This Parish Occupies an Extensive Tract in the North-Eastern Corner Of
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DUFTON PARISH. 183 ) • Area, according to Ordnance Survey, 16,848 acres; area under assessment, 4,266 acres. Rateable value, £4,542; population, 414. • This parish occupies an extensive tract in the north-eastern corner of the county, stretching from the confines of Durham west ward a distance of about eight miles, and from north to south about five miles. It is bounded on the north by Milbourn Forest; on the west by Long Marton ; on the south by Bongate parish ; and on the east by the river Tees, which here expands into a fine broad sheet of water called The Wheel. From this lake the water is precipitated down a steep incline ; and from its resemblance to the discharge of a liquid from some huge vessel, the fall has been named Caldron Snout. Numerous offshoots from the Pennine Range and other detached mountain masses cover the parish, giving it a decidedly Alpine -character. Among these hills are reared great numbers of a superior breed of black-faced mountain sheep. Though wanting in those picturesque and romantic effects which form such attractive features in much of the mountain scenery of the lake land, there are several pleasing patches of landscape and other intere10ting spots in this dis trict well worthy of notice. Of late years the locality has been much frequented by tourists on their way to the lakes from the counties of Durham and Yorkshire. The route generally taken is by way of High Force to Caldron Snout, then up Maize at the base of Mickle Fell, and across Hycup (High Cup) plain (where perchance the traveller may experience the effects of the remarkable Helm wind) to Hycup Gill, one of the grandest sights in the Pennines. Great and Little Rundel Tarns should next be visited, from which the tourist -can make his way down Rnndel valley, or, if he choose, by Narrow Gate to the little picturesque village of Dufton, where very superior .accommodation may be obtained at Hallcroft, or at the two well-con ducted inns. Within easy walking distance of the village there lie Cross Fell, Knocker Gill, Knock Beck, the favourite haunt of geolo gists; Great Dun Fell and Silver Band lead mines, Dufton Pike, Dufton Gill and Maize Beck Scar, both noted for ferns ; Mnrton Pike, Mell Fell, Roman Fell, and many fellside villages, but little changed in -their aspect since the days of our great-grandfathers. .