Lady Anne Highway
Walk 3 - A fairly easy but long linear walk from Kirkby Stephen Station following the upper Eden valley along Lady Anne Highway, an old coaching road, to the Moorcock Inn and Garsdale Station passing a few points of interest enroute - 12 miles - 5 hours. By Car or train - if arriving by car it will be necessary to park at Kirkby Stephen or Garsdale Stations and travel one stop on the train. Back to Moorcock Walks
- Pendragon Castle
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Start at Kirkby Stephen station and pass though the gate off the station access road to follow the footpath downhill and parallel with the road to Kirkby Stephen. At the bottom of the hill at Halfpenny House turn right [due south] along a private road towards Wharton Hall. Just before reaching the hall it is necessary to do a dog-leg to avoid the farm buildings. Turn right at the footpath sign to pass to the right of the buildings and then after passing through a gate turn left and then right to rejoin the farm road just beyond the hall. Continue along the farm road for a short while and at Mire House Bridge turn left passing through a gateway [do not cross the river!]. Follow the left-hand side of the field passing through two small gates and emerging at Lammerside Castle [remains of]. Then proceed slightly downhill with Croop House Farm to the right. Pass through the gate and then immediately turn left through another gate. Follow the bridleway track with the River Eden on the left. The track follows the river for a mile rising slightly uphill until Tommy Road is reached.
Unless the aforementioned detour is taken - cross the minor road along a farm access track. Pass High Cocklake Farm and continue downhill to Sandpot, a private house. The footpath passes immediately to the right of the house itself. Continue across approximately 6 fields and a stream emerging at the quaint hamlet of Shoregill. Bear left down the track towards the river. Before the river bridge turn right and follow the wooded river bank with the river on the left. Pass through some farm building and continue following the river until reaching Thrang Bridge. Cross the river Eden and the 'main' road along the Mallerstang valley and immediately on the other side of road look for a track proceeding diagonally uphill. This is the Lady Anne Highway rising uphill for the next mile and eventually levelling out at a plateau where an interesting sculpture known as the Water Cut can be found. |
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| Lammerside Castle |
Continue along the grassy track for 1 mile to Hell Gill ravine crossing the old stone bridge with impressive ravine below. Continue along the gently undulating 'highway' shortly taking the left hand fork [at a vehicle prohibition sign] eventually with a wall to the right. After 3/4 mile the ruin of High Hall is reached after a ford. Proceed for another 1/2 mile along the highway reaching a gate across the track. There are now two main options for the return.
The easiest route involves passing through the large gate and carrying on along the highway passing High Dyke farmhouse after 1/2 mile. The track then dips into a small ravine and has been subject to landslip in the past. After about 1/4 mile look for a new signpost and gate in the wall. Pass through the gate with a lime kiln on the left. This is the new Pennine Bridleway and is waymarked with wooden posts down to the side of Cobbles Plantation and emerging at Ure Force waterfalls. Cross the bridge and follow the bridleway to reach the Moorcock Inn.
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| Pendragon Castle |
The second option takes in Shaws Waterfall and Lunds Church: Passing through the stile immediately before the aforementioned gate Lady Anne Highway proceed diagonally downhill to a gate at the rear of Shaws and the by steps down to a wooden footbridge in front of the waterfall. Shaws, now a private house was formerly the Garsdale Youth Hostel until the 1970s. Continue downhill across another footbridge and passing through a deserted farmyard to the little hamlet of Lunds with it's now disused church.
Note there are various ways back from Lunds - an alternative more straightforward way is to cross the river by the footbridge at the perimeter of the churchyard and follow plantation access track up to the main road, turn left and thence back to the Moorcock. The downside is 1/2 mile of road walking! Alternatively:-
Bear left at the church and passing through a stile over Cowshaw Hill and two more stiles. This now becomes difficult to follow and some map reading is required! With the pasture boundary on the right look for a stile at the slight change in direction. Turn right to pass over the stile and then immediately left passing over very rough pasture towards Blades, a small hamlet of cottages. The path has been redirected pass to the left (rear) of the farmhouse through two stiles and crossing a small stream joins the farm access track. At a right hand bend in the track go straight on following the left hand bank of the River Ure. Eventually the path will meet Ure Force waterfalls and an old bridge with it's modern replacement alongside. Cross the bridge and follow the Pennine Bridleway to the Moorcock Inn. Please note that this latter option whilst having the attraction of a visit to Shaws waterfall and Lunds Church can be unpleasantly muddy between Lunds and Blades Farm.
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Outhgill Church and Village |
Outhgill village |
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| Typical section of Lady Anne' Highway with Wild Boar Fell in background | 'Water Cut' sculpture at the summit of the track from Outhgill |
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| Waterfalls at Shaws - an alternative route back | Ure Head Force |
For the return walk to Garsdale Station, on leaving the Moorcock turn right and proceed along the main road towards Sedbergh for a very short while then turning left through a gate to follow the recently opened Pennine Bridleway which proceeds directly to the rear of the station passing under Dandry Mire Viaduct enroute. The station is slightly under a mile from the pub and 30 minutes should be allowed for this uphill walk! Remember that southbound trains run from the farthest platform and it is necessary to pass under the road bridge to gain access.
Important note:- Whilst the author has taken every care in assembling the information on this site, no responsibility can be accepted for any error or omission herein. If in any doubt walkers should always consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability
This page was last updated on 28-Nov-2021
©John Carey 2009