Nabbing Nuttalls in the North Pennines

I almost didn't come over to the Pennines today, the reports said Hartside Pass was barely passable last night which was key for access to todays hills. I set off with a plan B, but could see as I approached Penrith on the M6 that the road wouldn't be so bad. There was a bit on the road both sides of the pass....just adds to the fun!
Over into Tynedale and Alston, then through Nenthead and over to the isolated settlement of Coalcleugh where I parked for the first hill.

The cloud was down as I parked at Coalcleugh...perhaps Coldcleugh today! The first hill would be The Dodd, this was the easiest way up todayI thought. I knew there was a fairly obvious bridleway up to the broad ridge.

Sure enough it was actually made clearer with the scattering of snow. The gate is just coming into view. Last time I was hereabouts I was on the mountain bike in summer 2015. A report of that day can be found here  looks a bit different!

I followed the wall Northwards eventually arriving on the edge of the summit plateau, and coming across this unusual ruinous structure...probably something to do with the mines?

The plateau was this kind on going....slow!

The summit of The Dodd is unmarked as far as I could tell. These coordinates are correct and there was nowt to be seen.

Of course as is the way with these things, the top cleared once I was almost back.

A short drive onto Carrsheild Moor and time to set off up Killhope Law.

This is a new track, made for access to a row of Grouse butts. A mixed blessing I suppose?
It did make the ascent very easy, and the view back down West Allendale were excellent.

However once on the ridge I was in the cloud again with an odd flake of snow. The map shows an aerial on the summit of Killhope Law. I guess the snapped post on the left is all thats left of it?

A short distance to the East is this grand cairn....visited for completeness.

Back to the car the same way, over to the West The Dodd was still clear of cloud.

I drove down into east Allendale passing through Allenheads, visiting Northumberland briefly. Leaving the car on Allendale Common I headed off East towards Middlehope Moor.

The top of Middlehope Moor has a small cairn, I was pleased that the ground was frozen hard across here it would be very wet underfoot otherwise.
A good day, not a single person seen on the hill.

A Short Stroll to Malham Cove

We just managed to get parked near Water Sinks near Malham Tarn. Most folk headed North towards the tarn, but we ambled off in a broadly Southerly direction towards Malham.

The limestone would normally mean dry conditions underfoot....

Malham Cove from the Eastern Rim. Hard to see probably on this photo but there were folk everywhere!

We soon left the crowds behind on the rim, heading back up the dry valley under Ing Scar.

Under Comb Hill we passed the dry waterfall I remember climbing as a little lad on a family visit here almost 50 years ago.

Water Sinks, where the stream from Malham Tarn disappears underground. This water won't be seen again until it re-emerges at Aire Head rising.
Just a short walk, but as always on limestone lots of interest.

Little Fell, A Pennine Nuttall

Out with Bill today, the first time for a long while. I might struggle to get him out for a while again after today mind! We parked near Aisgill Moor Cottages and headed East on the bridleway/footpath towards Hell Gill.

Hell Gill Beck, soon to be the River Eden

Heading up the long shallow slope towards the broad ridge of Lunds there's quite a bit of this!

Bill on the "summit" of Little Fell, it was a shame we didn't get the view to the East towards Great Shunner Fell. There's not much of a cairn....but then thre aren't many stones here either! 

We dropped down into upper Hell Gill and followed the beck back towards Hell Gill itself.
This sheepfold one of two we saw is falling into ruin sadly.

Here almost back at "The Highway" the stream tumbles down into the narrow limestone gorge of Hell Gill proper.

This plaque is adjacent to the old bridge over Hell Gill. It depicts Dick Turpin and no doubt Black Bess I believe, who is said to have roamed hereabouts.

Almost back at the car and a short diversion to see Hell Gill Force.
It needs more water in it to look it's best
Another Nuttall ticked off..I'll soon be in single figures:-)

A Ramble From Dockray

A wander today over some bumps to the West of Dockray, very cold in the brisk wind. The bonus being that the heavy frost had frozen the normally soggy terrain! Steep and tussocky enough for P's poorly knees....

A birds eye view of the head of Ullswater from the slopes of Common Fell.

Erratic just below the summit of Common Fell.

North..ish from Common Fell, Blencathra beyond Dowthwaite Head.
Another quiet area little visited by the Wainwright pilgrims!

Meldon Hill Via High Cup

Today it was time to tick Meldon Hill off. This is an English Nuttall (2000'er), I've been chipping away at these for over 20 years in a desultory fashion! This year should see the end of them, with any luck!
I can only conclude from today's walk that not many people have completed the Nuttalls....paths were non-existent from what I could see once beyond Maize Beck.
If ever anyone says you're going to be "cast out" this is probably where you'll end up! On with the photos.....

Climbing up the Pennine Way out of Dufton below Peeping Hill, Dufton Pike in the background.

Approaching Narrowgate, High Cup starts to be seen at its best.
Meldon Hill is in the distant distance!

I took the old "flood path" to Maize Beck

The footbridge is still here, I wasn't sure it would be with the new bridge further down Maize Beck making it redundant to a large degree.
Meldon Hill still looked a long way off, and I knew from here the going would be pathless.

Just me and my shadow out today...the terrain hereabouts is best described as "bloody rough", and that's being polite!

High Cup looks along way back from here. Normally as you gain height the going gets easier..not here.

Eventually of course if you stick at it, you reach the top. This is the view to the Northwest, Great Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell and Cross Fell.

The summit? has the remains of a Trig Point, its been demolished. The OS probably didn't ever want to come back here!

I pretty much reversed my outward route, stopping to take some photos of High Cup with the afternoon sun on it.A great day, but tough under the conditions. I was reduced to less than 1mph at one point.