8:00 start with 17:30 return
A Walk - Moor House Nature Reserve with John Parkinson
11.9 miles / 19km with 2572ft / 784m Total Ascent
Leaving the picturesque village of Dufton we head north along the Pennine Way. With Dufton Pike and Brownber Hill on our right, we ascend gradually towards the National Nature Reserve of Moor House - Upper Teasdale, some 88 square kilometer's and one of the leading sites for research into the impact of climate change on the natural environment.
At Knock Old Man we follow the trail towards Great Dun Fell but head back southwards towards Knock. The option to up and back to the listening station on Great Dun is available if needed. From the hamlet of Knock we follow paths through a churchyard and crossing fields we return to our starting point in Dufton. Here the Stags Head and the Post Box Pantry (whose owner assures me he will open till 5pm on the day) will await us.
No excuses!
B+ Walk - Backstone Edge & High Cup Nick with Dave Colbert
10½ miles / 17km with 1,980ft / 600m Total Ascent
The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now National Landscape) became the first British Geopark in June 2003. Its most famous geological feature is the spectacular glacial canyon of High Cup Gill that eats into the hillside above Dufton, the product of an intrusion of dolerite otherwise known as the Whin Sill into the limestone bedrock. This huge chasm would not be out of place in more mountainous areas such as the Cairngorms.
Starting from Dufton, we follow the track around the southern flank of Dufton Pike, climbing gradually up the narrowing valley of Threlkeld Side with its relics of industry past to eventually reach Great Rundale Tarn. The next bit is off-piste as we head generally south along Backstone Edge from its 692m/2,270ft trig point to Narrowgate Beacon and the great cleft of High Cup Gill. From High Cup Nick, which lies just to the west of the main Pennine watershed between the Rivers Tees and Eden, we return to Dufton along the Pennine Way.
B Walk - Down the Nick with Stuart Arnold
9½ miles / 15.3km with 1400ft / 427m Total Ascent
We walk through Dufton to Town Head where we join the Pennine way which takes up past Bow Hall round the edge of Dod Hill and on upward to High Cup Nick.
We the drop down High Cup Scar over the boulder fields down High Cup Gill all the way down to Harbour Flatt and High Cup House.
We then walk on the road for about 1/4ml to the farm track from Keisley House. Just opposite we drop down two fields to join a path called "A Pennine Journey" which we follow and eventually drop into Dufton Ghyll wood. After about 1/4 ml we cross the footbridge go up the steps and exit onto the main street in Dufton.
C Walk - Dufton Circular with Chris Cook
6 miles / 9.7km with ft / m Total Ascent
From Dufton we head for Wood Lane then onto Mill Hill, from there to Esplandhill continuing along Frith Lane Track to Flakebridge.
Entering Flakebridge Wood we make our way to the footbridge. Crossing it we continue to KelseyHouse. We then head up to Bow Hall and from there along the Penine Way back to Dufton.
HAPPY DAYS.
