The Village of Dufton is a Fellside Village, part of a line of villages on the edge of the Pennines above the Eden Valley - Hilton, Murton and the Keisley settlement to the south-east and Knock, Milburn, Blencarn, Skirwith and others to the north-west in the direction of Melmerby. The higher ground viewed from Dufton gives fine views of Knock Pike, Dufton Pike and Murton Pike, with Cross Fell, Great Dun Fell, Knock Fell and Dufton Fells behind. On the south side of the village the land drops away steeply into Dufton Ghyll, which is managed by the Woodland Trust and provides riverside walks and access to a network of field paths. The lower pastures are in dramatic contrast to the rugged slopes and rocky outcrops of the Pennines. The farming of sheep and cattle forms the backbone of the rural economy.