Monday 13 June 2016

370 July Walks from Dufton

Our next walk will be from a Fellside Village near Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria

DUFTON

  a very attractive village three miles north of Appleby,
 in an area designated as of oustanding natural beauty
on
Saturday 9th July 2016
0800hrs prompt from short stay car park
There will be three walks as normal;
 
Click here for Dufton Village Website containing very interesting information about this ancient village.

Interesting Facts about Dufton:
The Name - Dufton means "the farmstead where the doves were kept". It is first mentioned in 1176 in the pipe rolls.(1)
Old Dufton - refers to the remains of a Romano - British settlement about ¾ mile above the present village. 
The Manor - belonged to the Greystoke family until the 16th century, when it passed to the Earls of Arundel. It had several owners in the 17th & 18th centuries. In the late 18th century it was purchased by the Sackvilles (later Earls of Thanet)
The Church - lies about half a mile out of the village on the Knock road. It is dedicated to St Cuthbert. There is some medieval stonework, but it was largely rebuilt in restorations of 1784 & 1853. The site is probably Celtic. The first mention of Dufton Church is in the Papal Taxation records of 1291.
The Mines - there are extensive lead mining remains on Dufton Fell. Early mining leases were granted by the Lords of the Manor of Dutton throughout the 17th & 18th centuries. From about 1820 the mines were taken over by the London Lead Company (the "Quaker Company"). Lead mining ceased on Dufton Fell in 1897, however barytes has been extracted from the spoil heaps on two occasions in the 20th century.
Lime Trees - on the green were planted in 1892.
Methodist Chapels - there have been 3. One built in 1820 was the Wesleyan Chapel - now a private house. The first Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1839 - it is now derelict. A new Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1905 and is the one currently in use.
Village School - is the building in the middle of the green at the bottom end of the village. It was founded in the 1670s. It was rebuilt by subscription in 1824 and supported by the London Lead Co. It closed in the 1960s.
Fountains - there are 5. These and the village water course were provided by the London Lead Co. in the 19th century so that the inhabitants had a clean water supply.     '
Dufton Hall - the earliest part is the West Wing which dates from the 17th century. Most of the building is 18th century. The crest over the door IS that of Edward Milward, the Lord of the Manor.
Oldest Buildings - date from 17th century, examples are the old cottage in the joiner's yard 1632, and Yew Tree Cottage 1655.
The Village Hall - at the bottom of the green, was built as a Conservative & Unionist Club 1911 - 1912. It became the village hall in 1963.
Pubs - the present pub was once called the Buck Inn. The name changed to The Stag in 1888. Sycamore House was once the Black Bull.
Shops - in the 19th century there were many, including grocer's, butcher's (with abattoir), bakery, general dealer's and draper's. The present Cafe was the village post office & shop into the 21 st century.
(1)     The Pipe rolls, sometimes called the Great rolls,[1] are a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, or Treasury, and its successors. The earliest date from the 12th century, and the series extends, mostly complete, from then until 1833.[2] They form the oldest continuous series of records concerning English governance kept by the English, British and United Kingdom governments, covering a span of about 700 years.


A Walk from Dufton 2016

Walk Leader: Jennifer Matthias
Total Distance: 10.5 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 2000ft


This walk has been described as a "five star" route.  it includes interesting geology, wild moorland and fantastic views.  Please be prepared the moorland can be boggy especially after rain.  

We leave the little village of Dufton on a track which steadily takes us up onto the moor to a shooting cabin. We pass the conical hill of Dufton Pike which is just one such hills in the area. We see Puss Beck(!) on our right as we climb through the mine workings of former times.

At Great Runsdale Tarn we take the Northern Shore and the follow its outlet Maize Beck across the moorland, finding tracks to shooting buts to a footbridge where we join the Pennine Way.



Crossing a limestone pavement we will reach the spectacular High Cup Nick. This is where the Whin Sill, which is formed of blue-grey dolerite, has provided extra resistance to glaciers and formed one of the most spectacular natural features in England.

Then following the Pennine Way we descend down to the village and a welcome well deserved drink.