- Hell Gill is truly dramatic
- Watershed of England
- Good variety of views
Legend has it that Dick Turpin leapt the dramatic gorge at Hell Gill in to Cumberland to escape the long arm of the law (the law being disinclined to follow him). Looking in to the depths of Hell Gill at the bridge and I find myself in sympathy with the law! It is a deep and sheer drop in to the dark depths with roughly a 5 foot leap and is the highlight of this excellent walk.
Hell Gill lies on the watershed of England, Hell Gill itself becoming the River Eden and flowing westwards just below Hell Gill Force, a good if hardly spectacular waterfall. 100 yards to the south of the watershed he River Ure starts its long and tortuous journey to the North Sea. This is a good spot and the walk to the watershed from the Moorcock Inn really delightful on a good track with great views of Wild Boar Fell. On the return I followed the bridleway to the high point between upper Wensleydale and the hidden and rarely visited valley of Grisedale which again offers some excellent views although the track is not so good as the High Way to the east.
Recommend: ….or maybe not, the leap over Hell Gill!
All maps are copyright of Where2Walk © 2020
| OS Map: |
O/S 1.25,000. OL19 Howgill Fells & the Upper Eden Buy Map |
| Start Point: | SD 798927. There is plenty of parking near the Moorcock Inn. Just past the pub take the well sign posted and good path to the right. |
| Height to Climb: | 283 ms (928 feet0 |
| Terrain: | The western side of the valley is often wet but generally the walk is easy to follow and ok underfoot. |
| Eating & Drinking: | The Moorcock Inn is an ideal place to finish the walk. Top pub and nearly always open (only closes on a Monday in winter). |
| Similar Walks Nearby: |
Nine Standards Rigg Killing Grounds of the Wild Boar The Ancient Castles of Mallerstang |
| Places to Stay: |
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Thanks for pointing it out Ian. You are right and wrong. It is certainly not Dandry Mire but is in fact Lunds!
I think this is a good article about one of my favourite walks.
A small point I know, but picture 5 is not of Dandry Mire Viaduct on the Settle-Carlise Railway (which is just north of Garsdale station at Grsdale Head – near The Moorcock Inn) but the photo is probably of Ais Gill Viaduct just south of the summit of the line at Ais Gill.
I have enjoyed your account.
Ian
IVE HEARD IT WAS SWIFT NICK [ie] JOHN NEVISSON.
IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT DICK TURPIN, THE NEARIST HE GOT TO THERE
WAS THE DROP AT YORK.
The legend about Dick Turpin isn’t true – it was a local ne’er-do-well called Ned Ward (he lived in Mallerstang at around the same period) who jumped over the gorge to evade the law.