Great Coum and Crag Hill

Walk 2 - Crag Hill [682m] and Great Coum [687m] from Dent Village - 9 miles circular - 4.5 hours - An excellent fell walk with good views over Morecambe Bay and a pleasant return walk along Dentdale. This walk can either be undertaken by parking in the Dent village carpark or by using the Saturdays only bus service from Dent Station. Back to Dentdale

From the summit of Crag Hill

If arriving by train alight at Dent Station and take the Saturdays and summer Sunday only bus which should be waiting on the station access road. This is timed to fit in with the northbound morning train service from Leeds. From the bus shelter in the centre of Dent walk away from the main street up the left hand side of the village school and to the rear of the Sun Inn. The road continues up through the houses eventually becoming a track up to one side of the Flintergill ravine. In summer this will be a dry stream bed but in winter a series of waterfalls. Nearing the top of the track is a barn to the right hand side inviting a visit. This is full of agricultural artifacts.


Flintergill	The Occupation Road

Continue on to the top of the track and passing though a gate emerging on the level to a junction with the Occupation Road. Turn right along the drovers road running around the contour at the side of the fell. In recent times stretches of this have been destroyed by thoughtless 4x4 drivers but this section is quite pleasant. After 500m or so turn left to pass through a gate and proceed uphill along another track up on to World Side Moss. The enclosed track eventually opens out with the stone wall on the right gradually curving around to face Crag Hill with the ascent to come. Still with the wall on the right commence the steep and relentless ascent of Crag Hill.


Track to Crag Hill	Ascent of Crag Hill

On emerging at the top follow the wall to a junction with another wall whereupon step over recent stone stile to turn right and immediately over a wooden stile walking for a short distance to reach the trig point of Crag Hill [682m]. The views across Morecambe Bay including Heysham and Barrow are excellent in good weather whilst in the other direction there is a good vista of the Lake District fells.

Retrace steps and to the stile. Pass over the stile and proceed along the crest of the hill with the wall on the left and after 500m or so the diminutive cairn of Great Coum [687m] will be seen on the other side of the wall. This is in fact very slightly higher than Crag Hill and yet has no trig point. Continue to a change in direction of the wall as the wall turns to the right and in a southerly direction. The path starts to drop downhill. There are several stiles in the wall and at some point cross to the other side of the wall still in the same direction.

This passes the rocky outcrop of Gatty Pike and a short distance further on look for a large boulder located at the intersection of two walls. This is County Stone the one time intersection of 3 counties being the extremity of Lancashire, West Riding and Westmoreland. These days it is the intersection of Lancashire and Cumbria.

Continue until the next broken down wall and then descend diagonally down hill to the far corner of the pasture where there is a stile. Passing over the stile turn left on to the Occupation Road. Follow the track for 1.5 miles. Then turn right along Nun House Outrake a stony track. This eventually emerges at Deepdale Lane. Cross the lane and through the farm gate opposite. Walk downhill for 200m towards the farmhouse at Scow. Turn left passing across several fields and running parallel with Deepdale Beck. Eventually dip down through the trees towards Mill Bridge. Crossing the minor road take the signposted path towards Dent following the beck. This eventually meets the River Dee and then follows the river almost to Dent.


Crag Hill	Great Coum

Descent of Great Coum	Occupation Road

As the riverside path runs out pass over Keld Beck and turn right to walk alongside the right hand side of the village playing field to emerge at Church Bridge. Turn left to follow the road into Dent and the bus shelter by the village car park.


Dent village: Stone Close tea room	Dent village: George & Dragon pub

For current timetables see Western Dales Bus

Important note:- Whilst the author has taken every care in assembling the information on this site, no responsibility can be accepted for any error or omission herein. If in any doubt walkers should always consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability.

This page was last updated on 07-May-2020

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