Mickle Fell

5th June 2021
Join me as I bag County Durham's highest summit, Mickle Fell.
This leaves just one more summit left to bag to complete all the significant summits of County Durham.
Note Mickle Fell is on MOD land and part of a live firing range, you need a permit to visit its summit and must stick to agreed routes of which there are two, the one I took in this video, and the other has an approach from the opposite side.
If you would like to support me, I am raising money for surgery in Spain:
gofund.me/045d...
Thank you for watching and your continued support. I've not actually been out hiking properly since June, I still have two episodes of the Grand Tour to edit from back in June and a number of short videos of my trip in Scotland from August. Between work and the charity where I volunteer, I've been struggling to find the time to hike and edit videos. Many of my weekends I am either working or supporting someone who needs my help. I hope that in the New Year this will change and I will be back out a lot more frequent. In the meantime, I hoping you had a wonderful time during the festive season and wishing you all a fantastic and amazing New Year for 2022.

[@malcolmabram2957]

A long time ago, I climbed Mickle Fell during a 'rest day' on the Pennine Way when I did a wild camp to its north near Cow Green Reservoir. Forbidden territory. Apart from the helicopters swirling around me, strafing me every second minute, and a platoon of SAS soldiers chasing me, I saw no one all day, and judging by the size of cairn many others had done the same exercise. You did well, a really nice video.

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

it is a beautiful hill and would be a wild camp heaven if it were not on MOD land... but then, I think it would be too popular and some people sadly leave their rubbish behind, so perhaps better to be on MOD land. But good going trying to camp there.

[@itsmarvzt]

WOW!!! WHAT AN ADVENTURE!!! Keep sage my friend and enjoy!!! Love from Cayman Islands! 🏝

[@robinanoble4664]

What a breath taking video. Scenery fantastic. Just loved all the place names. Take care and many thanks.

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

on a sunny day this area is really beautiful but not so much when it is raining

[@ramblingracheltrailtales]

What a lovely location for a hike, 12 miles is a good distance. Beautiful landscape & views throughout. 🥰

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

It was a fantastic... I was totally in my element there and fortunate enough to get a good day because you just have to take potluck with the permits and weather. Wishing you an amazing 2022. Happy New Year!

[@GazianoOutdoors]

Yeah I think you did pick a good day for that walk , beautiful scenery, good to have the place to yourself , Shame you can't wild camp there , ideal like you say, all the best for the new year

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Thank you. It was a beautiful day, actually ended up with a nasty heat rash on my legs it was that warm. Wishing you a wonderful 2022! Happy New Year!

[@AlanMETALMAN]

Been to Cow Green many times but never had weather like that, that was a cracking days walking and a place I have never stood on. To be honest, I did not know it was MOD land and you needed a permit to hike there, useful information, cheers Alan

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

I've just been the twice to Cow Green and both times I hit lucky with the weather. It's a bit of a slog getting to the top of Mickle Fell but the views are amazing and the isolation is bliss. Well worth the effort on a nice day. Would hate to do it on a bad day, so would aim for end of May, which is usually quite nice, but if there's been a bit of rain then the Maizebeck might prove difficult to cross. It is really just the bank holidays that you can gain access, there are some set times outside the bank holidays but you can only go when they tell you and you have to keep to the MOD official routes (although I know a few people who have gone off piste and avoided the pass, I would recommend doing it properly and that way it keeps things good with the MOD for the future, otherwise one day they might just put a complete stop to people going, especially if someone ended up getting killed as a result - it is a live firing range). Wishing you an amazing New Year. atb. Alice

[@gazgano]

Nice to see you Alice been a while! Wishing you all the best in 2022 x

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Thank you... yes, it has been a while. I've been sooooo busy at work and with the charity that I volunteer for that I've only been out properly twice since June, I've got 2 episodes of the Grand Tour to edit, and some footage from a trip to Scotland but just not had the time. I managed to get out for a short walk in the Cheviots on Sunday but forgot to put the sim card in my camera, so sadly no footage but it was incredibly windy, so I doubt I would've managed anything audible anyway. I am hoping to get out more this year and to try and restore my work/hiking balance. Wishing you a fantastic 2022. Happy New Year!

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I went up Mickle Fell years ago but didn't bother with the permit in fact I didn't know that you were ment to have one at the time!I can't remember how I did it I think bus to Langdon Beck from Barnard Castle and across the fells to Appleby and train back to the north east.Mickle Fell was the highest mountain in the North Riding of Yorkshire not to be confused with the modern North Yorkshire.The view from the top is similar to that from Cross Fell, except for the fact you can see Cross Fell!, Cumbrian Mountains to the west, Cheviots to the north, Yorkshire Moors way to the east, and more Pennines south.

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

It's a beautiful hill. I fully enjoyed my trip to the top. It would be an ideal wild camping spot, so flat and green; if it were not that it lay on MOD land.

[@WyeExplorer]

Heather heaven with some bog and fine views Alice. Enjoyed you showing us around. You're not wrong there - on top sure did offer great 360 panoramas. Good job ion getting the permit. I wonder what would happen if you hadn't got one? Surely you wouldn't get shot. Mind you it just enables you top relax knowing your covered. Good going - see you out there in 2022. Mark

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Hi Mark, Absolutely in my element in places like that and on a day like that too. It was wonderful. There are a few people who do the hill without a permit and trespass to do the other hill too. I would recommend seeking permission and doing things properly and that way it doesn't spoil it for other people, also if anything does go wrong, then they know you are there and can send someone out to rescue you, part of the permission is that you phone the guardhouse before setting off and again when you return, so that they can check you in and out of the range (that's how I knew that I was the only one with a permit for that day). It is a live firing range so, at the very least you need to check the days when there is no firing. Obviously for the other hill, you need to trespass that one... and that hill is littered with unexploded ordnance which is why they don't give you permission to bag it - but got a long way before I get to that hill. Wishing you all the best and a wonderful New Year for 2022. Take care Mark. Alice

[@WyeExplorer]

@@NorthernWayfarer-Alice Oh I know you're in your element Alice. And I agree if permission can be sort then do it. Take care.

[@stevesdaysoff2759]

Lovely video. Really enjoyed watching and subbed you. Atb Steve 👍

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Thank you.

[@CowDaily]

Love these videos

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Thank you. Wishing you a wonderful New Year.

[@BorderRambler]

Stunning views from up there and yes what a place to wildcamp ……… however we can’t as mod land 😂😂😂😂 that’s a real pity .

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

I've never seen a flatter and grassier top, the MOD could make a fortune opening it up as a camp site. The views are spectacular, it's a beautiful hill, a bit of a slog getting to the top but well worth the effort. Wishing you an amazing New Year.

[@marksanderson8827]

Superb walk that. Great views. I like the fact you need permission so like you there you know you are the only one. Love that. What nav aid do you use? Cheers

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

I usually use a paper map and compass but recently been using the OS map app. Still take a printed paper version just in case. Gutted that Oldmaps is no longer available online, was really good for finding hidden things and history of the landscape. Mickle Fell is a great hill, in one way I wished it wasn't on MOD land so I could do a wildcamp on the top but at the same time, I am kind of glad that it is because the place would be a Mecca for wildcampers and a minority of people will more than likely spoil it for everyone with fires and leaving rubbish etc. The biggest problem is that there's another Hewitt on the MOD land which doesn't have any access and you need to trespass to bag it. It's on the Cumbrian side so will tackle that if I ever get that far in bagging all the tops in the Northern counties.

[@jeffreywinter2660]

Nice video can't beat the Pennines.

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Thank you. Yes, I love being out in the Pennines. The sense of solitude and freedom is fantastic. Wishing you all the best for the New Year.

[@colinwatkins2950]

me and my brother have been on mickle fell 3 times without a permit mate.

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

there are a few people who do both it and the other one which is impossible to get a permit but you can be stopped if you don't have one and as I was making this video for KZbin, I wanted to make sure things were legit. Thirl Moor is another one where you aught to seek permission from the MOD but most people don't. Mickle Fell is a cracking hill, although if it wasn't on MOD land there would be a load of wildcampers up there every weekend.... never seen another summit so perfect for pitching a tent.

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

it's a area you could just put your big pack on & wander for days ⛺ didn't know you needed a pass for mickle fell 🤔 do you watch Duncan Baxter's channel ? atb for 2022

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

I wasn't aware of Duncan's channel but he's gained a new subscriber. I was just thinking about a possible future challenge after seeing the Longest Line video that Montane are sponsoring. That section of moorland includes the longest straight line in England but you would need to deviate quite a bit to navigate your way through the MOD land. Take care, and wishing you an amazing New Year.

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

@@NorthernWayfarer-Alice his presentation is like watching a TV series (knew you would like it 👍) when I was camping at high cup the army set up their communication station right next to us as there was a 24 hour exercise around warcop ranges & mickle fell etc

[@DuncanBaxter]

Hi, thanks for the kind words, I was sure I subscribed to your channel a while ago (I hadn't, my bad) and I remember watching a few times your video on Burnhope Seat and BOG!! (loved the bog bit). Regarding the longest line video, it has been a pipedream of mine to do a (possible charity) 'Bridging the Gap' hike, leave the A66 (Stainmore Gap) and over the fell summits to the A69 (Tyne Gap) , 25 miles, approx 13 summits of bog and slog, don't think if it would qualify though. I am looking forward to seeing more of your videos, atb

[@DuncanBaxter]

@@thegeordiefellwalker8878 hi, thanks for the shoutout by the way, you have put a comment up which I can read but can't find to reply to, again thanks for your continued support

[@stepheneverett6131]

Great video Alice ,how long did it take to get a permit,perfect day you had Curlew and peewit flowing in the wind 👍

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

It was a beautiful day and a beautiful hill... a little boggy getting from the PW to the burn but not too bad on a day like that. It took an age to get the permit... I applied for it in January, initially for the Easter break but it didn't come in time, and then it was getting close to the May bankholiday and I contacted them again with my details once more and then they sent it to me... not sure if that is usual or they just misplaced my original application... but definitely worth following up if you've not heard anything. The biggest problem is that you can't predict what the weather is going to be and have to take a chance on choosing a day when you are permitted to access the range. Easter and May tend to be decent enough weather. Thank you for watching. Alice

[@stepheneverett6131]

Cheers Alice ,I did the pennine way in 1977 and remember hearing tanks and gunfire somewhere up on Mickle fell ,whilst we were walking up Maize beck toward High Cup ,i used to spend a lot of time on the Durham fells them days ,so recently I took early retirement And need to go up to mickle fell to recollect memories of all those years ago .thanks for informative reply Marra,love your videos 👍