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Askham Fell - Intro Ride, Eastern Fells

 



Askham Fell Intro Ride – Nearly 7 miles

Parking – If your not able to ride into the area you can park in the Lowther Estate Car park by the river or you can park in the free village car park at Askham Hall, which is a lovely big car park.
Things to note – route takes in open fell which has sheep, a herd of longhorn cattle and fell ponies. There are gates and also a bridge to cross, which some may like to lead across. Since March 2025 the bridge at Whale now has mounting blocks and horse friendly gates, which is massive improvement to how it use to be. You may like to take a long lead rope so it is easier to manoeuvre your horse across the bridge. Some of Askham Fell is open access land for horses so you don’t have to stick to the path and can follow the many other routes across the fell (These extra open access rights for horses are under Section 15 of the CROW Act, which are explained more here http://www.rombalds-riding.org.uk/rights-of-way/current-issues/).






From Askham Hall car park ride up through the village and when you hit the main road turn left. After about half a mile turn left and go on a quiet land to Whale Farm. Here take the bridleway to Helton village across the river (note comment above about bridge). From Helton take the fell road to get onto the common passing stone circles on these ancient tracks. Once you hit a cross road in the bridleways turn right back to Askham village.
This ride could be classed as just a intro to the area, there are loads of routes you can do from here for example take the bridleway off Askham Fell down to Howtown or a for real adventure you can bag some Wainwrights by taking the High Street bridleway which is a Roman Road and do a loop that takes in Arthurs Pike and Loadpot or even go the top of High Street!

A GPX file of this ride can be downloaded from Ride Cumbria Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/367414084781168



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