Coverdale

From the village main street walk past the pub, and opposite the Methodist Chapel just before Flats Farm turn down an enclosed footway by the bridge. The cottage by the bridge is the one we stayed at on this holiday, the views over Coverdale were exceptional. The enclosed footway runs by a tiny beck round the back of the houses. As it broadens into a drive take a gap-stile on the right.

Stretching in front of you is a long wall of  moorland and as you double back over the field to the next stile you can see to the other side of the valley (you will be over there later in the walk). Continue through a handful of gap-stiles to emerge on to a road corner. Without going on to the tarmac take a gate on the left and descend to a prominent gap-stile at the bottom. Take a good look to your left and see the early farmers cultivation terraces. Bear right from this to a walled-corner stile, then on the field-side to join Cover Lane.

Turn down this narrow road to Nathwaite Bridge which crosses the River Cover. Just two minutes up the other side, take a signposted gate (footpath to West Scrafton) and immediately pass through another gate behind it. Now slant across the field to a stile at the bottom of a short section of wall opposite. Looking back you can see Penhill high above Carlton we shall be going up there in another walk !!!. Head away briefly as far as a gate in the fence, then walk up the field to a fence-stile visible near the top. You can now see the edges of the farmers terraces here. The quickest way into West Scraffton is up through the line of trees to a kissing gate above, which then gives direct access to the village. Do not cross the stream but  rise up to a green and a drive which are on the edge of the village. A little further a stream side path branches of the green to rise to the village center.

Crossing the bridge on your left of the main street going out of the village and at the village sign bear left off the road down an enclosed track, Low Lane. At a fork bear up to the right, the lane soon improving into a fine green way. At is end keep straight on the field-side, and at the end cross to a gate ahead. Now bear right to find a stile in the tiniest section of a wall in the corner, then sharp right to a similar arrangement alongside a tiny stream.

Cross the stream and go left across the field to the deeper, wooded Thorow Gill, where a wooden footbridge is found to ease the crossing. Up the other side cross the field to a stile onto a lane. Go left for just a few minutes as far as a minor junction with the access road into the hamlet of East Scrafton. On the left a stile then go down the field side to the wooded banks of the Cover. A part stepped old path slants down to the riverbank. look at the old limekiln and a little further on upstream is a lively spring which exists for a few yards before joining the river. This is St Simons Well, a Holy well and treated with great reverence in its day (not so much now ).

Turn upstream a short way past the well to St Simons Bridge on the river in a grand little corner. On the other side go right a few yards to find a modern stepped path doubling back up through Scar Wood. At the top rise left up the field to a gap-stile, and continue directly up two fields to emerge onto a road. If you want to finish the walk now you can go left and follow the road backed to Carlton, otherwise go right several yards to a gate, and head up the field to the barns of Middlefield's Farm. At a stile onto the track turn left on it in front of the buildings and rises up onto the higher lane.

Again you can go left to finish but otherwise go forward just several yards to a gate and rise up the narrow enclosure. At the top rise left from the wall to meet a firmer track, then left towards Manor Farm. Approaching a traditions old barn don't enter the yard but take a gateway to its right, and cross the enclosure via a wooden footbridge to a stile onto the lane at the head of Melmerby. Turn left down the street to a T-junction. Go right along the lane to another junction then right again to re-enter Carlton.