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Walking in Cumbria's Eden Valley

30 walks between the Yorkshire Dales and the Solway salt marshes

ISBN

9781852849016

Availability

Published

16 Oct 2018

Edition

Second

Pages

184

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm

Weight

210g

Delivery & Returns

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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.

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.

ISBN

9781852849016

Availability

Published

16 Oct 2018

Edition

Second

Pages

184

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm

Weight

210g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

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

Table of Contents

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

Updates

September 2023

Walk 29 (Burgh Marsh)

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...'

Downloads

Walking in Cumbria's Eden Valley - GPX File

By Vivienne Crow

Vivienne is an award-winning outdoor writer and photographer. A journalist since 1990, she went freelance in 2002, focussing her energies on the activities she loves most - hiking, writing, travel and photography. Based in north Cumbria since 1996, she has written more than 20 popular walking guidebooks. Her words and images also regularly appear on the pages of national and regional magazines. Vivienne is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.

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