Melbecks Moor and Gunnerside Gill
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Today’s walk begins 10km west of Reeth in the hamlet of Gunnerside and eschews the higher moors in order to explore a long deep valley formed by tumbling Gunnerside Gill. Again, there’s plenty of fascinating old mining activity, but there are also waterfalls, woodlands and classic views to the traditional houses and walls on the hillsides at Winterings. From the bridge in Gunnerside walk east along the road (B6270) for 250m and fork left up a narrow unfenced lane with a gate. This immediately twists uphill, through a finger of Open Access land. When it bends right, after 700m, fork left on a footpath along the track, through a ford, to the buildings at Potting. Turn right, through a gate, and follow a stream uphill for 100m to meet a track.
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Turn left, pass the buildings at Whin Hall after 250m and continue through the next gate to pass Hugill House. This was originally a row of cottages and at one time a small community of lead miners and their families lived in the scattered community of Winterings, where their earnings could be supplemented with a little income from the land. Two more gates lead through a tight network of walls to large areas of rough pasture. Continue along the grass track for 1km, via two gates, and emerge onto Open Access land at Melbecks Moor
(NY942001). Fork right after 150m, pass above a fine old limekiln and continue ahead for 950m to pass through a gate in the next wall.
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Mining scars have left an austere beauty as the track now zigzags up to the right and a junction of tracks above Friarfold Hush (NY946014). Take the good track, heading north-west. Keep on this track for 1.7km as it contours above the east side of the narrowing valley to a wellmaintained shooting hut. The broad, featureless hill to the west is called Rogan’s Seat.
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Descend into Blakethwaite Gill (initially no path) and pick a route south, alongside the gorge at Eweleap Scar. You may spot old adits, some of which were tunnelled deep into the rock. Cross to the west bank and continue south on a path to the foot of Blind Gill and the ruined arches of a smelt mill. Keep on the west side of the river and join the track climbing south, passing more industrial archaeology, to reach Botcher Gill Gate after 1.4km.
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Go through the gate, look at the nearby waterfalls and continue on the track, with views over the valley, until it bends right after 2.2km. Fork left (look for the cairn) downhill and walk through rough pasture to a gate near the centre of Gunnerside.