Climb Fountains Fell and its near neighbour Darnbrook Fell from the road linking Malham and Littondale. It is an easy climb, a rough crossing and an awkward descent.
It seemed obvious to me to link these two Dales 30 hills in a single walk. After looking at the map it also seemed clear to start from the Pennine Way from the South. Sadly I miscalculated the difficulty during the second half of the walk. The crossing between the two fells was particularly rough although a faint path now exists close to the wall. The initial gate needs to be climbed but from there, over the col and to the T junction where the walls meet is fine through the peat hags.
Having said that Fountains’ Fell, particularly the summit area, is an interesting place. Even more mysterious in the cloud, the tall boy cairns, mine shafts and hidden shelters pepper the large summit area. With the Pennine Way passing close to the summit it is also quick and easy to get to. As an additional pleasure leave the Pennine Way track just before the tall boy cairns and discover Fountains Fell tarn to the south west. It is always worth exploring off route, it is where you can find the hidden gems.
However it is when leaving the tall boys after completing the summit of Fountains Fell that things become less easy. To start with there is no need to to cross the great walls of the area, a gate takes you through the first, from there follow the line of wall heading north east with the wall on your right. Where the wall meets a 2nd wall is a gate (which does open) and follow this east, a wall becoming a fence, to the summit of Darnbrook Fell. Finally pick up the new wired fence that passes close to the summit of Darnbrook. The highest point is not the trig point but a handful of stones to the south perched on a peat hag!
Keep to the high ridge for over a mile when departing Darnbrook Fell (follow a wall and then a fence) for the best of the walking and views. From there drop directly towards Darnbrook House/Farm.
Fountains Fell and Darnbrook Fell are two of the Dales 30 Mountains
The final few metres of the descent through the farm is non access land so smile nicely at anyone you see!
On the crossing between the two summits stick to the wall. There is a faint track alongside which improves when climbing Darnbrook. On a meeting with a wall turn right to the summit. The trig is difficult to get and may not even be the highest point.
I did the walk but from just west of Litton over New Bridge. Up the greenway heading to Blishmire Close. After 3 gates turned and went up to Darnbrook Fell first following a wall and faint track Tussocky hard going – saw not a soul. Across to Fountains the reverse of this description but as it says along the wall (wet and boggy bits). Lovely summit and then down the Pennine Way to the track to Litton. Saw one couple a bit ahead of the multiple cairns on the Pennine Way. Having seen the top of Darnbrook Fell the way down from this walk would be a lot large peaty sections with tussocky grass mounds. Loved the route as always.
Walked this today and really well until coming down off Darnbrook fell. Still not entirely sure how I miscalculated, but we crossed the wrong wall and ended up with a considerable detour back to the road/along it at the end. Route was 18km by the time we finished.
But all in all an excellent day of hiking. Only saw one other soul on the Pennine Way. We amused ourselves looking over at Pen-Y-Ghent thinking of all the people queuing up and over.
Ran this today in beautiful sunshine, I say ran but the second half from Darnbrook Fell down to the road , across moorland, was a challenging walk! Stunning scenery, didn’t see a soul, thanks for a superb run\hike\walk and for all the tips in the comments.
When we were there today all the verges at the Start Point where I have previously parked were marked with wooden painted signs saying “no parking”. The signs looked like they were put up by a farmer, so might have had no force or validity at all. But we felt awkward about taking the risk and so parked about 1.5 miles south, in the disused quarry parking marked on the OS map. That made for a longer walk, which we mainly did on the Pennine Way. But this is a very good walk, and the views from the top of Fountains Fell are breathtaking; top of the world and splendid isolation.
Just had a gorgeous day doing this walk with wonderful view. However came across difficulties by having to trespass to get passed Darnbrook House to access the road through fastened up gates.
Enjoyable walk done from road near to Pennine Way Route to Tennant Gill Farm. Route straightforward to the cairns on Fountains Fell, there used to be five but now down to four and three of them are in a precarious state.looking back on the way up you can see Malham Tarn.on the top great views of Penyghent, Ingleboro the track up has been repaired and was dry all the way. From the top to Darnbrook Fell was relatively straightforward but don’t expect any footpaths to follow, use the walls as guides and “Tramp ” thru’ a mixture of heather and moss/grass/peat outcrops to reach the Trig Point, raised above all surrounding peat hags. The route from the Trig to Darnbrook House Farm is best done by staying on the high ground and heading more East than you anticipate, the terrain is mixed moorland, wet and boggy in places. Eventually you will see the stone walls and road to give you a good idea where to head for, the scars to the West of the farm and tree plantation to the East are good markers. One disappointing detail of the walk was the number of dead sheep left in various state of decay including pregnant ewes.
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