1 Cumbria
MOORLAND & LIMESTONE SCENERY
A high circuit on the far eastern edge of Cumbria, where steep moorland rolls down to bands of unexpected limestone.
Wild Boar Fell stands like a barrier between the rolling Howgills and the wild moors above the Yorkshire Dales. It always sounds a little special and this exhilarating walk takes in the full extent of its high plateau and long escarpment edges, finishing very close to the Fat Lamb Country Inn.
Seen from the south, the broad summit could almost be mistaken for Ingleborough, but from the north a prominent ‘nose’, known as The Nab, looks like the sort of pointy peak a child would draw at primary school. Up here, many decades ago, a row of tall cairns was erected above the deep gulch of the Mallerstang valley. No-one seems to know who built them but, as dusk descends, they might easily be mistaken for a group of shepherds or a stand of soldiers.
The descent via Sand Tarn leads down to great sweeps and swirls of limestone pavement. You might have left the top but, even if it’s bright sunshine, you’ll still be metaphorically stuck in the mist since these outcrops are curiously named Fell End Clouds and Skennerskeugh Clouds.
1 NY739018 From the north end of Cote Moor by the A683 (off-road parking available here), take the track leading south to meet a narrow open lane. This turns left by the gates at The Street – continue for 300m and turn sharp right up a walled track. Go through a gate after 400m to reach Open Access land and keep ahead on the well-maintained track (part of the Pennine Bridleway) to contour south-east over the moor. Cross the ford over Hashy Gill and keep on to cross the bridge over Scandal Beck. Proceed through a couple of gates at the wall, soon after followed by another ford at Long Gill. Continue to the gate in the wall at High Dolphinsty – surely one of our strangest hill names!
2 NY765000 Leave the bridleway and turn right up the edge of a long spur to a high promontory known as The Nab, with rough screes called Scriddles on the left. This marks the start of the summit plateau with excellent views into the long lonely valley of Mallerstang. Continue south along the edge, above Blackbed Scar, pass a stone shelter and cross a stile in a fence to arrive at the cluster of tall cairns.
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