Stone Star, Dunnerdale
Area: In the valleys
Posted By: graham
Duddon Bridge, Croglinhurst, Little Stickle, Ulpha, Croglinhurst, BleansleyBank, Duddon Bridge.
Quiet paths beside the River Duddon and then the River Lickle lead you
over the fells to Ulpha, with a similar way back to complete this
delightful circular walk. It starts from a large layby on the side of
the road to Ulpha, less than 0.25mile from Duddon Bridge, grid
ref:199883
1. Return to cross the busy A-road by the traffic lights before the Duddon
Bridge and take the track opposite, signposted Lickle Bridge. The
reinforced way is edged by a hedgerow on the left and a copse to the
right and in late March is bright with daffodils. Then the track
continues close to the sweetly surging river. Go through the signposted
gate and keep beside the wall on your left, heading away from the
Duddon. Continue on to cross the River Lickle by its tractor bridge.
2. Carry on up the hedged track to the side of the A-road once again.
Cross, with care, to go through a signposted gate. Stride on to pass
through the gate ahead into a grassy hedged green track. This can
become overgrown with nettles and brambles in the summer. Climb a stile
and go on, with woodland now to your left. Where the trees end, go
through the gate on your left. Walk left, beside the woodland, with a
fine view, to your right, of the Coniston range of mountains.
3. Continue on with the meandering River Lickle to your left. Cross the
footbridge and head over the pasture to a gate to outbuildings at Low
Moss Farm. Pass through the next gate and wind right in front of the
farmhouse to go through a third gate. Carry on towards the barns at
Lower Bleansley Farm to pass through a fourth gate. Bear left and
continue up the slope, parallel with the wall on your right. This too
can become overgrown in summer. A gate at the end of the wall gives
access to a pleasing track. Turn right and walk towards the pretty
white farmhouse.
4. Join the narrow lane and walk on. The delightful way takes you past
the dwelling at Middle Bleansley and the to the farmhouses at
Croglinhurst. Ignore the right turn and go on up the steep hill. In
April, as you pass Wood House Farm, great drifts of bluebells perfume
the air. Ignore the left turn to Pickthall Ground and go on where the
lane now has grass growing along its middle to pass the old farmhouse
at Hawes. Go through the gate beyond and follow the track as it winds
left and out onto the fell, with glorious views of Great Stickle.
Beyond the next gate continue to the next and once through, turn right
to walk a walled way.
5. Pass through the gate at its end, climb a small slope and walk left
along a good track. Now you are really up on the fells, with a
wonderful feeling of freedom and remoteness. From this track you can
see far out over the Duddon estuary and to Morecambe Bay. Keep on the
wide green trod, ignoring lesser paths going off right and follow it as
it climbs gently to a ridge. From here you can look down into the Ulpha
valley and the hills beyond. Follow the track as it makes a gentle
descent. Ignore a left turn and begin dropping down several wide
zigzags and stepping across a couple of tiny streams. Below you can see
a particularly lovely stretch of the River Duddon.
6. About three hundred yards above the road you reach a wider stream,
where scattered holly and ash grow. Leave the main path and head down
the side of this beck. Look for a clear path going off left and take
this to descend diagonally, through bracken, to reach the fell road and
a signpost, directing up a wide green trod into a stony gill.
7. The grassy way, indistinct at first, soon reveals itself to be a
magnificently engineered buttressed path. It runs high above a wild
boulder-strewn almost waterless gill. The slopes opposite are
inhospitable scree but alongside the path rowan and oak have rooted.
Against the rock face on your right is a haven for fern, moss, lichen
and heather. Pause often to look at the workmanship of the way, which
zigzags steadily upwards.
8. At the top of the gill, step across the beck and go on ahead, beside
it. The gate you need to continue on your way lies directly ahead but
it is not easy to reach; at a junction of paths bear left and then, a
short way along, take the right fork. Where the path swings left go
straight ahead to the gate in the fell wall, which is now clearly
visible. Beyond, follow the wall on your left, walking a rutted way.
Keep with it as it winds right away from the wall and comes beside
another wall on your right. Continue to a waymarked gate, which you
pass through. Bear half right along a track leading to a gate into
Pickthall Ground. Bear left in front of a pretty white cottage, with
bright yellow shutters, and follow the access track down over a pasture
to come to the minor road walked earlier.
9. Turn right. Descend the steep hill and continue on, leaving
Croglinhurst on your left. Stride the delightful lane past Middle
Bleansley to come to Lower Bleansley. Where the tarmac ends, join a
grassy trod and press on, with the wall to your left. The way ascends
gently, through oak woodland. Enjoy this glorious high-level track.
After another climb, pass through a gate and then begin your delectable
descent to the Ulpha road. Turn left to walk the short distance to the
layby where you have parked.
Route Grade Easy
Start Point
Duddon Bridge
(Map Ref: 199883)
Finish Point
Duddon Bridge
(Map Ref: 199883)
Distance 6.5 miles
Maps to Use OS Landranger No.96 - Pathfinder SD08/18 SD28/38
Approx Time 3 - 4 hours
Parking Lay-by on road to Ulpha
