Fountains Fell Trail

A closed circular loop of 4.9 miles, starting and finishing at the roadside verge beyond the cattle grid near SD 843715 on the Stainforth to Halton Gill road. You walk about three quarters of a mile along the road first, then join the Pennine Way near SD 853723 and climb past a sharp bend and stile to a tall conical cairn. From there it continues to a second cairn and the 668 m summit area, drops beside a wall past a ruined building and a shooting hut, and returns on a broad grassy track to the start. Around 3 hours, with roughly 270 m of ascent and the same descent.

Open high moorland, long views across to Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough in clear weather, summit cairns, and the scattered remains of old coal working. The main appeal is quiet: this is a fell people pass near rather than climb, so you can have the top largely to yourself.

About 6 out of 10, and a genuine mountain walk. The Pennine Way approach is clear and steady underfoot. The summit area and the return are the harder half: rough open moorland, boggy patches after wet spells, uneven ground and an awkward descent where the line is not obvious. Deep tussocks hide ankle-turning holes, so slow down rather than stride out. Nothing shelters you up there, so wind, cloud and rain all arrive at full strength, and you should be comfortable navigating without a path.

The summit area holds several old coal shafts. Some are fenced, some are not. Keep to the clear paths, resist the urge to explore the pits, and be especially careful in mist or when snow can bridge a hole. This hazard is permanent, not seasonal.

Only a small grass verge space beyond the cattle grid near SD 843715, reached by the narrow road from Stainforth and Goat Lane. There is no formal car park and no facilities, so park considerately and leave the road clear. The fell is public access land and the walk uses the Pennine Way plus an off-path rough return section, so expect little signage once you leave the national trail.

Dogs are fine under normal public rights of way rules and kept under close control. There is grazing livestock and ground-nesting birds on the moor, so lead work is the sensible default.

Pen-y-ghent nearby is the better known Three Peaks option, busier and much better waymarked. Fountains Fell is the quieter choice, but rougher underfoot and vaguer away from the Pennine Way, which suits walkers who already navigate confidently.