High Cup Nick, North Pennines.



High Cup Gill - looking south west

We went into the North Pennines due to a very bad (and ultimately correct) forecast for the Lakes, where we were staying. Walked from the car park in the pleasant village of Dufton along a bit of the Pennine Way (and stopped to watch a sheep cleaning off her new born lambs) local paths and an unclassified road to the entrance to High Cup Gilll. Had lunch behind a rock under Middletongue Crag, out of the wind.

Whin Sill

The Cup became more impressive the further up the valley we walked. A perfect U shaped valley, on a massive scale, topped by the dolerite cliffs and crags of Whin Sill. As we boulder hopped up at the head of the valley, we could hear the wind whistling through the crags.

From High Cup Nick

Amazing views from the top of the Nick, including the bad weather over the Lake District! We had often heard how photographs don't do justice to the expanse of the valley - and how right that is!

Nichol Chair

We chatted to a couple of chaps who were Supervising a group of Bronze DoE'ers who were walking over from Teesdale. They had been waiting a while and looked nithered. 

High Cup from Narrow Gate Path

When the group arrived we moved on and started our descent, via the Pennine Way, with good views all the way, of High Cup Nick and Gill, Pennines and Eden Valley etc. We had a second lunch in old quarry workings under Dod Hill, which were full of sheep and lambs sheltering from the wind.

New life

On the final part of our descent we checked up on our new mum and her lambs, all seemed to be doing well.

 

In Dufton

We had coffee and a cake outside the "Tea on the Way" cafe in Dufton - excellent value, somewhere to sit outside with the dogs (mostly out of the rain, that had just started, under a parasol) and gorgeous carrot cake muffin!

Route - Dufton village car park (690250), walk through village to 694248, E onto Pennine Way, at spot height 259m, turn S on fp to Keisley House, fp SW to road, E and S to Keisley Bridge, fp SE to Harbour Flatt, fp NE to Middletonge Crag and High Cup Gill, High Cup Nick, Narrow Gate path. Pennine Way to Dufton and return to start.

Statistics: Distance: 15.2km  Ascent: 580m  Time: 4:30 hours