Park Bottom Birks Tarn Loop

WALK 5 – MODERATE: 5 ¼ miles and 1,220 feet of climbing (approx) Starting point: Park Bottom Birks Tarn Loop Refreshments: Queens Arms, Litton Directions: On leaving Park Bottom turn right and head towards the Queens Arms. Take the bridleway just after the Queens Arms signposted Buckden 3 ½ miles. Follow the bridleway through the farmyard and up to the right, take the right hand path through the gate and between the 2 walls. Go through a further gate and head over Crystal Beck, using the wooden bridge if walking after heavy rainfall. Head through the gate and up the grassy hill towards a further gate. The path then starts to get a little stony as it continues upwards. Continue through another gate and then through the gap in the wall. Once through the gap in the wall the path starts to bend to the left, follow this and head towards the wall. The path then starts to head upwards, parallel with the wall. The path is mainly grassy but can be boggy in places. Continue upwards through a further gate and continue climbing. Once through the gate after about ¼ mile the path starts to level out as the path becomes paving slabs. Once at the gate you have reached the top and done most of the climbing for this walk!! Once through the gate continue straight on along the paving slabs, with the fell trig point on your right. Views of Buckden Pike should appear in front of you and Great Whernside to your right. Go through the gap in the wall and head towards the cairn; just as the path starts to descend down into Buckden, turn left and follow the small path. Buckden Pike will now be on your right. Continue along this path for about ½ mile and soon Birks Tarn should be on your left. Continue along the edge of the tarn, following the small path. On leaving the tarn head slightly left towards the wall (if you lose the path, head to the wall in front of you but always making sure the broken wall remains on you right hand side. Once reaching the wall go parallel with it, keeping the wall on your right, until meeting another wall. You have now reached the top of Birks Fell the highest point of this walk. At the junction of the walls do not go through the wooden gate, instead turn left and head back along the small path, keeping parallel with the wall on your right. You will pass a derelict building, great for capturing good images on your camera of Birks Tarn and Buckden Pike. Continue along the small path sticking close to the wall. The path will soon meet the paving slabs you’ve already walked along. Turn right and proceed back down through the gate and Firth Fell. Keeping close to the wall start to descend back down the way you came. Views of Littondale should soon be seen and excellent views of Pen-y-Ghent, Plover Hill and Darnbrook Fell. The path follows the wall for around ¾ miles before going slightly left and then right. The path then becomes s tony as it heads down through the gap in the wall . Continue down the bridleway through 2 gates and onto a grassy descent, before crossing Crystal Beck. Go through the gate and along the path between the 2 walls until it reaches the farmyard. Go through the farmyard and onto the road by the Queens Arms. Turn right and head back to Park Bottom. .

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