Murton, Murton Pike, High Cup Nick, Cumbria.
[13.4 km] Wed 26 Mar 2014

OS Grid Ref: NY 72980 21986
Lat/Long: +54.592330, -02.419668

The mornings are much lighter now and the sun was already up as I approached Tebay on the M6. It was cold at -1degC and fairly clear as I reached the village of Murton, Near Appleby-in-Westmoreland. Although I’ve passed through Murton I’ve never visited the car park which is at the end of a lane to the NE. The strange thing is the car park is quite substantial with information boards but isn’t shown on the map. It’s also free.

There are two tracks leaving the area and fortunately I was taking the one up Murton Pike. The other, to the right, headed east into the Military training area and had a red flag flying. This indicated no access. I set off up a well made track which heads up the south end of Murton Pike. The summit of the Pike is quite steep but the track took a wavy line up the gentler southern slope. I passed through some wonderfully named areas shown on the map.

The first was Sweety Briggs then Cringley Hole. I passed under Merton Crag but couldn’t see the Pike as it was hidden behind. Then I left the track to take my own route steeply up towards the summit. The land flattened out for a while then steeply up for the last bit to the summit trig post.

I’d been sheltered from the increasing cold east wind on the way up but over the top I was hit by its icy blast. It was still 0 degC so felt quite cold. I started my descent to the east to re-join the track. I was surprised to see a faint path and on the way a path marker post. When I got back to the track there was another. My map doesn’t show any path going over the summit of the pike. The track continued steadily upwards through mixed ground and stony area.

I visited a tall cairn or currick and several stone wind shelters before following a faint track over rough ground. I soon realised I was heading nowhere and returned to the official path which was still indicated with marker posts. The path continued towards High Cup Nick, my next objective, but I soon saw a large currick on higher ground to my right. I couldn’t resist heading for it even though there was no path. I followed the side of a stream until the ground levelled and soon reached the impressive tall cairn.

It was unusual as it had a stone shelf of protruding slabs below its top. Nearby was another cairn but with a shelter seat inside. I headed down across rough ground back to my High Cup Nick objective. On the way I and a look at an old campsite I’d used and the stones were still there that I put my gas stove on.

High Cup Nick

Steeply down I reached the path along the south side of the High Cup Nick valley. It was a very impressive walk though I had to take care near the edge as the wind was now blowing quite strong. Hidden in a small side valley was a substantial ruin which looked more than just a shepherd’s shelter.

The path continued quite distinct down Middle Tongue towards Harbour Flatt. Above Trundale Gill I had to take a steep descent with no path to cross the river and join the official path on the other side. It’s an odd place for a path as it doesn’t go anywhere. Below me were two men rebuilding the stone wall but they were too far away to go over and have a look. The path improved to an old green track and then I saw my first and only walker of the day, a woman and her dog. The path was intermittent and at Trough Keld was a mass of reeds. It soon improved on the final approach back to the car park.

Some lovely illustrations of local scenes on the information board by the Merton bus shelter.