High Cup Nick circular from Dufton

From Dufton we follow the Pennine Way past Bow Hall ascending via Dod Hill to reach High Cup Nick. High Cup Nick is a spectacular U-shaped glaciated valley that cuts into the Whin Sill at High Cup Gill.

As we walk uphill towards the Nick, on a clear day, there are vast views across the Eden Valley, the Pennines and even as far as the Lake District peaks. We will ascend steadily, pausing frequently to look back over our shoulder, as the view expand behind us.

Our path plateaus as we head towards the Nick and there are impressive views of High Cup Scar and the winding High Cup Gill in the valley below.

From High Cup Nick we follow a path just above High Cup Scar with views down the Gill now to our right-hand side. We continue following this route, over a style that takes us onto a path over access land and through Middle Tongue until we reach the bottom of the valley at Harbour Flatt.

There is a short section along a minor road at Keisley before we take a footpath right that skirts Harthwaite and returns us to Bow Hall. From here we retrace our steps to return to Dufton village.