These are just a few of the local walks. Click on any of the maps below and this will open up google maps, which will show you the directions from Low Ploughlands and the route of the walk. Alternatively you can borrow any of our Explorer maps that we have in our accomodation for you to use. Enjoy exploring!
Warcop Bridge or Sandford
This walk can be a quick circular walk via the bridge or a longer walk with the reward of a drink at the pub the Sandford Arms (Please ring ahead to check if it is open. There are seasonal changes to opening times. Tel: 017683 51121). Our children love taking their fishing nets down to Warcop Bridge to see what they can find and throwing stones into the water.
Brough Castle
Follow the Pennine Journey from the end of Ploughlands Lane past Great Musgrave to Brough Castle and reward yourself with an ice-cream. (Also seasonal opening times, usually open from March – October Tel: 017683 41219)
Beckfoot
This walk has been a great hit with my children as they enjoy throwing sticks into the river, paddling and exploring down the narrow lane. In springtime there is always a lot of wading birds settling in the fields along with plenty of wildflowers along the edges of the footpath. It is also a Public Byway so you can take your bikes. The children and I like to do a cicular route from Low Ploughlands with our bikes and come back along the little lane from Soulby.
Sunbiggin Tarn Pastures and Great Asby Scar
Parking at Sunbiggin Tarn Pastures you can enjoy the wildfowers in the summer, watch the numerous birdlife on the tarn. Last year I even heard a Snipe drumming in July, a strange and errie sound. You can also walk acorss Little Asby common and up to the limestone pavements on Great Asby Scar. Here you can take in views of the Howgills and the tarn below. We love searching for fossils in the limestone.
Smardale Viaduct Walk
There is a car park created by Cumbria Wildlife Trust with information boards and sometimes there are tours as well. The footpath is well made and easy to push a pram along, until you have reached the viaduct that you walk over. (Currently the Viaduct is closed, so you will have to follow the footpath diversion). After this the footpath is more rugged and a typical fell walk. The viaducts are impressive and the walk takes you through a steep sided valley which is managed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. There is the ocassional Red Squirrel and it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the Scotch Argus Butterfly.
Stenkrith River Walk
This walk you can start from Franks Bridge or Stenkrith, I often only do part with my children purely because they get distracted throwing stones into the water and building dams etc.
Nine Standards Rigg
A walk to be done on a fine day, not in low cloud. Drive through Hartley Village and up past the quarry to the end of the metalled road. Park here and walk up the track the path is well sign posted as it is part of the Coast to Coast Route and is approximately 4.5 miles. I have walked with my children from the age of 4 but it does take several hours with little legs. The views on a good day are amazing you can see to the hills in Scotland, across the Solway Firth, and across to the Lake District.
High Cup Nick
A 9 mile circular walk up a beautiful U shaped glacial valley just above Appleby. Park in the village of Dufton and follow the signs for the Pennine Way. The route down through the centre of the valley is very steep. You can take an alternative route to Murton Pike which has a slower descent but is a longer walk.
The Source of the River Eden/ Hell Gill
This walk is in the heart of the Mallerstang Valley and on the trail of Lady Anne Clifford who owned the castles of Skipton, Pendragon, Appleby, Brough and Brougham. More info on Lady-Anne Clifford
The first part of the walk is up a well made track if you are with young children I advise you to reach the source of the Eden and return as the path is more tricky on the lower round trip. There is a large stone called the “The Water Cut” marking the source which stands looking down the valley to Krikby Stephen and beyond. If you venture further you will reach Helgill where legend has it that Dick Turpin lept over on his horse Black Bess to escape the law.
Below Helgill is Helgill force which is an impressive waterfall.
Murton Pike
Murton Pike is a great walk if you want to climb quickly and get the views of the Eden Valley. An easy walk mostly up a track until the last few hundred metres at the top. There is a good car park along with information boards at Murton.
