Melmerby Fell North Pennines ENGLAND
and elegant willow warblers miraculously back from Africa.
After crossing the A686 you can wander at will over the open access land, but there is a recommended route posted to help adventurers through the cross walls, and we followed that. We climbed the upper slopes of Fiend’s Fell, while being harried by concerned curlews; both wind and sun strengthened, disturbing the sombre shroud, which cleared to deliver a magnificent panorama of distant Lakeland tops, with Blencathra, Helvellyn and Fairfield easily identifiable.
From Fiend’s Fell the ridge top is broad and grassy, with few distinctive features, save for a few areas where underlying gritstone is exposed, scarring the tops. Grouse were rearing their young in swathes of short heather, and our approach sent them panicking into cover.
The wind continued to build, with a notable chill, so we kept up the pace, climbing beneath ascending skylark refrains.
It’s worth detouring to Melmerby High Scar, which collapses over grey gritstone to reveal ridges rolling into the vale, dark green set against bright emerald. We reached the large cairn at Dun Edge, the summit of Melmerby
Fell, which offered up profiles of Cross Fell further along the ridge, and more distant Howgills and Wild Boar Fell. Time for coffee and cake.
Rested and refuelled, we dropped to the bridleway that follows the Maiden Way along the course of an old Roman road. The ridges that undulate down from Melmerby Fell are an alluring temptation, and it is possible to divert from the bridleway, following the track through Windy Gap, passing Sharp Shears, and following Spoutgill Sike past Fellside Farm to the public footpath.
Every gate is unlocked, but as the final section lies outside the access area, strictly speaking you risk being turned back; yet it’s difficult to imagine that this lovely ridge is never visited by walkers.
I’m sure considerate walkers are accepted, and the gates left unlocked for this reason. The information panel gives the alternative right of way, which remains fabulous if you don’t know what you’re missing.
Both routes took us back along paths that weave between fertile meadows of sylvan foothills, flooded with the chatter of lowland birds.
Lakeland fells from Knapside Hill; Looking over Cuns Fell to Blencathra; Knock Pike, Dufton Pike and Murton Pike from Windy Gap
Further information
Maps: OS 1:25,000 Explorer sheet OL31 (North Pennines, Teesdale & Weardale)
Transport: Not enough buses to be practical
Information: Penrith TIC (01768 867466),
1
Start/Finish
Off-road parking at the end of the lane beyond Swineside
GR: NY327326
From the north side of the bridge
over Grainsgill Beck head N up
pathless terrain beside Poddy Gill.
From the top of the ghyll head NE
to Iron Crags and continue to the
top of Carrock Fell.
Follow the broad ridge W by
Round Knott and Miton Hill
to a col at Red Gate.
3
Continue just N of W to
where the track coming
down off High Pike is reached.
Turn north, and leave the main
track to climb over grass to the
summit of High Pike.
Return S to the main track
and follow it SW over Hare
Stones to the Lingy Hut bothy.
From the bothy continue SW
on the Cumbria Way, into
the head of Grainsgill Beck, then
SW up onto the east ridge of
Knott. Turn W and follow the ridge
to the summit of Knott.
Walk SW down to the col
at 548m, then uphill in the
same direction to the flat area on
the north ridge of Calva. Due S
will lead you to the summit ridge
and the boundary. Follow it SE to
the summit of Great Calva.
A fenceline runs E down
from the summit. Follow
this to cross Wiley Gill at a bridge.
Pick up the Cumbria Way
going NE and follow it back
to the start.