Another easy and fast flowing day of walking which starts by walking along the river Tees. To start the excitement of for today you soon come to the first of two unbelievable sights for today. The first one you come to is Cow Green Reservoir which is the source of the river Tees which the Pennine way has followed for the last 10 miles.

This landmark comes after around 4 miles and is an awesome sight. All of the water in the river that you have been following has come from here, 1000's of gallons per minute blasts down the rock face here which you climb up parallel to, not 10 meters from the falls. White water, spray splashing and a thunderous noise greets you as you climb up the rocks.

After another 5 miles you arrive at what I vote to be, in clear weather the best sight and view of the Pennine Way, High Cup Nic. What this land mark is, is a large spoon shaped cut out in the hill, made by a spoon 600 ft down, 700 ft across and about a mile long, creating the most unforgettable view I can remember, from here I could right into the heart of the lake district about 30 miles away to the West. Most fortunately for us we were about 2 hours ahead of our planned journey time, so we had a massive hour and a half lunch stop, mostly made up of looking at the view. For the first time on the walk the temperature was down and only reached 21 degrees, the coldest day of the walk. This temperature usually is ample and very pleasant but to us it felt rather cold and we had to put on our togs. We had our lunch there but as it was to us rather cold we left at 2.15 still half an hour ahead of time. We stopped at Dufton Y.H.A. 

From Langdon Beck there is going to be an action packed day all the way to Dufton. Apart from losing the Northward direction for once and for a whole day you are heading more South than North there is nothing that you could complain about unless you don't want to adjust your compass from 0' degrees, and put it on to 260' degrees, the days average.

The Pennine way soon rejoins the River Tees for the last time as you are going to be following it all the way to its source, Cow Green Reservoir. The terrain to here is very enjoyable, with very flat walking on green and soft footpaths. This is the case all the way to the river's source apart from two places, Falcon Clints and around Cronkley Scar, where the path becomes a little rocky, but still easy to walk on. Cow green reservoir has a controlled let out gate, which completely controls the river flow, if the gates are completely open the river runs at a good 10 knots, but it can be shut to become an ordinary paced river, or even cut it down to a trickle.

The source of the river makes the first real change. This is also called Cauldron Snout, where the water is let out, over the rocks. At the side of the mass of tumbling water, there is a wall of rocks which needs to be scrambled over, not 10 metres from the raging torrent, that the reservoir is usually sending out. A little while after Cauldron Snout you come to a small farm called Birkdale. Also from here, there is another river that is also fed by the same Reservoir. This river is not the same as the one you have just been following. This one towards the West of the reservoir which you are now following is Maize Beck and the one to the East that you have just finished walking along is River Tees. 

From the farm the Pennine way climbs gently to a level that you will be on for the next 3.5 miles. Over this distance you are on a very open and exposed moor during which you lose the river, but quickly rejoin it again 2 miles later 

From here the route goes along the plateau to High Cup. You come upon the marvellous sight just as quickly as petrol goes up when you light it, quite literally on one step you don't see the view and one step future on you suddenly find yourself metres from the edge of the cliff. This occurs because every thing around here is so flat, that the horizon looks like the hills ahead without an interruption, even though there is a gap of around 25 miles. 

This on a clear day is a sight and a half, the best on the whole of the Pennine way, even better than High Force. The sudden shock of seeing a drop of 600 ft below you, comes on you with a bang. 

This is a great place for lunch as you can see the greatest sight on the Pennine way for a longer time. The most unfortunate thing about it is that it is so exposed that, even on a hot day it is a pretty cool place to be for a long time. 

The decent into Dufton is easy as it is on the same terrain that you have just been reading about, with a constant gentle descent over 3 miles. The town of Dufton is very nice and has got all you will ever need to make your stay enjoyable. 

Overall this day is the best for the views, and sights that the Pennine way can give you. If the day is not very nice, or visibility is down then you have every right to feel cheated by the weather.

None on route. A hotel/public house and a shop at Dufton. 

Youth hostel and guest houses in Dufton.