The North Pennines - Tackling the Bog of Black Fell

In a lot of my videos of the North Pennines I always seem to be tackling a boggy section or two, so in this video I tackle what is regarded as one of the worst areas of bog, Black Fell. My hike starts with the ascent of Grey Nag which gives outstanding views from the summit before hiking along to Tom Smiths Stone, an ancient county boundary marker. From there I tackle the bog to reach the summit of Black Fell, before heading back along a very charming and relatively unknown valley with a gorgeous name, but what is it? You will have to watch to find out...
Total Distance :- 9.98miles (15.9 km)
Summits Achieved :-
Grey Nag 2152ft (656m)
Black Fell 2178ft (664m)

[@solitaryrambler]

Another cracking walk there Duncan. I'm full of admiration for you sticking (not literally thankfully) through them bogs. Gilderdale looked absolutely amazing. Thanks for making the difficult hike to get there and film it for us! 😃 All the best 👍

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, to me personally they looked worse than they actually were, I find it easier to just to a slow zigzag route through rather than try to plow through it in a straight line 😉. Guilderdale is indeed a beautiful isolated valley, I may plan on returning there soon 😊

[@jimmy.mccutcheon.1961]

Nice one Duncan 👍

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, definitely a different experience this time round 😊

[@danexitsstreetview3273]

Good to see you out again Duncan. Love those vast open views. Those river valleys make for a different experience too. Cheers.

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, although the videos never do it justice Guilderdale is quite impressive in size, off the beaten track appears very remote yet a main road is less than a mile away 😉

[@ms.kayak7seas]

Hi, Duncan Baxter. Indeed, the panoramic view is stunning, with no PPL but an endless field.1:55 I am not familiar with the history of this area. Any insight about Tom Smiths Stone? History? OMG, is this land you will be hiking? 7:43 Yes, how peaceful to listen to the waterfall. 3:56 What do you mean by the wards hard to get to this waterfall? Is it worth it? Like your selection of music paring with the film as well. superb. Thank you.

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, yes no other people around is a very common feature of the North Pennines, I can do a full 10hr hike without seeing a single person. Tom Smiths Stone is an old boundary marker of Cumberland, Westmorland (which is now Cumbria) and Northumberland, basically where the 3 used to meet. For the waterfall (I am assuming you mean Woldgill Force), it was at the bottom of a steep sided crag, very difficult to get to and out of. Thank yoi for the music comment, the music is specifically done for this particular video and is not found on any other sites. 😊

[@darrenrobson5977]

Great to see you back Duncan, always look forward to your walks out. Could I ask what's that music at 9 minutes into the video?

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, life has been a little hectic for me at the moment but hopefully I now have more time to devote to videos. The music at 9 mins doesn't have a specific name, just comes under the title 'Black Fell' 😊

[@darrenrobson5977]

@@DuncanBaxter cheers Duncan

[@jimmycburfield5997]

As ever BRAVO!

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, it was a good day up there and the bog wasn't too bad, still lovely to be out in the area 🙂

[@rowanbaxter8517]

Thats my father there!

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, yep it's ya old man walking through thick claggy mud 😉

[@kevinwilde]

canny crack you take care marra.

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, the crack was quite canny up there this time round, not bad at all.

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

Did the very old delapidated bothy come into your view Duncan?

[@DuncanBaxter]

Hi, I didn't see any bothy structures near the tops, just a large sheepfold at Grey Nag. There was something that looked a little like a hut in Gilderdale near some grouse butts but both it and the butts looked like they had been abandoned some time ago 😮

[@gwmitchell1980]

Had a nice little run out in the North Pennies today! Waskely, Stanhope, Rookhope, Blanchland.. Stayed in the car mind.. What exactly are those little white sticks you see everywhere poking out from the heather? Always wondered 😊. An other great vid Duncan! 👍🏻

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

@@DuncanBaxter without giving to much away shall we just say you were in the vicinity 🤔 it's a good few year since I visited it so more of them N/P winters will have took their toll on the structure. I did later wild camp on the gilderdale burn when walking Issac's tea trail over 2 days. keep them coming👍

[@DuncanBaxter]

Thanks, it is a lovely area to run around in if you want to focus your thoughts whilst clocking up the miles 😊 Pretty sure the whilte sticks are where grouse feeding stations are normally situated, you will normally find a plastic tray next to them etc, I could be wrong though 😉