Stennerskeugh Clouds & Harter Fell
1
SD698969 Cross the footbridge by the Cross Keys Inn and turn right to cross the ford in the valley below the farm at Narthwaite. Follow the track up to the farmyard, go through the gate next to the house and continue gradually downhill on a good track for 450m. Take the gate on the left and walk across the field to a gate at a small ford. Go across, fork right through another gate and follow a series of stiles through trees and fields to a footbridge over the River Rawthey and a stile by the A683.
2
SD713978 Turn right and take the narrow lane on the left which climbs steeply towards a number of farms on the edge of Open Access land. The OS map names this area Foggy Hill! After 1.3km you’ll come to a junction with a lane on the right and a bridleway on the left. Leave the tarmac here and head east across the pathless moor, where swallow holes hint at the unexpected limestone scenery which lies ahead. Walk uphill for 1km, past a walled enclosure on the left, and veer north-east (roughly along the line of the 400m contour). Continue for 1km and cross a small ravine (SD737991) where a track also rises onto the hillside.
3
SD736991
The surprising limestone outcrops known as Fell End Clouds and Stennerskeugh Clouds now appear in front of you and it’s easy to spend an hour or two exploring the clints and grykes. One huge terrace of bare jagged rock, capped with cairns, overlooks a shallow valley with a ruined house amidst a collection of small walled fields. Climb to the upper tiers of limestone and continue north-east for 1.5km until the outcrops begin to subside. Look for a clump of larch trees on the left and descend north to a gate.
4
NY744012 Go through the gate and walk down the walled track to meet a lane. Turn left, next to a large property known as the Street, and after a bend to the right proceed north across Cote Moor to the A683. Turn right for 150m and take the narrow lane on the left.
5
NY735021 Fork left, 100m before the house at Lockholme Head, to cross a small ford and follow a rough track to pass through a gate in a fence. Turn left (now in an area of recent tree planting) and go right alongside the next wall. Hop over the next fence and continue uphill over rough damp moorland to the broad summit of Harter Fell. Continue south for 300m, turn right for 400m and descend steep grass slopes to a farm track. Turn left, take the right fork and walk down to the farm at Murthwaite.
6
SD714985 Turn right through a couple of gates before the buildings and take the bridleway leading south-west, with a wall on the left. Continue down through a wood, cross the ford and now re-trace your steps back to the Cross Keys Inn.