Location : Kirkby Stephen
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 782015.
Places to Stay:
Mallerstang looking up with Wild Boar Fell on right.
Mallerstang, together with the other Pennine Dales and the Upper Eden Valley, are among England's few remaining wild and peaceful places. David Bellamy described this general area as "England's last Wilderness".
It lies between Mallerstang Edge/High Seat on the Eastern side and Wild Boar Fell on its western side, and roughly covers the area from Kirkby Stephen, south to Garsdale.
The River Eden, which has its source on Black Fell Moss above Hell Gill Beck, flows through the valley and the Carlisle to Settle Railway also follows the valley.
Mallerstang looking down with Wild Boar Fell on left.
North end of the Mallerstang Valley, with an infant River Eden
At the Northern end of Mallerstang, not far from Lammerside Castle, are the Giants Graves, which are probably Bronze Age burial grounds (NY 777044).
Giants Graves - north end of the Mallerstang Valley.
Giants Graves - north end of the Mallerstang Valley.
Wild Boar Fell.
Mallerstang Edge (hill ridge centre and left of centre) Hangingstone Scar (hill ridge right of centre).
Mallerstang Edge.
Mallerstang Edge.
Throughout its length, the valley of Mallerstang is buttressed and sheltered on the east by a continuous barrier of high ground, everywhere above the 2000' contour, and seamed by watercourses and cliffs. This is Mallerstang Edge, forming the Pennine watershed between east and west, and, although little visited, gives an exhilarating high-level walk, unimpeded by walls or fences, for several miles.
Lady Anne's Way in Mallerstang.
Read A Virtual Walk through Mallerstang for a description of the features and places of interest of the valley :
- Starting where the River Eden begins, along Hell Gill Beck, the county boundary between Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
- Continuing along the original road through Mallerstang before the B6259 was built - the route now known as Lady Anne’s Way.
- A little detour to Hellgill Force - the largest waterfall on the River Eden.
- The Watercut - the sculpture nearest the source of the Eden - the first of a series of sculptures, that have been set up at intervals all along the River Eden.
- The hamlet of Outhgill - with its 12th Century church of St Mary, rebuilt by Lady Anne Clifford in 1663.
- Some features of the Carlisle Settle Railway.
- On to Pendragon Castle, reputed to have been founded by Uther Pendragon, the father of King Arthur.
'pillow mounds' near the old Smardale Viaduct
'pillow mounds' near the old Smardale Viaduct
In Smardale attached to the estates of Smardale Hall and Ravenstone Dale Manor are a number of 'pillow mounds', sometimes called Giants graves, although they are not. Pillow mounds, probably a late medieval development, are low stone mounds which were once covered with earth and used as artificial rabbit warrens.
In the middle ages rabbits were regarded as valuable animals, to be looked after and cosseted. Rabbits were brought into this country by the Normans. They are originally from southern Europe, and it took them a long time to adjust to our cold, wet climate. But they were such useful animals - their meat was delicate and well-flavoured, the soft fur made fine leather and warm linings for winter clothes, and their stomachs could be used to rennet cheese.
Photos by Simon Ledingham.
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