Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 5pm to 5.30pm.
Distance: About 14 miles (22.5 kilometres).
Ascent: About 2900 feet (884 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous).
Start point: Milburn Green (a great patch of grass full of narrow roads in the middle of the village)
Postcode: CA10 1TW
Car parking: The village green of Milburn (best to park on the outskirts of the green closer to the buildings)
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: It can be said that Cross Fell is perhaps the mightiest mountain in England with its immense views of the Eden Valley, Lake District, Pennines, the west and the east. Large areas of Cumbria, Northumbria, County Durham and North Yorkshire can all be seen. Depending on the lists Cross Fell comes in as the 11th highest mountain in England and is the highest point of the Pennines with a height of 893 meters.
This walk starts at the village closest to Great Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell and Cross Fell, and that village is Milburn. We follow a footpath that is part of the Pennine Journey route and go past Milburn Grange and then pick up the access road to the radar station on Great Dun Fell. From the road it’s a steady ascent to Great Dun Fell.
Eventually the access road cuts through a narrow ravine and once beyond the ravine then the views open as first Upper Teesdale and Upper Tynedale can be seen and then Great Dun Fell (848 meters) makes an appearance. Though we cannot get to the actual top of Great Dun Fell because the radar station is a restricted military area, we can walk around it and once at the northern point of the top then some mighty views can be seen including a direct line of sight of Little Dun Fell and Cross Fell.
We then follow the Pennine Way dipping down and then up to Little Dun Fell (842 meters) and it’s from here that the great width of Cross Fell can be appreciated. The ascent to Cross Fell is gradual but long as the mountain top is a wide plateau. Once at the summit of Cross Fell immense views can be seen all around and the mighty summit cairn has places to sit as well.
For the way down we retrace our steps and go to the crossroads of paths between Cross Fell and Little Dun Fell. We turn right to take the path that goes along Wildboar Scar and continues descending it picks up the Pennines Journey path. Then it’s about a mile and a half on rolling terrain to return to Milburn.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 27 June if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)).
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.