IF you are stuck for something to do this, why not try this walk up Whiteside Pike?

Walk description

From the lay-by walk northwards beside the A6 (taking extra care where there is no footway) for half a mile.

Turn left beside a small white building (former telephone exchange) and take the first left towards Mosergh Farm.

The farm’s name derives from Gaelic-Norse words meaning an outlying farm near a bog. Just before the farm, near Whiteside Fold, turn right onto the signed bridleway heading uphill towards Whiteside Pike – identified by the cairn on its summit.

Bypass a turn on the right but note a bridleway passed on the left – the walk returns to this point later. On meeting a set of three gates at the top end of the track turn right through a gate after the first one. Walk up to the cairn on Whiteside Pike, selecting the best route depending on conditions such as length of bracken.

The way passes small tarns where on warm summer days dragonflies and damselflies including the large red damselfly may be spotted. The summit, which is on a rocky spine and topped with a stone cairn, offers splendid views in all directions.

From the summit, retrace your steps back down to the three gates and along the track for 400 yards. Turn right through a wide metal gate onto the signed bridleway passed earlier. Follow the track beside the wall on the left and through a pair of gates.

The grassy track then swings to the right and descends past the outside corner of a wall. The grassy track continues downhill towards Nether House Farm but the path, which is unclear, descends to the right. Aim to walk in alignment with the valley of Longsleddale.

Go through a gate on the right of woodland then join a stony track leading down to Longsleddale at Murthwaite and Staple Bank. Turn right and walk along the road for ¾ mile.

Turn left into the lane leading to Docker Nook Farm signed public bridleway, cross the River Sprint then turn left over a stone bridge crossing Dockernook Gill. Follow the bridleway down the valley.

After passing Nether House Farm keep right through a waymarked gate (do not cross the bridge over the River Sprint here). Continue following the path along the valley for a further ¾ mile and stay on the bridleway track leading to Garnett Bridge (ignoring a footpath to the right).

Cross the road bridge then turn right and go uphill for ¼ mile. Where the slope eases turn left onto a grassy footpath and keep straight ahead to climb steeply to the layby where the walk began.