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Rutter Force
Route facts
Waterways:
River Eden »
Distance: 7.52 miles / 12.1 km
Duration: 4 - 5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Circular route from: Appleby-in-Westmorland
A truly lovely low level walk out by the River Eden and back by Hoff Beck, broken up by the historic and scenic charms of Cryside and Rutter.
1. Start - by climbing the length of Boroughgate to the High Cross at the very top of the main street. From the Castle gates bear right along the main road (Shaws Wiend) and follow the wall enclosing the castle grounds. When the road bends away to the right, stay with the wall and descend the steep Castle Bank towards the River Eden.2. Ignore the bridge and take a kissing-gate on the right. After initially being confined, the path emerges to lose itself in a large field alongside the river bank. Remain by the river for a lengthy spell.3. Entering a second much longer wood the path finally leaves the Eden by climbing a short flight of wooden steps. Continue on the top of the bank to reach a knoll at the end. This offers a fine prospect of the impressive 10-arch Ormside Viaduct carrying the Settle-Carlisle line.The path slants down to a footbridge in the wooded confines of Jeremy Gill, then rises alongside a small feeder. Emerging at the top, advance with a hedgerow on the left to then turn left on a very broad greenway. As it opens out, swing right to the railway under pass. The enclosed farm track leads unerringly onto the road at Great Ormside.4. Whichever way Ormside was entered turn right along the road, under another railway bridge. Gradually the road rises to a crossroads. Cross straight over and up just as far as an isolated house. Here take a stile on the right and slant up to a stile in the top corner. With a fence on the left another stile is encountered before a gradual descent onto a road. Turn left along it and then branch right on the lane to Rutter Force.5. From the road at the other side turn through a gate on the right, and cross an enclosure with a duckpond to gain the river bank at a stile at the end. Hoff Beck is now traced down stream in lovely surroundings to quickly reach a footbridge. Cross and resume a delightful walk. Shortly after passing a farm drive and bridge, another foot bridge is reached. Re-cross and turn right onto a farm track, quickly becoming enclosed to join a narrow lane. Go right to reach Hoff.Cross straight over the road and on past the phone box. As the rough drive forks in front of a house, go right to enter a barn yard. Take a gate on the right to rejoin the river bank.6. Entering more colourful country, a craggy wall at Cuddling Hole occupies the other bank for a shore spell. Soon after, a steep wooded bank force us up from the river, to run along to meet an old sunken way descending from the left. Follow it down through the trees to the right to regain the river bank just short of Bandley Bridge. Cross Bandley Bridge and bid farewell to Hoff Beck as a thin path up the slope ignores a stile on the right. A slender rougher pasture leads to the brow; only vestiges of this old enclosed way remain. Keep on the field edge with Appleby and the North Pennines re-appearing ahead. As the field drops away, bear left to the head of an enclosed way. This pleasant green track runs down to meet Colby Lane on the edge of modern Appleby. Head up Barrowmoor Road opposite, turning right and sharp left along Margaret's Way. At the bend at the end turn down a footway between houses to a steep wooded bank above the Eden. Turning right an urban path leads into town. At the bottom go right on Holme Street and High Wiend to enter Boroughgate.
Getting there
Parking: Broad Close, around the back from the Market Place.
