Sunbiggin Tarn Ride (17.79 miles 28.46 km ) Print

SUNBw01 Waypoint 1
Road
Start by riding up the hill on the unfenced road past Brackenber.


SUNBw02 Waypoint 2
Bridleway
Turn right, look out for a bridleway sign to Crosby Garrett by the corner of the stone walls.


SUNBw03 Waypoint 3
Bridleway
Follow the track to another gate in a wall, which also marks a parish boundary. Go through and follow the clearly defined track, with the fell wall on your right, keeping left at the bridleway junctions.


SUNBw04 Waypoint 4
Bridleway
Bear right at the bridleway junction. This track will bring you back to Crosby Garrett, where you go under the viaduct and take the first turn right along Tarn Lane and along to the ford over the Scandal Beck.


SUNBw05 Waypoint 5
Road
Continue up the hill and bear left handed at the top along the quiet road back to Smardale Mill.


SUNBw06 Waypoint 6
Stone Track
Take the first left, along the stone track to Leases.


SUNBw07 Waypoint 7
Road
From Leases, turn left down the road and over a well surfaced ford.


SUNBw08 Waypoint 8
Road
Turn left at the next road junction and follow this quiet road to Crosby Garrett passing the church on your right [take time to look at this attractive village as you pass through].


SUNBw09 Waypoint 9
Road
Cross the ford or bridge over the beck and turn right.


SUNBw10 Waypoint 10
Bridleway
Go uphill and look out for a bridleway sign on your left just as the houses come to an end. Turn sharp left between the houses into the narrow lane with hedges on both sides.


SUNBw11 Waypoint 11
Road
When you meet the next road, turn right, go uphill and over the railway bridge. Look out for another bridleway sign on your left just after the tarmac ends.


SUNBw12 Waypoint 12
Bridleway
Follow the track ahead, Ladle Lane, between fields for some way. [Do pause for a moment and look back over the Upper Eden Valley.]


SUNBw13 Waypoint 13
Bridleway
Continue along the lane [which is very stony in places- take care] passing a well preserved field barn on your right. Shortly after passing the next barn, also on the right, the lane does a 90 degrees left turn.


SUNBw14 Waypoint 14
Bridleway
You go through the gate on the right, which has a bridleway sign, and continue straight ahead [west] with the wall on your left. [There is a stone post on the skyline for a guide.]


SUNBw15 Waypoint 15
New Close Lane
Turn right into Newclose Lane. Follow this lane as it descends gently to meet a minor road.


SUNBw16 Waypoint 16
Road
Turn left to Water Houses. [Look out for the clapper bridge over the stream at the bottom of the hill.]


SUNBw17 Waypoint 17
Mark
Continue up the hill to the cross roads at Whygill Head. Go straight across and look for a bridleway sign on your left to Asby Grange.


SUNBw18 Waypoint 18
Bridleway
Continue straight ahead through several fields towards another farm, Maisongill.


SUNBw19 Waypoint 19
Bridleway
Go through a gate to the left of a large barn, through the farmyard and onto a farm access track which you follow to a cattle grid.


SUNBw20 Waypoint 20
Bridleway
After passing the cattle grid or gate, TURN LEFT and keep straight ahead [south west] through more fields, keeping the wall on your left.


SUNBw21 Waypoint 21
Bridleway
Go through the gate ahead onto the open fell and follow poorly defined green path ahead and slightly uphill, with wire fence on your left, bearing left at the junction.


SUNBw22 Waypoint 22
Bridleway
When you come to a cross path, keep on this line continuing uphill. The path is less obvious now but it is in a clear hollow way.


SUNBw23 Waypoint 23
Bridleway
At the top of the rise, bear left, leaving the wall corner on your right. The green path heads sharp left but you want to go straight ahead through the left hand of the two gates in front of you. [It may have two pieces of blue tape on the top bar to help you to distinguish the right one. Before descending the fell, enjoy the views across to the Howgills.]
• It is now downhill all the way on a lovely grassy path, keeping the wall on your right. Soon Sunbiggen Tarn will come into view. [It is often alive with birds so is worth a short stop to look and listen.]


SUNBw24 Waypoint 24
Road
After a gate on to open fell, continue straight on, ignoring cross paths. Turn right onto the unfenced tarmac road. Cross a little bridge and take a clear track across the fell to your left. Follow this path at an access land sign to the gate in the wall, which marks the parish boundary.


SUNBw25 Waypoint 25
Track
Cross the wooden bridge over the boggy area. Follow the track ahead, [which has only recently been added to the definitive map of rights of way, which is why it is not shown on your OS map.] traveling in a south easterly direction until you meet the unfenced road near Brackenber and back to your transport home