The North Pennines

Our challenge with Uncle Bob to visit all the fell tops in the Yorkshire Dales was more or less completed by the latter part of 2009. So we had to put our thinking caps on to devise a new challenge. With Dad living in Morecambe Bay and Uncle Bob in South Yorkshire, we thought where better than the Pennines that form the backbone of England. So the challenge to climb all the fells in the North Pennines has been born. Thanks to Go4awalk.com and Wikepedia we have devised a list of 87 tops, but who knows more may be discovered and the list may lengthen over time. Some of these will involve considerable drives, so we do not know how long it will take or on fact if this challenge will ultimately be completed. We will just have to wait and see.

Currently the individual climbed status of each member is :-

Last updates - 23rd May 2010 - Islington Hill, Eggleston Common, Eggleston Moor (Carrs Top) & Sharnberry Gill

We were overjoyed when Dad told us that he had arranged to walk with Uncle Bob, and that we were going to the wild North Pennines to undertake another foray into an area we had never visited before. It was an unusually hot day for the time of year but there was a nice cooling breeze. At one point a shower passed over so Dad and Uncle Bob put their coats on. No sooner had they done this though, when the sun came out again. Our start point was the rough parking area beside the road from Eggleston to Stanhope at the entrance to Sharnberry Gill. The whole area that we were to walk are grouse moors and there was much evidence of this from the feeding trays to the stone tracks that lead to the shooting huts and the butts. We took the track climbing to the right soon leaving this to follow the butts, then over rough heathery terrain to reach the unmarked flat summit of Islington Hill. In fact the majority of the walk was to be on trackless moor, which was hard going at times through the rather tall heather and rough grass. We do not think that this area is much frequented, and in fact we saw no other people all day except for some cyclists distantly in Hamsterley Forest. Headed south from Islington Hill to reach another "road" but struck left to the spot height of 488m as per the OS map. This is the highest point (by the OS map, although we have seen on another map this is shown as 485m). This point is on Eggleston Common, but the actual top (485m) is on the ridge to the south beyond the shooting hut. It is rather more outstanding but is again a flat top. We had to again sit on ground for our picture but Dad put the flag out, to add colour. Walked on down to the fence, which Dad climbed before we realised that all we had to do was walk along to the corner, so he had to climb back there. From here we continued down to cross the bridleway (another grouse shoot track) and then over very rough terrain - tough walking, to gain the trig point at Grey Carrs, that marks the summit of Eggleston Moor. Finally a definite top! Stopped here for lunch. Then Uncle Bob and Dad had some fun taking pictures of each other holding the flag by the trig point - what are they like!! We were reluctant to leave but there was still some way to go, so we jumped back into the rucksack and and set off again. Headed down, north, over similar ground find the bridleway. However we got a little too far far east, and followed the track erroneously to the shooting hut. So it was more rough walking for a little way to finally pick up the correct path, and then at the fork we went left and so to the edge of Hamsterly Forest. We did not enter, but instead walked the 2 miles or so north along side it to come finally to Sharnberry Gill. There was not a real path but the terrain was rather easier going on this section. A rather steep and precarious descent brought us to the wide stoney track in the gill. Good walking on the final section through this charming valley. Now quiet, it would once have been a hive of industry for mining long ago. The track is another now used in connection with grouse shooting. It was a good walk and work out over the 11m. Goodbyes were said, then it was an easy journey home. Dad stopped at the Coast to Coast chip shop in Kirkby Stephen for a take away tea.

4th April 2010 - Monks Moor & Hudes Hope Valley from Middleton in Teesdale

Walking with Uncle Bob, starting from Middleton in Teesdale. A dry day, but the wind was cold and on the tops it felt more like February than April. Our route was east along the main street, then taking the signed path on the left climbed a bank up to a stile. Beyond we crossed a pasture then walked right though some farm buildings and on the track that led to the buildings of Stanhope Gate. Along the road then left up the track to Spring Hill and over more muddy pastures to a minor road. A few yards right, then took the track opposite over more muddy fields, to leave the main footpath and follow a route over open fell. The ground was now rough with tussocky grass heather and bog - just the kind of terrain Dad and Uncle Bob are used too. This finally led to the trig point at 521m. Not the summit, but nevertheless we sat on top for our picture. The views were opening out and we could see distantly Grassholme Reservoir that we had walked from last time. Now continued roughly north to gain the summit of Monks Moor, marked by a huge cairn. There are huge boulders too and it looked like a giant had been throwing them about. Very lonely and desolate-likely to be our only visit. Setting off again, walked west and descended to cross a fence and down to a narrow road at Hudes Hope. Here it was right around the sharp bend and down to a signed path near Hudes Hope Beck. Reaching a wall we could not see a stile but crossing it was a right of way so we climbed over heading on south, soon joining a good grassy track. All around were spoil heaps and the remains of lead mines from long ago. We also saw the entrance to one level. The low wall remains of buildings provided a spot to sit for lunch. We were ready too, as by now it was 14.00 and we had not eaten since early morning. Then continued to pass a long abandoned quarry that we deviated to walk through. Finally the path descended to a forest road where we took a sign path left up through the woods on the edge of Snaisgill Plantation to the narrow road at Snaisgill. Rounding a bend it was left on a footpath that climbed up crossing a number of large stone step stiles - these did nothing to ease the pain in Dad's knees. We felt very sorry for him. This led to the narrow road we had crossed this morning, where we descended to Stanhope Gate taking the path through a gated tunnel to rejoin our outward route and so to Middleton. An enjoyable walk, on completely new ground for us all. While we sat in the car for our picnic Dad and Uncle Bob went to the nearby Conduit Cafe, where we had tea and delicious scones with butter and jam.

Grizzly & Shaun.

For all updates from 2010 see - Grizzly & Shaun' blog

back