Three Rings of Shap
Lyvennet, Leith & Lowther

Abbreviations

TR Turn Right.
TL Turn Left.
N, S North, South etc.
XXXm. Approx. distance in metres to next feature.
(XXXdeg) Approx. magnetic bearing in degrees to next feature.

  1. Leave Hall & immediately TR passing along side of Hall, thru gate into field behind Hall. At far left end of field climb step stile in wall & TL into lane. Over further stile to reach road at gate then TR & TR again in 20m. In 100m. road becomes track and crosses railway — immediately turn TL then TR in 10m. to gate accessing enclosed path. Continue up sometimes slippery sunken path between walls to squeeze stile in 300m. Enter narrow field keeping wall on L to next stile in 200m. as field broadens. Bear half L for 50m to next stile sign posted Hardendale. Pass to R of pylon to line of old wall in 150m. then uphill further 100m. to boulder. At brow of hill half R to cross motorway footbridge in 300m.(110deg).
  2. TR on track then TL in 20m. thru kissing gate before metal gate. Up field with wall on R for 200m. to stile in corner, continue uphill 300m. to next stile after field narrows becoming track. Same direction 250m. to 2stile in corner to R of farm buildings. Same direction 50m, aim for house, to cross stile by power pole to Hardendale (583 147).
  3. TR then TL in 10m. thru gate to track passing houses to stile/gate in 30m. into field. Ahead 50m. to cross indistinct stile to R of two gaps then cross further two fields with wall on L. After second stile 30m. to wall end then same direction (80deg) across open land to signpost on minor road. TR then TL in 20m. over stile into wood following footpath on same bearing uphill to exit wood in 250m. Cross stile & wall (care) then ahead same direction to gate in 200m. (large quarry on right). Ahead uphill on pasture (80deg) to reach wall in 400m. Cross indistinct stile which is 50m. L of corner. Cross lane & stile opposite then down field to find further stile in wall on R 20m. before wood. Cross & TL for 400m. on track with wall & wood on L to gate onto minor road (604 150).
  4. Ahead down road (ignore stile into felled wood) 400m. to TL for 50m. along edge of old wood to gate & SP . Ahead (N) to next gate at end of wood. Ahead (wall on R) as track appears in 50m. dropping down L & R to gate. TR onto track to Wickerslack Farm . TL in 40m. between farm buildings thru gate(s) onto track. 100m. to next farm then on track 200m. to pass thru gate directly ahead at FP sign (leaving track as it swings away L).
  5. Continue N on fields with wall on R to gate in 300m. (If clear note: Cross Fell and Maulds Meaburn village to right). Downhill for 250m, fence then wood on R, to go thru gate on R just before corner. TL in 5m. over stile crossing open field with stream in gully to stile at corner of wood onto track. TL for 300m. to pass Reagill Grange (note unusual chimneys). TL 30m. after house over stile into wood at 3-finger sign post for Reagill. Ascend thru wood on path to exit in 400m. by 3 stiles & foot bridge. TR by converted barn & follow track 100m. up to Reagill (604 174).
  6. TR on road for 100m. then TR at Appleby sign & 100m. downhill (note: statues over wall on left) to T-junction. Ahead thru gate at FP sign into field, wall on R for 300m. to stile then wall on L for 400m. thru 3 fields to gate near FP sign. Down next field in same direction, row of trees on R for 200m. to enter wood at stile & footbridge (30m.L of corner). Follow yellow markers on posts for 400m. thru wood in general direction (50deg) to exit onto minor road (615 184).
  7. TL on road for 300m. then TR at T-junction (Lowfield & Barnskew), downhill for 500m…… (Event Day only) …..to cross cattle grid onto farm track. Continue further 500m. and descend to skirt Barnskew farmyard and reach River Lyvennet. Cross bridge & TL into field with river on L. Continue for 1200m. thru fields (thru tight squeeze stile in wall near river) eventually reaching road at ford & stepping stones. Please note that the final 300m. of this section is not a public ROW and permission has been granted for the Event Day only. DRINKS STATION (620 201).
  8. TR and proceed up minor road for 150m to High Whitber Farm. Pass farm and continue up road for further 50m. to FP sign on L at right bend. TL (330deg) across pasture to footbridge in 150m. Same general direction for 100m. to gate. Ahead on thin path bearing R, wood on R, to stile in 250m. Along river bank for 100m. to next stile then cross footbridge on L. (N.B. This bridge is PRIVATE and should be used on Event Day only). TR for 200m, river now on R, then TR over bridge.
  9. TL & follow river bank for 500m. to join road below Kings Meaburn (619 211). Cross road & continue for 900m. on riverside footpath (SP Morland) (soon note Jackdaws' Scar — do not climb). TL to cross Chapel Bridge and leave R. Lyvennet. Uphill for 50m. to pass houses, TR on track then TL 10m. Continue on track for 1200m. R, L & R to road. TL for 150m. down to Morland, bear L after 30mph sign into Lowergate to cross white bridge over Morland beck in 150m. (600 224).
  10. TR along Water St. for 150m to T-junction (Crown Inn on R). TL for 50m. then TR opp. Mother Croft up steps into lane, L & R to enter church yard. Ahead with church on L to leave yard by white gate, TR down steps to lane then path to rejoin beck. Cross bridge & TL into field (SP Glenton). Continue for 700m. with beck on L to cross next footbridge. Beck now on R for 250m. before bearing L uphill away from beck (ignore FP on R). Hedge on R for further 300m. to cross stile and TL into lane. Follow lane R & L to main road in 500m. TR with care on narrow road for 200m. bearing R on track at FP sign when road swings sharply L.
  11. Thru gate in 150m, further gate in 50m. into field. Downhill fence on R for 250m. to next gate. Bear half L across field (290deg), aim for church & drop down to bridge over River Leith in 200m. at Cliburn (589 244). TR over bridge, uphill for 150m. TL into Rectory Farm at FP sign. Follow yellow arrows thru farmyard — R, L & R to exit farm on track downhill 100m. into field.
  12. Contour R edge of field for 150m. to stile (do not go uphill). TR into next field with trees on R, track bears R & is left when it straightens by sandstone outcrop. Ahead (300deg.) for 200m, keeping to L of line of hawthorns, to stile in fence/hedge corner after solitary gatepost. Fence on R for 100m. to next stile then aim slightly L for next stile in 50m. on river bank. River on L (note sandstone cliff ahead on right) for 200m. to join road at Commonholme Bridge (576 248). TR on road for 500m. to T junction, TL onto busier road (beware traffic) for 200m. TL on farm track sign CRAIGENDS to reach barn "THE WHITE STUFF" on L in 100m. CHECKPOINT (573 251) OPENS — 10.30 CLOSES — 15.00.
  13. Leave checkpoint & return to main road. (Take great care — this is a busy road with fast traffic). TL on road for 1000m. to FP sign on L. TL for 300m,crossing footbridge. TL for 50m. to black gate. TR onto track for 350m. then ahead past metal 7 bar gate onto path between wall and hedge for 250m. (Do not continue on track thru garden centre). TR onto 2nd.track (barn on your R) becoming road into Melkinthorpe. TL in 100m. passing ford, car park then bridge (all on the L) near Fern Cottage in further 100m.
  14. Climb stile on R at end of garden. TL up field with fence on L (ignoring broken stile). Ahead thru gates into lane for 100m. then TR over stile. TL along field edge to pass thru gate at end of field in 200m. Bear R into lane again to further gate/stile in 100m. Lane soon broadens, continue with hedge/fence on R to open field in 100m. Keep to R edge of field (motorway looming ahead) to join minor road at gate/stile in 300m. (549 243).
  15. TL on road then TR thru gate in 100m. TL to corner then TR up field, fence on L, to pass thru gate ahead in 150m. TL (ignore gate) & climb stile in 100m. TR with wall on R to gate in 100m. onto track over railway. Continue on track for 400m. TL then TR under motorway then uphill further 300m. to reach A6 at Hackthorpe (542 232).
  16. TL & cross road with care passing Lowther Castle pub in 100m. TR at FP sign High Knipe into lane alongside pub CP to field, hedge on L to opening in 250m. Cross next field (200deg) for 300m. to gate in corner. TR between walls for 100m. to next gate (good view of Lowther Park), half L downhill for 300m, deer fence on R to estate road at FP signs. Cross & uphill same direction to fence in 150m. Bear L with fence, field & wood on R for 1000m. thru 1 gate to gate at wood corner (539 212). (East Lakeland coming into view). TR uphill between fence & wood then same direction for 800m. to next wood corner at 3rd. gate. Onto track leaving in 10m. as it bears left, ahead for 100m. between large trees to road. Ahead 20m. to gate, cross field (220deg) for 150m. to gate into wood. TL for 40m.downhill to deer fence, uphill for 100m, fence on R, to leave wood at gate.
  17. Cross next field (250deg) thru dip to gate at fence corner in 250m. (Village on hillside half right is Helton). Downhill fence on R for 150m. to fence corner, TL for 100m. along line of large trees(on R) to gate. Same direction for 70m. to double gates, 50m. to next gate, ahead wall on R to join track by barn. Ahead then soon downhill on track for 400m.(phone mast on right) to High Knipe. Keep wall & fence on R thru farmyard then TR downhill on road for 500m. to junction. Checkpoint is behind concrete platform. CHECKPOINT (518 194) Self clip. Drinks only.
  18. Ahead downhill (260deg) for 300m. to suspension bridge over River Lowther. Cross bridge, TL over stile to riverbank. River on L for 1200m. to join road after gate at end of path. TL for 200m.on road then TL again over bridge into Bampton Grange (521 180) to church. TR into churchyard at FP sign opp. Crown & Mitre then gate into field. Ahead 100m. to next stile. River on R for 1500m. thru field, lane then 3 fields to gate onto track. Track joins road in 100m (farm on L), TL in 200m. at stile/black gate when road bends right. Up field (120deg) for 100m. past power pole, same direction for 150m. to stile in wall (corner 30m. to R) then 75m. to gate into road at Rosgill (537 168).
  19. TL on road then TR in 5m. thru garden & 3 small fields (wall on R 2 fields) to gate. Wall still on R for 1400m. thru 4 large fields to stile by house. Cross concrete road then field for 100m. same direction to gate/stile, Shap Abbey close on R. Ahead, fence on R, thru large field to next gate/stile. Wall now on L to climb indistinct stile (after trees) on L in 200m. Wall now on R to wall corner, ahead for 50m. to next corner then pick up thin path with wall on L for 150m. to stile into garden. Ahead 50m. across cattle grid to TL on road near Keld. TR in 30m. over hidden stile into field. TL up thru 3 fields, wall on L, for 600m. crossing lane then same direction (Goggleby stone on R) across next field. Exit into enclosed path then next field, wall on R, for 200m. thru gate then between houses for 50m. to road. TR into West Close (Wasdale on R — honestly). Same direction past The Lynchetts and Peggy Nut Croft. TL before gate, up side of Community Library into car park. TL and cross A6 at zebra crossing to Memorial Hall opposite (563 151).