Route: Dufton Pike
Area: Eden Valley
Date of walk: 13th July 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.1 miles
Ascent: 1,200 feet
Weather: Cloudy but plenty of sunny spells, a few spots of rain
Dufton Pike stands at a height of 1,578 feet and seen from the starting point in Dufton appears to be quite a challenge – this route (sourced from ‘Walking in Cumbria’s Eden Valley’ by Vivienne Crow) avoids any difficulties and is an easy but very enjoyable fell walk
I parked in Dufton, in the public car park near the village green, and followed a lane by the side of the old chapel. This eventually emerged onto open fellside and after following an easy bridleway gently uphill I started up the steepish slope of the fell. There were wonderful views all around as I made my way up and I was soon enjoying even better views from the summit
An easy descent down the grassy slopes was followed by a walk along quite muddy lanes and paths back to the start
As with my other Eden Valley walks this year I enjoyed almost complete solitude – just two other local dog walkers in 3 hours. The valley deserves to be better known and if it weren’t for the nearby Lake District it would be, it’s a wonderful area for walking and I can highly recommend it
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk as I join a lane to the left of the methodist chapel
Dufton Pike is ahead, obscured by the tree
Dufton Pike
Looking back over the Eden Valley
Approaching Dufton Pike
Once past this shepherd’s hut I turn right to enter onto open pasture
I follow the wall for a short distance and leave the path near the two trees ahead to start the climb up the fellside
Looking back towards lakeland
Time for some collar work
The Eden Valley and eastern lakeland
Looking back to Dufton and the track I’d followed, right of picture
Another view back, this time towards Murton Pike
Almost there…
View from Dufton Pike looking west
Lakeland fells in the distance
Great Rundale
Looking back towards Murton Pike again
Dufton below
I start to descend the grassy slopes of the fell
Kestrel hunting for prey
Knock Pike
Further progress down the fell is barred here and it’s necessary to zig right for a while and then zag left
It makes for a pleasant diversion along this hidden valley
I turn sharp left at this marker post to walk down the valley
Knock Pike
Looking back
The path contours round the hillside
The Lake District in the distance
I follow the Pennine Way towards Dufton
Dufton Pike - this section of the path is known as Hurning Way
I left the Pennine Way and took an alternative path back into Dufton so that I could walk through the village…
Back in Dufton
A final look across to Dufton Pike at the end of a great walk
Back home, a common green capsid gathering pollen from a dahlia…
…and a red squirrel…
