High Cup Circular Day Hiking on the Pennine Way Cumbria England

July 13, 2010

High Cup Circular Day Hiking The Pennine Way Cumbria England UK

This High Cup Circular Day Hiking The Pennine Way was the third day hiking trip I undertook with and my partner Anne during our Eden Valley hiking holiday in Cumbria.

If you cannot see video, click link to watch on YouTube –> High Cup Day Walk

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Route Description

The route was circular in a clockwise direction east of Dufton in Cumbria. Dufton is a small village located east of Penrith and north of Appleby-In-Westmorland in the Eden Valley, and next to the Northern Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We started east of Dufton, hiking uphill along a farm track which was also part of the Pennine Way. We then hiked north east along the path that follows the northern crags of High Cup.

When we reached High Cup Nick, the rock formation at the start of the valley, we ate our lunch and admired the views, and took lots of photographs. After lunch we headed south west along the southern crags of High Cup. When we reached the tip of the flat-topped escarpment we descended in a north westerly direction into High Cup Gill, the valley, and crossed the beck. We then hiked back up the other side where we rejoined the Pennine Way track back to the start. The distance was about 7.5 miles or 12 kilometres with a steep descent and ascent.

To sum up, this was a moderate day hike over a good stony track, a grassy path section, some pathless sections, and a short steep ascent and descent. Most of the route was clear and well marked. However, on approaching the northern crags of High Cup, there is the chance that you could stray off the path and hike too low below the crags. In this situation, you may have to do as we did and retrace your route and find a suitable route up to the path above the crags. On the return leg it was unclear where best to cross the valley so you will need to be prepared to find a route across which suits you. It was a super introduction to the Pennine Way and the Northern Pennines. High Cup is a wonderful spectacle and I highly recommend experiencing High Cup Circular Day Hiking The Pennine Way. Hiking around High Cup provides some fantastic views and photographic opportunities.

High Cup Circular Day Hiking Local Information

Cumbria

Cumbria is a county within the North West of England. To the north of Cumbria sits Scotland and on its eastern boundary is County Durham and Northumberland. Within the south east sits North Yorkshire and along the southern edge is Lancashire. Last but not least, to the west of Cumbria is the Irish Sea. Within Cumbria you’ll discover the Lake District and also the Lake District National Park. Various men and women consider “The Lakes” as one of the most spectacular areas of England. In truth, Cumbria is considered an inspiration to numerous artists, writers and musicians. There are mountains covering quite a lot of Cumbria, the tallest being Scafell Pike, as well the highest in England at 978 metres, or 3210 feet. In actuality, Cumbria has all mountains within England above 900 metres, or 3,000 feet above sea level.

Northern Pennines

The Northern Pennines is situated within North England, is the second biggest AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), after the Cotswolds, having a distinctive breathtaking landscape of higher moorland and broad upland dales. You will find also some fascinating reminders of the mining and industrial past, as well as some distinctive birds, animals and plants. It borders the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the South and extends to the Tyne Valley within the North. On its west border it follows the Pennine Escarpment, whilst within the east it fuses into West Durham. It’s the third biggest National Park after the English Lake District and also the Welsh Snowdonia Nationwide Parks. It’s also been made a European and Worldwide Geopark.

Pennine Way

The Pennine Way is a National Trail in England and is 429 kilometres, or 267 miles in length. It starts at Edale, in the northern Derbyshire Peak District, going north and passing through the Yorkshire Dales and also the Northumberland National Park. The path completes its journey Kirk Yetholm, just within Scotland’s border. The route also passes along the Pennine hills, also know as the “backbone of England”.

Great Whin Sill

The Great Whin Sill, is a sheet-like deposit of igneous rock, a basaltic rock called dolerite, which was created about 295 million years in the past. It’s an enormous sheet of rock, up to 70 metres thick, that as a result of wearing away, today sticks out from the ground in the form of magnificent cliffs and waterfalls. It’s one of the main natural features of the north east of England, located partly in the North Pennines AONB of County Durham and also inside of the Northumberland National Park. High Force waterfall in Teesdale is probably the best and easiest location to view the Sill.

High Cup Gill & High Cup Nick

High Cup Gill is a valley with a typical U-shape formed by glaciers. It can be found high up on the western side of the North Pennines and runs in a south westerly direction. High Cup Nick is a spectacular geological rock formation at the top of High Cup Gill; is part of the famous Great Whin Sill; and is one of the most remarkable landforms in England. The Pennine Way also runs along its northern edge

Dufton

Dufton is a pretty little village located within the Eden Valley in Cumbria. It lies on the Pennine Way and the Cumbria Cycle Way, nestling below the slopes of Great Dun Fell. It’s an ancient community with written village records dating back as far as the 1320′s. At around 180 metres above sea level, Dufton is 12 miles east of Penrith and 3 miles north of Appleby-In-Westmorland. The village has a rectangular shaped green in the centre with an avenue of lime trees passing diagonally across it and a fountain as a major feature. At the northern end lies the Stag Inn which serves food and real ales and has a self-catering holiday cottage. Also in the village is Dufton Hall which is now a bed and breakfast establishment and some Youth Hostel Association (YHA) accommodation. Around about half a mile out of Dufton is the Church of St Cuthbert.

Dufton Pike

Dufton Pike is a relatively small conical shaped hill in the Northern Pennines, Cumbria. It lies just north east of Dufton and is classified as a Marilyn. A Marilyn is a hill or mountain within the British Isles, with a relative height compared to the land immediate surroundings it, of at least 150 metres, or 492 feet.

I did this hike with my partner Anne whilst on an Eden Valley hiking holiday in Cumbria, England, during June 2010. We drove from our holiday accommodation in the village of Warcop in The Eden Valley to the starting location which was by the side of a farm track east of Dufton.