This ride offers fantastic views over the Eastern Fells and on a clear day, like the cover photo, you can see north all the way to Blencathra along with the Hevellyn range to the west. These fells hold up suprisingly well to the weather and you can pretty much guarantee good going even in winter. Despite this, allow plenty of time for the rocky sections as you pick your way careful around paths littered with boulders.
Route Description
1. Exit the car park using the gate to the left of the cattle grid. Turn right onto the road and then straight through the gate next to another cattle grid. Continue along this road, over the wide river bridge and into Askham Village. Ride through the village, turning right at the cross roads and past the shop and outdoor swimming pool. Shortly after the end of the village, take the narrow hedge lined road forking off to the left. Take note of the passing places as you ride because they are few and far between and there’s not enough room to squeeze past a vehicle if you meet any.
2. Follow the road through several twists and turns until you come to a large farm entrance on the left with tall, dark brown deer gates. Pass through these gates (tricky due to the fencing on either side!) and continue along this driveway., past a large stone trough on your left. Enjoy a canter up the rough grass field to the top of the driveway. Just before the farm, turn right through another deer gate and then through one final gate to take you onto the fells.
3. Heughscar Hill can be tricky to navigate with multiple tracks on the ground however this entire fell is common land with rights for horses over the entire fell, not just the bridleways. Follow the wide grassy path heading west and then skirt left around the top of the hill before it drops away. You are heading for the Cockpit, a circle of stones and the junction for several paths. Keep working your way east (avoiding the path taking you south, that’s another route!) until you come to the stone circle. Continue along the lower, stony track past the stone circle and over a small river crossing.
4. Just after the river crossing, head left up to Arthurs Pike. The route is well defined and well travelled so you will see the obvious path to the top. Take care because the path can be slippy and boggy in places.
5. Continue on past Arthur’s Pike until your route joins up with another bridleway. This isn’t that well defined in places but can be seen as an eroded path on the fell. Follow this path back down to the Cockpit only this time, instead of retracing your steps, continue straight across Askham Fell on the lower bridleway. This passes through a gate in a stone wall and then into a field which slower tapers to a narrow point between two stone walls. Continue through the gate and follow the road past cottages back to Askham village crossroads. Retrace your way back over the wide river bridge to Lowther.
CAUTION: The fell ponies can be a pest. They roam the entire fell covering a wide area. It is best to carry a whip and keep a wide birth if you can.
Parking
Park at the large car park just outside Lowther Castle, there’s masses of room to turn around here and the majority of tourists park in Lowther Castle itself so this carpark usually stays quiet. This car park is really horse friendly and only 10 mins from the M6 Junction J39.
Address: Askham Bridge Car Park, Penrith CA10 2PD
Cost: £5 payable by phone or free for Lowther Castle members
