
I’m on my way up to Scotland on a Monday for a few days walking with Dr Duncan, who’s just started a new job in Dundee. And since he’s not expecting to be back home before 9.00 pm, I decide to do a short walk on the way there – not least because the forecast for Dundee and Scotland generally has been steadily getting worse and worse since we made our plans, so I feel I should make the most of what is forecast to be a fine sunny day.
I’ve more or less decided on something in the Northern Pennines – but what?? I’ve been wanting to visit High Cup Nick for a while, but really I'd likd to include it in a longer route, for which today I don’t have time. So after poring over maps for a while, I go for Cross Fell. I think I once walked it in my dim and very distant youth, but I couldn’t remember it at all – which is a good enough reason to visit it again.
I’ve planned (with a bit of help from trailmasher - for which, thanks again) a route starting at Kirkland, ascending on the south side, and descending on the north side via the “Pennine Journey” path. I’m expecting it’ll take me about 4.5 hours, but if I’m ahead of schedule, and/or Duncan is late, there could be time to take in Little and Great Dun Fells.
The drive from the M6 to Kirkland affords some alluring views of the target, and the weather is superb.


There's plenty of parking in Kirkland, and I'm soon on my way.
The first section runs along a metalled farm track...

...before giving way to a path across fields.

There's a clearly visible track that runs along the north side of Grumply Hill, and I follow this. The views looking back towards the Eden Valley, and behind it, the Lake District are just magnificent...






Once above Wild Boar Scar, it's a steady pull up towards the Cross Fell plateau. Little (to the left) and Great (to the right with the radio mast) Dun come into view, and I'll soon need to weigh up whether I've enough time to include them.


Now is decision point: it'll be about 17.30 by the time I get back to the car, and the journey time is about 3.5 hours; so I haven't really got time to include the Duns. Decision made. Onwards and upwards!



Then, appropriately refreshed, I pack up and head north towards the Pennine Journey path.

And this is looking south back up towards the Fell

On the plateau the going is easy, but as I round the edge of the scarp just beyond where the last pic was taken, I look down and see that practically the whole of the area below is a glistening bog!

This is what the OS tells us:

This is the reality!!!

Initially I gingerly try to work my way through it, but it just gets worse and worse. So I go back up the hill a few hundred metres to a point above the well, and then take a route further to the West than the one I was on. By dint of delicately sod-hopping I don't get too wet, but neither are my feet dry

But it's some consolation to see the unmistakable sight of a short-eared owl quartering the moor - the game keepers haven't got them all yet!

I'm just getting to a point where the bog is petering out, and am doing my last bit of sod-hopping when my phone rings. I guess it's Dr Duncan, and it is. He's is ahead of schedule and expects to be home around 7.30pm. I give him my ETA, and hurriedly pocket the phone, as the sod I'm teetering on is rapidly sinking. At least I think I pocket my phone... Ten minutes or so later I reach for it in order to take a last photo, and... it ain't there

In these covid times, I eschew my usual stop at an establishment of cultural, historical and architectural interest, instead contenting myself with a can of (warm!) Brew Dog Nanny State, before heading north once more, arriving over an hour late at Dr Duncan's place.
But... (remember: all's well....?) About a week later while we're walking the dogs, my better half receives a call from a number she doesn't know. We debate whether to take it, but eventually we decide to; and thank goodness we did! It turns out that a guy has actually found the phone, and is ringing the last number I rang to try to trace me! Really really kind. Thanks a million, Mac. Like I said, I seriously owe you a beer or three!