COUNTRY WALK: Fountain's Fell

Along with its rougher neighbour Darnbrook Fell they make a splendid circuit.

Lying on the Pennine Way is Tennant’s Gill Farm, a fine start point for the walk. The farm lies one mile to the north east of Malham Tarn on the road to Littondale, an exposed stretch of road but there is some parking available near the farm. The route is well signposted (as befits the oldest official long-distance footpath in England).

After passing the farm to your right it crosses into open-access land and climbs steadily north for 1½ miles. This is limestone country so the path passes by a number of shake holes, crater-shaped indentations in the land where the rock has started to weather away.

The path reaches its high point near some tall boy cairns. A faint track on your left heads towards the summit area of Fountain’s Fell. This is an area of historical interest with numerous mine shafts, cairns and a well preserved bee hive coke oven 2m high. The area was used to mine coal before it was taken down to the valleys to power the early mills. The mine shafts were mainly sunk at the turn of the 19th century and when they became too large to mine, abandoned and a new one was sunk…that is why there are so many. The summit cairn for Fountain’s Fell is to the west end of the summit but a path picks its way towards it.

After making the high point return to the tall boys where a decision can be made, possibly dependant on the weather. Darnbrook is one of the Dales 30 mountains and lies a mile to the west. Head along the wall to a junction with a second one, follow this to the right to a gate, cross the gate and follow the wall down to the col. I crossed the wall at the col and then followed it all the way up to the summit of Darnbrook. The trig point at the summit is on the wrong side of the wall and perched on a peat hag. It is interesting to see such a trig in all its glory, the large concrete base (never usually seen) a reflection of the effort and perseverance of the surveyors of the O/S.

From Darnbrook Fell follow the fence, changing to a wall east and then south east along the high shoulder. The walking is rough over peat and moor but the views over Littondale and Upper Wharfedale are superb. Follow the wall east and then south east as the land drops towards Littondale. The descent here is trackless but carry on heading south, steadily downhill till eventually arriving at a farm track leading to the farm at Darnbrook House. From the farm, join the main road and return to the car at Tennant’s Gill Farm

Fact Box:

Distance: Roughly 8.5 miles

Height to climb: 380m (1,260 feet)

Start: SD 884691. Near Tennant’s Gill Farm on the Malham Tarn to Littondale road.

Difficulty: Hard: A straightforward climb of Fountain’s Fell is followed by rough towards Darnbrook Fell and on the descent.

Refreshments: The Falcon at Arncliffe is nearly three miles to the east, Malham is a little further to the west.

Refreshments: There is a café at the centre and the Wheatsheaf pub in Carperby is very good.

Be Prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL2/OL30) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass (essential on this walk). You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company in the Yorkshire Dales:

• Jonathan has written a book, the “Dales 30” based on the mountains in the Yorkshire Dales.

• Beginners and Intermediate 1 Day Navigation Courses. Courses available throughout the year, check web for dates.

• Offers a Guiding serve for those less confident in the outdoors

To find out more details on any of the above and details of the 100s of walks in the Yorkshire Dales & Moors visit his popular website, Where2walk.co.uk