up there I paid the stone man at the western end of the summit ridge a visit. I simply reversed my route to head back.

Route map
Picture
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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A sunny start to the day as I make my way through Barbon
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On the track to Barbon Manor. That's Eskholme Pike up on the right, my first port of call.
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On Eskholme Pike
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There's a fantastic view from here this morning, looking across the Lune valley to a long line of snow covered Lake District fells
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Up into the snow as I head for Castle Knott
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A couple of shots from the top of Castle Knott. The Lake District fells beyond the broad western ridge of the fell.
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Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill. The slope to the right drops away into Barbondale.
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Wind sculpted snow does make an interesting subject for a picture..
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A wall joins me for the final climb to the summit
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On Calf Top, the summit of Middleton Fell. There's a great view from here, especially on a day like today. A long line of Lake District fells in the distance as I head for the stone man at the western end of its ridge.
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Made it. I'm going to zoom in on the Lakeland fells and take a couple of pictures.
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The eastern and far eastern fells. The summits have become covered in cloud but I could make out Rainsborrow Crag on Yoke above Kentmere and Goat Scar above Longsleddale.
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The Coniston fells on the left, the Crinkle Crags and Bowfell under cloud and the Langdale Pikes
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A great view of the Howgills..
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..as I head back to the summit
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The trig point on the summit of Middleton Fell
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Views from the summit. The Howgills.
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The flat top of Wild Boar Fell, Baugh Fell and Aye Gill Pike
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Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill
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Crag Hill on the other side of Barbondale. The summit of Ingleborough can be seen peeping over its shoulder.
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Morecambe Bay in the distance
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One last shot before I head back. The cloud has gradually been increasing while I've been up here and with the strong northerly breeze it now feels very cold.
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Back on Castle Knott
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The fells of the Forest of Bowland in the distance beyond the nearby Barbon Low Fell
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The cloud has made it to the coast
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A final stop on Eskholme Pike. Hard to believe that it's the same day after what it was like this morning.

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
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    • Walking Diary 2018
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    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
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  • Lake District Walks
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