Cross Fell
1NY636313 This walk begins in Blencarn, a pleasant village five miles north of Dufton, where a long village green (with parking) points the way towards the houses at Kirkland and the start of a glorious track which runs along the foot of the steep escarpment. Follow the narrow lane north then north-west from Blencarn, past a fishing lake on the right, and keep ahead on a track as the lane bends left by a prominent chapel. Walk past Glebe Farm on the left and Kirkland Hall on the right and continue as the track contours on a terrace above Kirkland Beck. Pass through a gate onto the edge of open moorland.
2NY653326 Follow the track over a stream, go through the next gate and walk ahead for 500m to the next wall with a gate. The rough track, soon turning into a broad path, now starts to climb gently towards a spur called Plylier’s Gap and swings north-east, then east to ascend the steeper slopes alongside Gregory’s Sike and Ranscleugh Sike. Pass the remains of old mining activity and keep east over high ground, with bands of shake holes and thick tussocky grass. The trail climbs to crest the north side of Cross Fell by a spring marked on the map as Iron Well
After another 650m the Pennine Way joins from the south, but it is worth walking ahead for a further 800m to visit the iconic bothy, Greg’s Hut. This isolated A tall cairn on the eastern side of Cross Fell. From here the radar station on Great Dun Fell can be seen. former miner’s accommodation has two rooms with a stove and sleeping platform – it’s a great place to spread out the map and enjoy your lunch. 3NY691354 You can now return to the Pennine Way junction or, for a wilder ascent, head south, just west of Stonyband Hill, to The Screes. This steep slope is scattered with shattered rock but a short climb leads to the large flat top of Cross Fell. The large cross-shaped summit shelter was carefully rebuilt in 2014 and once again provides a sanctuary for walkers, including respite from the infamous Helm Wind – the only wind in the UK to have its own name. Leave the summit in an east-south-east direction by following the Pennine Way to the edge of the stony plateau, passing a couple of tall cairns. Descend the steeper slope down towards Crowdundle Head, with the ‘golf-ball’ radar station on Great Dun Fell further along the ridge. Tees Head lies to the north of the path and a great bowl of wet moorland feeds the infant river.
4NY696339 Turn right before the col and follow the bridleway south-west for 2.4km, past cairns at Sturba Nook, to the top of Wildboar Scar. The route turns left, initially over rocky terrain, and angles downhill to merge into a grassy track which descends to the stream in Littledale. Keep south-west, on higher ground, to walk along the top of Grumply Hill and carry on west to join a track which crosses the beck and meets a couple of gates by old sheep pens.
5NY659316 Keep on the track along a narrow finger of Open Access land, pass the house at Wythwaite on the right, and continue for another 2km - over Cringle Moor, Stubmire Moor and rough pasture known as The Rigg – to a gate leading onto the east end of Blencarn village green.