Appkir two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from Appleby to Kirkby Stephen on 7/9/24. A copy of OS 1:25000 map OL19 is essential as waymarking is intermittent. I’ve described some critical route clarification below, as well as highlighting sections with more challenging terrain
1. After the footbridge at grid reference 687186 the route becomes difficult: slippy sections close the river’s edge, steps, stepping stones, sloping rock, fallen branches, swamp and muddy-rubbly sections, until the route emerges from the woods above Jeremy Gill (see Photos 1-5 for examples)
2. In Great Ormside go briefly left then right on the road beyond the house, opposite the Post Box (see Photo 6)
3. In the fields between Great and Little Ormside there is a waymark on a gatepost (Photo 7) that implies heading half right. Instead maintain roughly the same direction and make for a hawthorn by a telegraph pole and a much larger tree (photo 8). The hawthorn obscures the stile and also makes it awkward to get over. These fields were damp in September, but not muddy
4. Just beyond Blacksyke Farm at Sandford Bridge turn right in front of the pale bungalow and then immediately left up a path beyond it (Photos 9 & 10)
5. Look out for Speckled Wood butterflies between here and Warcop, sitting in the sun (Photo 11) or chasing each other in upward spirals
6. Follow the track between field entrances at 734135 (Photo 12) then follow it left into an enclosed pathway at 735136 (Photo 13)
7. When heading away from the river after Bermer Scar, take the fork to the right of 3 trees (See Photo 14)
8. After Ploughlands head diagonally left up the slope, not the fence line and then when cresting the rise keep in the same direction towards the bottom corner. If you can see it head in the direction of the saddle back of Wild Boar Fell – touching the clouds in Photo 15
9. After the footbridge at 749134 the route goes across the middle of the fields rather than following the hedge as indicated on the map. As a result, when entering the last field before the road, head half left to find the stile and footbridge
10. The next section towards Soulby is very wet and difficult underfoot, even in early Autumn
11. 2½ miles on the B Road from Soulby to Kirkby Stephen is a bit of a tedious trudge, and is also busier with local traffic than might be assumed. At certain places this can require some edging into the roadside hedge. There is however no better route following Slow Ways methodology
It’s a good, varied walk with fine views but it will be tricky during and after periods of bad weather.

This is a lovely route through farmland and woods. Very picturesque. The path could be overgrown in sections in summer and so was harder to follow.

More lovely farmland, lots of styles and gates! The trail is pretty good but at times is hard to spot but it is fairly straightforward.

A nice walk through farm land some stomping through meadows where the path disappears slightly but overall a very gentle farmland stomp.

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