Walking High Cup Nick

Walking High Cup Nick – Cumbria

High Cup Nick is probably the most instantly recognisable landscape feature in the Eastern Lakes.  This spectacular geographical feature is an impressive glaciated U shaped valley.  Situated about 4 miles from Appleby in Westmoreland close to the lovely village of Dufton.  We have been to the top on several occasions but on one Sunday decided to walk up the valley.  We drove up to Keisley and parked on the roadside at Harbour Flat Farm.  You walk up through the farm then turn left (signpost) and continue up to the valley.  Once past the farm the signposts are few and far between, but I thought the route we needed to take was fairly obvious.  About half a mile from above the farm imagine our surprise to spot a wild Polecat.  I managed to get a quick photo before it disappeared.  Just a note of caution, even though you are a lot lower than High Cup the weather can change in a second.  Whilst we were there the weather was fair but the ground was very wet.  WE walked to just about the end of the valley where we sat eating lunch and watching folk at the top.  On the way down we walked along the beck and watched Dippers doing their thing, bobbing up and down before jumping into the fast flowing water to hunt.

On the following Tuesday afternoon we did our final ascent to the top of High Cup some 1500 feet high.  We don’t park in Dufton but drive up the road (where the flagpole is) and park on the roadside just above the farm.  The first part of the walk is up a track until you come to a wall where there is a gate on the left hand side.  Part of the walk is along the Pennine Way.  As you glimpse the nick for the first time it definitely has the wow factor.  Keep walking upwards, the High Cup is on you right.  You will come across a pinnacle on right which is known as Nichol’s Chair, after a local cobbler, who for a bet (?) climbed the stack and repaired a pair of boots on its summit.

Sitting at the head of the valley looking down at the beck and the opening panorama still brings a thrill.  The walk to the top and back takes about 4 hours for the average person. 

Whilst in the Lakes we stayed at the lovely Croft Ends Farm CL.