The Murton Pike and High Cup Nick walk in the North Pennines

North-east out of Murton and a climb to the summit of Murton Pike, then further north-east for about three miles to reach High Cup Nick. South-west along the Pennine Way to a point just below Dod Hill then south via Town Head to join A Pennine Journey and enter Flakebridge Wood. East back to the starting point by way of Flakebridge House, Shepherd’s Cottage and Town Foot. An 11-mile walk in the North Pennines.

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The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley, reference OS Explorer OL19, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.

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The track over Moley Hill between Murton and Murton Pike, with Murton Crag in the background.

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Triangulation pillar on Murton Pike summit, height 594 metres (1949 feet).

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Murton Pike is cone-shaped and from its summit there are excellent 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape.

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Time for a break on the eastern flanks of Murton Pike.

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The view south-east from Murton Pike towards Delfekirk Scar, with Roman Fell in the distance.

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Looking back towards Murton Pike from the head of the Trundale Gill valley.

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High Cup Gill becomes visible to the west shortly after passing the head of the Trundale Gill valley.

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Making our way towards High Cup Nick on the upper of two paths above High Cup Scar.

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We reach High Cupgill Head where a small stream topples over the rocky crags into the valley below.

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Amazing views from High Cup Nick of the High Cup Gill valley, which is thought to be glacial in origin and almost perfectly U-shaped.

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High Cupgill Beck meanders through the valley and joins other streams which flow into the River Eden.

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The northern side of the valley near the head is known as Nichol Chair after a local cobbler who, for a bet, practised his craft perched on the rocks.

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The view from Nicole Chair of the dramatic steep-sided slopes on the southern side of the valley beneath High Cup Scar.

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The site of a disused quarry near Peeping Hill.

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The Pennine Way between Peeping Hill and Dod Hill. The pyramidal Dufton Pike is in the background.

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The view from the Pennine Way near Dod Hill south towards Gregory.

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The track heading south between the hills of Gregory and Harthwaite towards Keisley Bank.

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Looking east across beautiful meadowland from Castle Hill towards Murton Pike.

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Flakebridge House on the southern edge of Flakebridge Wood.

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Murton Beck.

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Coffee time beneath an old ash tree near Shepherd’s Cottage.

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Murton Pike as seen from the path between Shepherd’s Cottage and Town Foot.

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The village of Murton.

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