We set off from Dufton in bright sunshine heading NE on an old mine track following the charmingly-named Pus Gill and skirting south of Dufton Pike. After rounding the Pike the track climbs ever so steadily up the valley to reach the Threlkeld Side mining area.
- Setting off from Dufton
- Heading east, Dufton Pike to our left.
- Heading up to Threlkeld Side
- Looking back to Dufton Pike
- Hot and cold streams ?
We headed only a short distance through the untidy area of mining debris and then headed S on a faint grassed-over track. Once the cairns on Backstone Edge were in view we struck off through the heather and stones to hit the trig point. The actual top is a hundred metres behind the edge and we had clear views of Meldon Hill to the east and the Warcop ranges to the south, from which came the occasional muffled thud from the day’s firing exercise.
- From Backstone Edge looking towards Knock and Great Dun Fells
- Backstone Edge cairn looking east to Meldon Hill
- Great Rundale Tarn - 1
- Great Rundale Tarn - 2
From Backstone Edge we headed roughly NNE over heather and past Great Rundale Tarn to what the map marks as a shooting box. In fact, this turned out to be a substantial stone building with a corrugated iron roof. It was nice and dry inside and well kitted out with benches round the sides and a big long table. A good place for a lunch stop out of the wind, which was starting to feel chilly. From the shooting box our next target, the pile of stones at Pt 716 was already visible, and from there so was our onward route to Knock Fell.
- Cairn at Point 716
- Looking back to Backstone Edge
This was pathless going for the most part, and probably the better for it. The going was sometimes grassy, sometimes heathery and sometimes squelchy, but there was nothing difficult and there were no sections churned up by heavy footfall. Knock Fell summit is pretty flat and unremarkable. There are cairns around its perimeter but once there it is fairly obvious that the centre one marks what is marginally the highest point.
- Great Dun Fell from Knock Fell summit plateau
Here we met up with Pennine Way. The extra traffic this next section sees is very obvious, so much so that slabs have been laid on the worse bits to prevent damage. This made for easy going but what was less encouraging was that we were now heading into low cloud which had built up over the last half hour and had now hidden Great Dun Fell completely.
- Crossing Knock Fell
- Endless bog over to the east
- From Great Dun Fell in the clouds
We continued on the Pennine Way to the summit and walked slowly around the perimeter fence of the radar station, hoping the cloud would lift. It did not. It stuck to the top, and despite brief glimpses of sunny landscape below, we eventually gave up waiting and made our way down, this time taking the easy tarmac option. As is the way with these things, ten minutes later the top was clear.
- ...and 10 minutes later
- Cross Fell and Great Dun Fell
We continued down the road for a couple of kilometers and then branched off SSW at a footpath sign. There was not much evidence of a path though, so we ended up contouring round and then dropping down to rejoin the Pennine Way where a footbridge carries it over Swindale Beck.
- Descending to Swindale Beck
- Round the other side of Dufton Pike
- Looking back to Great Dun Fell
It was a pleasant walk back to Dufton in the fading light. The first part was on a farm track and the Pennine Way then continued along Hurning Lane, an old, tree-shaded path between stone walls which led back to the village.
I'm not able to walk anymore but love to see where people have been and read about their experiences, particularly the North Pennines having lived in County Durham for nearly 24 years 
