The Great Outdoors - UK (2021-08)

Always take a mapand compass with you. ©Crown copyright 2021 Ordnance Survey. Media 051 / 19

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Start/Finish

Garrigill

GR: NY 745416

From village green head NE over

Garrigill Bridge. Path climbs SE

to Pasture Houses then contours

SSE through field. Path goes SW

then S to Windshaw Bridge.

(^2) 
Follow River South Tyne SE
to Ashgill, then climb ENE,
crossing beck via footbridge to
reach Ashgill Force. Zigzag,
climbing SW then E to road.

3

Take B 6277 NW for 25 0m.

Indistinct path climbs

FlintyFell

North Pennines ENGLAND

14 km/ 8. 7 miles/ 4 - 5 hours

Ascent 465 m/ 1525 ft

AN EARLY RISE full of

enthusiasm was soon

dampened by an influx of

gloomycloud, carried on a

keen wind and threatening

a downpour.Welowered

expectations and chose

a route to get us in andout

of the hillsquickly,but

nonetheless found

astonishing gems in a

forgotten landscape.

Wele Garrigill,crossing

flower-rich hay meadows,

where brown smudges of

rabbits shrank into the feast.

Grey cloud flamed along

margins as wejoined the

River South Tyne, following

it upstream towards Ashgill.

It flows through shadowy

chasms so deep that only the

growling water churning

NE then contours E above

Ashburnside Plantation to

a stone hut. Climb NE to reach

the last of the walls at 5 80m

near Flinty Quarry. Divert NNW

to reach summit and return

SE to path at the track.

(^4) 
Track ENE to Old Carr’s
Burn, then follow stream
as it turns NW to Nenthead.
(^5) 
Follow road SW, crossing
River Nent, then NW to
junction. Road climbs W to first
corner. Follow indistinct path
WNW, climbing above village
and turning WSW, passing
through plantation to join
second path. Continue SW over
Black Moss and drop to
Bentyfield Mine from where path
follows beck W to B6277.
(^6) 
Take road W for 2 00m
then track SW to Shieldhill.
Path dropsSE to beck in trees,
then climbs W alongside fence
to gate then S to lane. Follow
lane W for 2 5m then path SE to
Loaning Head. Follow track
WSW to Garrigill.
Gradient profileMetres above sea level
Ian Battersby
explores gorges,
waterfalls
and mines
August 2021 The Great Outdoors 89