Walks ending at Barbon 24th November 2024
The A walk will be led by Alex and is approximately 9 miles and 2000 feet.
The 'A' walk is a horseshoe of Middleton Fell traversing Calf top, the highest point of the walk at 2000ft, and other fell summits along the way. Weather permitting there will be fabulous views once we are high enough. Starting at Low Waterside we will take a gentle stroll along the bank of the Lune for a mile or so, before taking a steep lane up to the open fell side. From here there is a steady climb for about an hour or so, but the paths are very good firm grassy tracks and there are no stiles at all on the whole of today's walk. Reaching Brown Knott we have good views of Sedbergh and Dentdale. From here the route to Calf Top is undulating. Again, the views are amazing. Our decent from Calf Top to Barbon via Castle Knott, has some steep sections though an easier descent is optional. From the foot of the fell it is an easy level walk through Barbon Park and into the village.
The B walk will be led by Lesley. Approximately 8 – 9 miles and 650 – 700 feet.
This will be a circular starting at Hodge Bridge, through Barbon, then to the village Hall, up over the old railway cutting, across fields passing Whelprigg and onto Fell Garth. Here we take the road up to Tuplot Wood and Fellfoot Road (a good track), passing where there is a memorial plaque to Gill Gale (a much loved walk leader). Continue on to Bindloss Farm, down into Casterton where we head back to Barbon via The Grange, Gildard Hill (round it NOT over it!), Lowfields Lane, Beckfoot Farm, and Hodge Bridge. You can choose to finish there and rest on the coach or walk into the village & have a drink at the Barbon Inn. There are some good paths & no doubt we will encounter some mud but not as much as my original planned walk to Hoggs Hill!
The C walk will be led by Jeff. Approximately 5 ½ miles and 450 – 500 feet.
The C walkers will be first off the coach. We start at Devils Bridge and take Chaplehouse Lane into High Casterton, then onto Laithe Lane passing Cragg House Farm before taking the track alongside Casterton golf course to lower Casterton. We turn left walking with care along a 200 yard stretch of busy road for 200yds. Crossing fields to Casterton Hall, we follow a track alongside mature woodland and pastureland, alongside Gildard Hill, passing Lowfield woods to Lowfield Lane which takes us to Low Beckfoot and Beckfoot Farm. At the farm we turn take High Beckfoot track before turning right and climbing alongside Holmes Hill and entering Kirkby Lonsdale golf course. We return to Barbon alongside Barbon Beck. There are 5 step stiles. The rest are wicket gates. The terrain is lanes, woodland, pasture and track.
