Walk 1715 - printer friendly version

Dufton Pike & Dufton Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.0 miles / 8.1 km

Ascent - 500 feet / 152 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference NY681269
Lat 54.636206 + Long -2.4957254
Postcode CA16 6DN (approx. location only)

This low level walk offers a pleasant half day excursion into the country surrounding Dufton Pike. It also offers the chance to visit the pleasant village of Dufton with its pretty cottages lining the village green. Also during the season refreshments are available in the village.

The start is the village of Knock (grid ref NY681269) where there are ample opportunities to park along the main street through the village. However do be considerate and ensure you do not inconvenience residents with reckless parking. After parking, walk to the eastern end of the village to where the road turns sharp right (grid ref NY681269). Here go left up a gravel track which is signed as a public footpath passing Town End Farm on your right. Continue along this track for about 400 metres to just past the point where the track doglegs right and then left.

You will find a signed footpath and a stile on your right. Take this stile and continue across fields walking parallel to Knock Gill which is below on your right. The path descends to gross another stream and then continues above the stream on your right which is now Great Runsdale Beck. If in doubt about the line of the footpath continue walking fairly close to the stream but remain above it in the field. On this section the views are excellent are about to improve again as you continue.

The path eventually comes to a stile in a stone wall (grid ref. NY692273). Cross the stile. You are now on the Pennine Way. Turn right and cross Great Runsdale Beck and once across the river bear left on a clear path. The slopes of Dufton Pike rise quite steeply on your right as you head roughly south-east. Continue through two gates to reach a junction of paths (grid ref. NY703268). Do not follow the signed path up a steep slope; instead stay on the main track which after passing through a gate joins another track (grid ref. NY704267).

Turn right down the track and follow gently downhill towards the village of Dufton. After some way and only just before the village of Dufton you reach a footpath sign on the right. This is the Pennine Way. If you want to visit Dufton village continue straight ahead and return to this point to continue.

Turning right down the Pennine Way (grid ref. NY691252) you follow an enclosed path at first which soon opens out as it passes through pastures. This was once a track but lack of use through the years has reduced the route to a narrower footpath. After about 500 metres the path joins a track coming in from the left. Bear right and follow the continuation of the Pennine Way. After another 200 metres the track divides. The Pennine Way bears right but you need to bear left and follow a slightly overgrown enclosed path.

This path leads you to Dufton Church (grid ref. NY684261), which lies in an isolated distance some way from the village. Go through the main gate and walk to the back of the church and through the gate in the wall to locate a footpath across fields heading roughly north. After crossing a field the path turns sharp left over a footbridge which then leads along the side of a field to reach a tarmac lane (grid ref. NY682264). Turn right along the lane and you are soon back in the village of Knock.

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.