Cross Fell Route Information

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Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

840 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

7.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

29.66 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

91	Appleby-in-Westmorland

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A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

A very long circular walk, requiring stamina, but on gentle gradients, passing the source of the South Tyne, crossing England’s largest wilderness area (upper Teesdale) and returning on a good miners’ road.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Alston

From Alston take the B6277 (for Teesdale and Barnard Castle) and after 3km take right fork onto minor road for Garrigill. Cross the stream into the village, keep left past the pub and park where convenient.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 840 metres. Allow 7.5 hours to complete this 29.66 km route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park in Garrigill village
		NY74604122	Distance	Altitude 346 m

1	Walk SSE 3km to junction at end of public road and take right fork onto private road/bridleway.
		NY75753840	Distance 3.10 km	Altitude 450 m

2	Follow bridleway S to a bridge over the South Tyne
		NY75933713	Distance 1.29 km	Altitude 464 m

3	Continue on road to top of Tyne Head pass
		NY75293502	Distance 2.35 km	Altitude 557 m

4	Descend on track into Teesdale and cross Tees by bridge.
		NY76063385	Distance 1.60 km	Altitude 530 m

5	Continue WSW on track/path beside Trout Beck, and join Pennine Way at radar station service road.
		NY71643160	Distance 5.45 km	Altitude 760 m

6	Follow road NNW then circle E around radar station
		NY71093224	Distance 1.16 km	Altitude 841 m

7	Continue NNW across col to Little Dun Fell (842m)
		NY70453302	Distance 1.02 km	Altitude 842 m

8	Descend NNW to col and cross electric fence by ladder stile
		NY69693389	Distance 1.15 km	Altitude 793 m

9	Ascend steep slope on path to reach tall marker cairn
		NY69413411	Distance 0.37 km	Altitude 857 m

10	Cross stony plateau WNW to summit of Cross Fell (2500ft+)
		NY68743432	Distance 0.70 km	Altitude 893 m

11	Cross stony plateau NNW to prominent marker cairn
		NY68593472	Distance 0.45 km	Altitude 864 m

12	Descend NW below cairn and join Kirkland-Garrigill bridleway, still on Pennine Way
		NY68403521	Distance 0.53 km	Altitude 773 m

13	Follow bridleway ENE to Gregg’s Hut (bothy).
		NY69133544	Distance 0.77 km	Altitude 695 m

14	Follow miners’ road ENE to end of Cross Fell slopes
		NY71563603	Distance 2.80 km	Altitude 672 m

15	Continue on miners’ road NNE beyond Black Band
		NY73194065	Distance 5.10 km	Altitude 515 m

16	Continue on road E turning NE to return to Garrigill.
		NY74604122	Distance 1.82 km	Altitude 346 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format)

Lake District
by Met Office

Cross Fell
by Metcheck

Images of Cross Fell

Tall route-marker cairns indicate the entrance and exit points of the Pennine Way as it crosses the vast trackless summit plateau of Cross Fell. These 2 are on the southern slope.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

The ascent route to Cross Fell from Kirkland passes this ruined bothy, which forms a prominent marker on the horizon on leaving the old mine road.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Stiched panoramic shot of Cross Fell taken from Little Dun Fell (to the S).

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Well-kept Greg's Hut (bothy), on the N side of Cross Fell, where the old miners track from Garrigill terminates. Looks a lovely place to spend a night!

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

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Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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