COUNTRY WALK: Fountain’s Fell near Malham

FOUNTAIN’S Fell tends to be overlooked with most walkers heading for the more popular fells in Wharfedale or the vastly more popular Three Peaks.

Hidden between is Fountain’s Fell (and its neighbour Darnbrook Fell) which is full of interest, both historical and today as a true farming community. Away from Fountain’s Fell the walking is rough, but the views excellent and a feeling of real remoteness is very appealing.

A mile north of Malham Tarn, on the road between Malham and Littondale, lies Tennant’s Gill Farm and to its north the slopes of Fountain’s Fell. There is no official car parking nearby but it is a quiet road and there are opportunities to park roadside. At the entrance to Tennant’s Gill Farm join the Pennine Way. The Pennine Way can be followed for nearly two miles towards the summit of Fountain’s Fell, the path climbs steadily through rough farmland and then open access moorland.

Where the path reaches its high point near some tall boy cairns, a faint track on your left heads on to the summit area of Fountain’s Fell. This is an area of historical interest with numerous mine shafts, cairns and a well preserved bee hive coke oven two-metres high. The area was used to mine coal before it was taken down to the valleys to power the early mills. The mine shafts were mainly sunk at the turn of the 19th century and when they became too large to mine, abandoned and a new one was sunk…that is why there are so many.

The summit cairn for Fountain’s Fell is to the west end of the summit plateau meaning you have to walk through the old workings…very eerie in misty conditions.

In good weather the views of Pen y Ghent are excellent, unusual as it is usually viewed from the other side, and more interesting as a result.

Return to the tall boys and, in wet weather, or if you are not keen on taking to the rough often trackless moorland, return back down the Pennine Way. However if you are after more of an adventure cross the Pennine Way and head towards Darnbrook Fell. The crossing to Darnbrook is made easier if you stick close to a wall that bends right and then left to the col before continuing up steady slopes to Darnbrook Fell.

The trig point at the summit is on the wrong side of the wall and perched on a peat hag. It is interesting to see such a trig in all its glory, the large concrete base (never usually seen) a reflection of the big effort required to build each one.

From Darnbrook Fell follow the fence, changing to a wall east and then south east along the high shoulder. The walking is rough over peat and moor but the views over Littondale and Upper Wharfedale do compensate. After two miles follow the walls west as the land drops towards Darnbrook House Farm; keeping the small plantations below before heading down to the farm is a good marker.

From the farm join the main road and return to the car at Tennant’s Gill Farm.

Fact box:

Distance: Roughly 8.5 miles

Height to Climb: 380m (1,260 feet)

Start: SD 884691. Near Tennant’s Gill Farm on the Malham Littondale road.

Difficulty: An easy climb to Fountain’s Fell followed by rough walking up and down Darnbrook Fell.

Refreshments: The nearest refreshments is either a three-mile drive to Arncliffe in Littondale or a slightly longer drive to Malham

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company in the Yorkshire Dales.

He has written his own book, the “Dales 30” which describes the highest mountains in the Dales.

He also runs one-day navigation courses for beginners and intermediates. You can join his Learn a Skill, Climb a Hill weekends in the Dales.

To find out more details on any of the above visit his website: Where2walk.co.uk