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Fox Tower
Towards the eastern edge of the fells visible from Warcop Station is a small tower which looks somewhat like an old mine building. This is Fox Tower.
Fox Tower is actually a folly built in the 1770s by the then owner of Helbeck Hall, John Metcalf Carleton. It stands just under 1000 feet above sea level on the slopes of the Warcop Fells above Brough and on the edge of the Warcop Ranges.
There is normally no public access, but in 2014 access was allowed from Helbeck Hall or several weeks, and being familiar with the tower from my volunteering at Warcop Station I couldn't resist the chance to see it up close.
The walk from a temporary car park at Helbeck Hall was about three quarters of a mile long and climbed about 200 feet through Helbeck Woods. The views from the Tower were splendid even though the day was quite hazy.
Unfortunately I only had a 6MP camera at the time and my 70-210mm zoom was distinctly average. I would love to get up there again with some of the rather better camera kit I now have.
Although most of the photos date from May 2014 the first two are from August 2017 when the light was right and I had a new zoom lens to play with! Clicking on the image will lead to a full size version of the image.
Fox Tower is actually a folly built in the 1770s by the then owner of Helbeck Hall, John Metcalf Carleton. It stands just under 1000 feet above sea level on the slopes of the Warcop Fells above Brough and on the edge of the Warcop Ranges.
There is normally no public access, but in 2014 access was allowed from Helbeck Hall or several weeks, and being familiar with the tower from my volunteering at Warcop Station I couldn't resist the chance to see it up close.
The walk from a temporary car park at Helbeck Hall was about three quarters of a mile long and climbed about 200 feet through Helbeck Woods. The views from the Tower were splendid even though the day was quite hazy.
Unfortunately I only had a 6MP camera at the time and my 70-210mm zoom was distinctly average. I would love to get up there again with some of the rather better camera kit I now have.
Although most of the photos date from May 2014 the first two are from August 2017 when the light was right and I had a new zoom lens to play with! Clicking on the image will lead to a full size version of the image.
May 2014 was the right time of year for the bluebells and wild garlic in Helbeck Woods to be in bloom.
A first view of the tower from below as the path climbs steeply
Fox Tower with the Eden Valley behind
The tower seems to have been used for picnic parties, either on the upper floor of the tower or in the open air on the flat roof depending on the weather. The food & drink was prepared on the lower floor. Alas the floors & roof have now gone.
Having photographed the tower from Warcop Station many times I had to take one looking the other way! Not that the rolling stock and station house are very prominent as it was a bit hazy.
Smardale Viaduct on the Settle & Carlisle line
Brough Village and Castle
Mallerstang and Wild Boar Fell
I don't know whether this limestone scar has a name, but it is behind the tower and looks impressive from there
Updated on 21st January 2018 by Caroline Mitchell