Walking in Cumbria's Eden Valley
30 walks between the Yorkshire Dales and the Solway salt marshes
Walking in Cumbria's Eden Valley
30 walks between the Yorkshire Dales and the Solway salt marshes
Guidebook to 30 graded walks in Cumbria's Eden Valley. The routes, which range from 3 to 15 miles and are best from bases such as Kirkby Stephen and Appleby, explore the region's diverse landscapes and offer dramatic views, either of the Pennines, Lake District or the Scottish hills. Linear routes link with the Settle-Carlisle railway.A guidebook to 30 day walks in Cumbria’s Eden Valley. Exploring the varied landscapes between the Eden’s source in the upland Yorkshire Dales and its mouth at the Solway salt marshes, there are walks suitable for all abilities that can be enjoyed year-round.
The walks are circular, except for two linear routes that follow the line of the Settle–Carlisle railway, range from 6–20km (4–12 miles) in length and take between 3 and 8 hours to complete. They are ordered from south to north, going with the flow of the River Eden.
- 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
- GPX files available to download
- Detailed information on terrain, refreshments and public transport for each walk
- Local points of interest are featured including Pendragon Castle, Smardale Gill, Cross Fell
- Easy access from Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Penrith and Carlisle
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852849016
Availability
Published
Published
16 Oct 2018
Edition
Second
Pages
184
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm
Weight
210g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
CONTENTS
Map key
Overview map
Introduction
The Eden Valley
Geology
Wildlife and habitats
History
Weather
Where to stay
Getting around
Waymarking and access
Dogs
Maps
Clothing, equipment and safety
Using this guide
Walks
Walk 1 Wild Boar Fell
Walk 2 Mallerstang Edge and High Seat
Walk 3 Nine Standards
Walk 4 Smardale Fell and Ash Fell Edge
Walk 5 Crosby Garrett Fell and Smardale Gill
Walk 6 The Infant Eden and Pendragon Castle
Walk 7 Kirkby Stephen to Appleby
Walk 8 Great Asby Scar
Walk 9 Potts Valley and the Orton Fells
Walk 10 Crosby Ravensworth Fell
Walk 11 Knipescar Common and River Lowther
Walk 12 River Lyvennet at King’s Meaburn
Walk 13 Rutter Force and Hoff Beck
Walk 14 High Cup and Scordale
Walk 15 Murton Pike
Walk 16 Flakebridge Wood and Dufton Ghyll
Walk 17 Dufton Pike
Walk 18 High Cup via Great Rundale
Walk 19 Cross Fell
Walk 20 Long Meg and Her Daughters
Walk 21 Melmerby Fell
Walk 22 Kirkoswald and Raven Beck
Walk 23 Armathwaite and Coombs Wood
Walk 24 Croglin and Newbiggin
Walk 25 Wetheral
Walk 26 Talkin Fell and Simmerson Hill
Walk 27 Talkin Tarn and the Gelt
Walk 28 Quarry Beck and Ridgewood
Walk 29 Burgh Marsh
Walk 30 Campfield Marsh and Bowness Common
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Seasons
All year round - each season holds its own delights - but walkers should be prepared for the possibility of snow on the hills in winter.
Centres
Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Crosby Ravensworth, Dufton, Penrith, Kirkoswald, Armathwaite, Brampton, Carlisle.
Difficulty
Terrain includes pathless moorland, which can be boggy in places, farmland and good riverside tracks and trails. Routes from 6-24km, graded 1-5. Navigational competence and stamina is required for some of the higher routes. No scrambling involved.
Must See
Cross Fell, the highest point on the Pennines; breath-taking High Cup; the ruins of Pendragon Castle; limestone pavement within the extended Yorkshire Dales National Park; a disused railway and imposing viaduct in Smardale Gill; prehistoric settlements; delightful red sandstone villages; pretty wooded gorges; and one of the largest and most atmospheric stone circles in England.
September 2023
Walk 29 (Burgh Marsh)
Much of this route is currently closed while repairs are carried out to unsafe bridges.
Much of this route is currently closed while repairs are carried out to unsafe bridges.
September 2022
Walk 15 (Murton Pike)
A reader has informed us that all but one of the waymarker posts mentioned in the Murton Pike walk no longer exist. That means that, without any paths on the ground, navigation will be difficult, particularly in poor visibility.
Walkers who still wish to do this route and who are competent with a map and compass on rough, pathless ground, should follow the path (later a faint trail) up Trundale Gill for 1.3km from the point at which it is first encountered in the fifth paragraph of the walk description. At the 1.3km mark, climb out of the gill, to the right. When the gradient eases, head SW across the rough, boggy moorland for 750m to reach the trig pillar on Murton Pike.
January 2022
Walk 5
Walk 5 (Crosby Garrett Fell and Smardale Gill):
The car park for walk 5, as listed in the book, is now intended for Blue Badge holders only. Those wanting to complete the walk should start from Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s new, larger Smardale car park. This is located about 230 metres north-east of the junction of Beck Lane and School Lane (grid reference NY 742 083).
With the new start/end point, there are some changes to the walk description…
Readers should ignore the first sentence of the walk description on page 48 in the book. The route now begins: 'Walk to the far end of the car park and through the gate. After following the trackbed of the disused railway, climb the walkway to a road junction. Turn right here (but not sharp right).” Readers then pick up the walk description in the book from, “Cross the footbridge over Scandal Beck…'
The end of the walk is also slightly different. Readers should ignore the final sentence on page 52 in the book. It needs to be replaced with the following: 'The railway path ends 2.9km after you first joined it. Beyond the gate at its far end, bear left along the rough track and then turn right at the road. Having walked the asphalt for 115m, you’ll see a road going off to the left. Go through the gate to the right of this junction and retrace your steps to the car park.'
Walkers should also be aware that the railway path south of the viaduct is closed Monday to Friday while improvement work takes place. For the latest information on this closure, go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/smardal
July 2020
Route update
Walk 8 (P67) (First edition only)
There isn't a phone box in the village of Maulds Meaburn. Text should now read: 'From the village information point, walk south along the road...'
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