My Eden Valley Hiking Holiday in the Northern Pennines Cumbria

Our Eden Valley hiking holiday Northern Pennines in Cumbria was a fabulous time for both myself and my partner. We had three days of great hiking routes and good hiking weather.

Our accommodation was a two bed self-catering cottage in the village of Warcop in The Eden Valley, booked through “Cottages4You”. We actually stayed in “The Old Forge” which used to be the home and workshop of the local blacksmith.

• High Cup/Appleby/High Force - Landranger 91 OS Map - Appleby-in-Westmorland - 1:50,000 Scale
• High Cup/Appleby - Explorer OL19 OS Map - Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley - 1:25,000 Scale
• High Force - Explorer OL31 OS Map - North Pennines - 1:25,000 Scale
• High Cup/Appleby - Cumbria Walking Guides
• High Force - Teesdale Walking Guides

We chose our own day hikes before leaving home from a list of self-guided hiking route descriptions available from “Country Walking” magazine. We also took 1:25,000 OS Maps for the local area with us on the day hiking trips in protective map covers. Although we took a compass we didn’t need to use it. Our schedule for our 3 day hiking trips was:

• Arrival Day 0 – Monday – On our journey north from Birmingham we stopped over at Morecambe Bay for lunch. We arrived about 3pm on Monday afternoon. We settled in to our cottage and then had a walk around the village. On our return we cooked an evening meal, did some planning for the first day of hiking and then relaxed in-front of the TV with a drink.
• Transportation By Car – We drove to the start location of each day hiking trip.
• Hiking Days – After a leisurely breakfast, depending on the distance travelled, we started hiking each day between 10.30 and 11.30. During the evenings we relaxation with a meal and drink, and planned the hiking trip for the following day. After that we watched either a DVD or a film on TV, and maybe some chocolates at hand:
  • Day 1 -Tuesday – High Force Day Hiking – The route was in an anti-clockwise circular direction in the North Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and included a section along the River Tees. Starting at Bowlees we hiked south to the River Tees and then headed west past both Low Force and High Force waterfalls to Bracken Rigg. We then headed east to Holwick Scars before turning north back to Bowlees. The distance was around 7 miles or 11 kilometres.

    This was a moderate day hiking trip and was a great introduction to the Teesdale area. It was along clear, well marked paths, including a solidly surfaced section of The Pennine Way. There was a moderate amount of ascent and one section which has a tendency to be a little boggy. We also visited two lovely waterfalls, Low Force and High Force.

  • Day 2 – Wednesday – Appleby Day Hiking – The route was circular in an anti-clockwise direction south of Appleby-In-Westmorland in Cumbria. Appleby is located in the Eden Valley, which gets its name from the lovely River Eden and borders the Northern Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). After walking south through Appleby we hiked in a south westerly direction across open fields to Hoff Beck stream. We then headed south along the river, crossing it several times until we reach Rutter Force waterfall. After taking several photographs our hiking took us North west along country lane to the village of Great Ormside where we had lunch near St. James Church. We continued hiking in a north westerly direction until we met the beautiful River Eden. We then headed in a northerly direction with the river on our right until we returned to Appleby. The distance was about 8 miles or 13 kilometres with a couple of easy inclines.

    This was a moderate day hike and quite easy, level walking. It was a great introduction to the Eden Valley and the River Eden area. It was along a clear, well marked route, including some country lanes. We hiked through some beautiful riverside scenery and also visited a picturesque waterfall, Rutter Force.

  • Day 3 – Thursday – High Cup Day Hiking – 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.

    We feel 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, sections were not marked so be prepared to choose a route which suits you. It was a super introduction to the Pennine Way and the Northern Pennines. High Cup is a wonderful spectacle which I highly recommend experiencing. Hiking around High Cup provides some fantastic views and photographic opportunities.

Warcop

Warcop is a classic small English village with a shop and post office. It lies in The Eden Valley, Cumbria, between the Lake District and the Northern Pennines by the River Eden. It’s located just off the A66 road and five miles south east of Appleby-In-Westmorland. There is a small village green just by the side of the B6259 road with a war memorial; a Norman Church, The Church of St Columba; a primary school; and a pub. Warcop also has one of the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) largest military training facilities in the UK for training soldiers.

Warcop railway station has been reopened recently as part of the Eden Valley Railway. It enables travel by train to Appleby-in-Westmorland but times and days are limited in 2010 to most Sundays and each Bank Holiday Monday between April and September, and for a whole week in August.

Eden Valley Day Hiking

If you wish to see a more detailed video about the day hiking of each day on this Eden Valley hiking holiday Northern Pennines in Cumbria then follow the appropriate links below:

1. Day 1 – Tue – Circular Day Hiking High Force And Low Force Waterfalls In Teesdale
2. Day 2 – Wed – Circular Day Hiking Appleby To Rutter Force In The Eden Valley
3. Day 3 – Thu – Circular Day Hiking High Cup On The Pennine Way

PS – Do you have any holiday or hiking experience in this area that you would like to share?

Let us know in the comments box below!

About Richard Griffin

Richard owns Hiking Equipment Site and writes about hiking equipment and hiking activities.

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