At the centre of Dufton’s rectangular village green is a lime-tree avenue. The village also has a historic character and landforms ranging from dolerite cliffs to a valley shaped by ice. If you’re looking for accommodation, these themes can help you choose how to explore Dufton based on your interests.
Routes through Dufton
The Pennine Way, a long-distance walking route, passes through Dufton. Route 68 of the National Cycle Network also runs through the village. This gives Dufton two distinct route connections: a long-distance walking route and a numbered route on the cycle network.
Local conditions on Route 68 can change. It is therefore sensible to check the latest conditions before including the route in your plans. The information about the Pennine Way, by contrast, describes its route through Dufton; it does not specify walking times or requirements.
Landscape and geology
Dufton lies just inside the boundary of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the same time, the village is at the centre of the area affected by the “Helm Wind”. These local features frame a landscape whose individual characteristics are geologically distinct.
The cliffs at High Cup Nick are made of dark, hard dolerite. High Cup Gill is a classic U-shaped valley formed by ice and meltwater. Dufton Pike, in turn, is made of volcanic material. The named locations therefore highlight different landforms and rocks: dolerite cliffs, a glacially formed valley and a hill made of volcanic material. The old quarries in Dufton Ghyll also expose another type of rock: St Bees Sandstone.
Two other names are of interest to nature lovers: Dufton Ghyll Wood is one of the few remaining north-western locations of the native red squirrel. Dufton Gill is a semi-natural ancient woodland owned and managed by the Woodland Trust. These two descriptions add different nature-related points of interest to the geological features, though they do not refer to the same kind of information.
Village history and character
Most of the village of Dufton was designated a conservation area on 27 June 2005. Almost a third of the oldest surviving buildings date from the 17th and early 18th centuries. This period provides a specific historical context for the village’s character, while some individual buildings may date back further.
The Church of St Cuthbert is a medieval church that was rebuilt in 1784. Dufton Hall dates from at least the 17th century; a 16th-century origin is possible. Together, the two buildings illustrate different historical details: the church’s medieval origins and rebuilding are central to its history, while the date of the Hall is given more cautiously.
Old Dufton refers to the remains of a Romano-British settlement about three-quarters of a mile above the present-day village. In the 19th century, lead mining and smelting employed many of Dufton’s residents. The village’s history therefore stretches from a Romano-British settlement through surviving historic buildings to a later economic activity; this does not refer to current mining activity.
Choosing Dufton as a destination
If you’re looking for hotels in Dufton, first consider which aspect of the village matters most for your trip: its history, geological features or route connections.
Discover more destinations: Winscales, Dent, Great Clifton, Askham, Silloth, Appleby-In-Westmorland, Ivegill, Temple Sowerby.
For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.
