Tan Hill Circular

Start: Enter the village of Keld from the main road. Drive down to the camping car park from a lane turning left. The car park has toilets and washing facilities and a cafe attached to the farm building, though check opening times.

(S/E) Walk directly from the car park on the road you drove into it, cross the junction and follow the footpath signpost along a lane for a few hundred metres.

(1) Where the path splits, take the left branch down a steep hill leading to a bridge. A decent view of the waterfall is seen from this side of the bridge by walking a few metres downstream. Cross the bridge and follow the footpath climbing up by Kisden Falls to join a lane.

(2) On reaching the lane, take the route to the left towards a number of buildings.

(3) Pass between the buildings to reach a branch in the track. Take the signposted route to the left. Follow the track with a view of the river down to your left, then contour the hillside before dropping down to Stonesdale Lane.

(4) Cross the road, taking the signposted path directly in front. You have a wall on your left with the river running below. Follow this path through a number of fields, passing to the right of two small barn buildings before coming to the farm at Smithy Holme.

(5) Continue past Smithy Holme Farm, a modernised building, on the right, where a clearly visible footpath shoots off diagonally, heading towards a walled paddock. Pass the paddock on the left side and continue on the footpath passing through a number of walls to reach Ravenseat.

(6) Pass through a gate with a building on your right and a footpath signposted directly ahead. Climb up through the field, passing farm buildings and small waterfalls below to your left.

(7) The route from here turns right to follow the right-hand side of Pryclose Gill, climbing up to clear the wooded gill and cross through two walls to enter the open fells. Follow the distinct footpath up to a ruined building.

(8) From the ruins of Robert's House, stay below the summit of Robert's Seat and contour the fell for some distance (can be wet in places). Follow this distinct track until you reach a deep gorge with a waterfall and steep sides.

(9) This is the top of Thomas Gill, where the track bears right of the deep gill dropping down sharply to a stone bridge over Stonesdale Beck.

(10) Crossing the stone bridge, the footpath turns left and slowly ascends to join the main road a few hundred metres below Tan Hill Inn. Walk up the road to the inn.

(11) You reach Tan Hill Inn. No visitor should pass without sampling the hospitality of this old inn.
The wide track heading south of the Inn, waymarked Pennine Way, is easily recognised. Take this until the lane swings left and the Pennine Way continues over the fells.

(12) Continue on the distinct Pennine Way to reach a footbridge at Lads Gill.

(13) Cross the footbridge and follow the Pennine Way track with the main road down on your right.

(14) Though the route is well defined, this area can be boggy; a pile of stones indicates the route and should be easily followed to a wall.

(15) Crossing the wall, you join a lane leading to Frith Lodge. As the lane swings left to the buildings, the path continues forward over How Gill, passing through two gates before descending to a building on your right.

(16) Pass the building on your right, the Pennine Way continues down the lane to reach the buildings (3) and junction (2) where you passed earlier in the day. Continue downhill to reach the junction above Kisden Force, take the right branch signposted Pennine Way, pass Kisden Force again, and cross the bridge to ascend the path leading to a lane. Here turn right and it's a short walk back into Keld.(S/E)

According to my tracker, the map route indicates this walk is shorter than it actually is. The distance from my tracker was 22,32km, and it took us 6 hours and 18 minutes.

I would recommend preparing for a full day in remote moors.
Full walking equipment required; some areas can be wet underfoot.
Food and drink for the day required; you can get food at Tan Hill Inn, though you may have to wait some time, so plan that into your agenda.

Though the route has been described in depth, I would never recommend this walk to be undertaken without the knowledge of the use of a map and compass. Mist can come down very quickly.

Kisden Falls is worth spending a little time viewing, either on the way out or back, as you pass it on both routes.

Ravenseat Farm is renowned as the home of the Yorkshire Shepherdness, though you probably won't see any of the family as you pass the main farm buildings to the right, you can get decent photos from the footpath.

Tan Hill is a 17th Century Inn at an elevation of 1,732 feet (528m). It is the highest Inn in England and has retained much of its historical character. It is renowned for hospitality, hence it may be busy when you reach it, though no one should pass without entering and sampling the fine ales.