Lower WharfedaleTo Contents

• Bolton Abbey/ Barden Fell

Due to the overall size of Wharfedale   I have  split the area into two sections Upper Wharfedale and Lower Wharfedale (here), the dividing line being just north of Grassington. The area of Ilkley Moor  is included on a separate page.

The area includes Grassington and Bolton Abbey  both of which can get very busy but some surprisingly under walked areas can be found particular on the access areas each side of Bolton Abbey.

Map reading is essential for these walks. The  relevant map is OS Outdoor Leisure 2 Southern & Western areas (double sided map)

There are several bus services in Wharfedale, including a daily hourly service between Skipton and Grassington, with some buses continuing to Buckden. On Mondays to Saturdays there is a two-hourly service from Ilkley to Grassington. On Sundays, and some Tuesdays and Saturdays in summer, Dalesbus services run from West Yorkshire via Wharfedale to Hawes. See www.dalesbus.org for details.

Contents

• Walk 1- Bolton Abbey-Simon's Seat - 9 miles  
• Walk 2 - Grassington -Yarnbury Mines - Hebden  - 7.5 miles
• Walk 3 - Grassington- Threshfield Moor - Bordley - Kilnsey - Conistone Circular - 12 miles
• Walk 4 - Barden Moor Circular - 13 miles
• Walk 5 - Bolton Park and Barden Fell Circular -5 miles - a family walk
• Back to Walking in The Yorkshire Dales

Walk 1- Bolton Abbey-Simon's Seat 9 miles- Start at Cavendish Pavilion Carpark,  Bolton Abbey. Cross wooden bridge opposite Cavendish Pavilion and turn right over stile. Follow surfaced path until reaching a point on the hillside looking down on the abbey. Keeping to top of hillside turn left into walled track (signposted Storiths). Path emerges in farmyard at Storriths. Follow farm road for short distance. Cross minor road at top and onto grassy track.   After 300m this emerges at junction and signboard for Access Area.

• Bolton Abbey

Turn Left along vehicle track. Pass farm on left. Take right hand  fork at sign post to follow less obvious path. This becomes a more distinct land rover track and follows contour of valley   descending to meet beck and ford. Cross ford and follow track up hill (zigzag). After approx. 1 mile track arrives at T junction (note useful shooting hut up slight hill on the right). Turn right at T junction. After 1/2 mile take left hand fork and continue for another 1/2 mile until wall is reached. Turn left and follow the well defined vehicle track alongside the wall for 2 ½ miles. This becomes more of a footpath eventually arrives at Lord's Seat, a rocky outcrop.

• Simons Seat

Turn left and following faint path across boggy moorland for 1/4 mile to reach Simons Seat. (Spectacular view up Wharfedale from elevated position. Beware of steep drop in mist) Two paths leave Simons Seat. Take the left hand one of these (rather than steep decent to Howgill) This twists several times becoming a landrover track descending gradually into a small valley. Cross ford following which the track eventually emerges at forest edge. Follow forest track for 1/4 mile until stile reached. Cross stile into Valley of Desolation. Notice path to left. This is a dead end to Upper Posforth Falls (300m and worth a look).

• Lower Posforth Falls / Upper Posforth Falls

Follow path down valley alongside beck to footbridge. The path divides here, either cross footbridge or keep right and cross stream at lower footbridge. The latter gives a better view of  Posforth Falls (lower). After leaving the falls cross a field passing a pond  recently constructed to encourage bird-life, emerging at Waterfall Cottage. Turn left on to minor road  for short while. Footpath leaves on right descending to River Wharfe. Follow riverside back to Cavendish Pavilion and finish.

NB This walk can be extended by walking from Bolton Bridge parking area. This adds 2 miles approx. To Contents

• The path down from Simons Seat

Walk 2 - Grassington -Yarnbury Mines - Hebden  - A family walk - 7.5 miles- A good walk for poor weather or family  starting at Grassington car park - Walk up Main Street to Town Hall and turn left along narrow street.

• Grassington Square

After 300m take 2nd minor turn on right following walled track. At top keep to right to enter long field. At top of field path goes diagonally across several fields. Look for markers and stiles (about seven! -Some map reading advisable) Path eventually emerges on Conistone track just to right of High Barn. Turn right on track towards Yarnbury. On reaching Yarnbury House turn right onto road and then left through gate. Follow track through mine workings. Where track forks keep to right eventually passing through gate and down hill to meet Hebden Beck. Turn right alongside Hebden Beck and follow track and then road to Hebden. The Clarenden Hotel is worth a visit. 

• Hebden Gill/ Haymaking near Grassington

Turn left across road bridge and then immediately right down farm track. Path crosses beck and follow downstream past fish farm through wood and buildings to emerge at minor road. Turn right and then left. Path emerges at suspension bridge. Do not cross bridge but turn right and follow riverside path to Linton Falls. At the falls turn right into walled path eventually arriving at Grassington car park.

• Linton Falls

Note:- a short cut can be taken from Hebden saving 1.5 miles - walk past Clarendon and haulage yard. Take 2nd signposted path on right to Grassington - easy to follow! To Contents

Walk 3 - Grassington- Threshfield Moor - Bordley - Kilnsey - Conistone Circular - 12 miles - Start at Grassington carpark - walk along road to Threshfield and turn left at T junction - Follow road past Old Hall Public House over stream and up hill. After 250m turn right along narrow road which becomes track. Track eventually meets gate. Take right hand track crossing moor and passing old coal workings. Track climbs slightly up hill becoming path for last 250m until meeting wall (ignore other tracks along the way).

At wall turn right along wall edge for a short way and then left into enclosed track. Follow track for 1/4 mile and look for stile on left. Cross field diagonally and over stile and then through gate eventually emerging at track to Bordley House. Turn right along track and continue through ford until reaching Bordley House. Turn right in front of House and follow farm road over hill. At bend and dip in road (near walls)  turn left (effectively straight on) along path in valley bottom until Mastiles Lane reached. Turn right and follow to Kilnsey.

• Above Conistone looking towards Kilnsey Crag

At Kilnsey turn right along main road for 1/4 mile and then turn left into Conistone ( a further 1/4 mile). In Conistone turn right along road for 100m and look for path on left. Well marked path climbs slightly up hill through gate  to round corner into a spectacular dry ravine. Path crosses ravine higher up and there are now two alternatives.

Either turn right into the  woods - route finding can be difficult - with one should emerge at the other side to rejoin main path. Alternatively keep to main path passing location of medieval village over several stiles eventually reaching farmyard and back to Grassington

• Bastow Wood

Walk 4 - Barden Moor Circular - 13 miles- Park in Cavendish Pavilion car park - From Cavendish Pavilion road walk towards Abbey for 200m and turn right up farm track (at rear of Bolton Hall)- cross two fields and mill pond (on left) - through gate and cross small stream passing through gate into wood - follow zig-zag track through wood to emerge at top and through gate - cross straight across two fields rising all the time but at the top bear slightly right through gate and turn left with wall on left still proceeding upwards.

• View from near Hare Head

Continue to follow path all the way to Middle Hare Head always with wall on left until passing through a gate and on to Hare head Side- cross road and cattle grid taking left of two tracks on opposite side - continue along track for 1 mile -after bend and small stream path forks - take right hand fork and follow old railway track bed (used for dam construction) for 1 mile to meet Upper Barden Reservoir.

• View from dam with Lower Barden Reservoir in distance

Cross the dam - and at other side of dam turn right and follow vehicle track for 2.5 miles passing Lower Barden Reservoir until eventually reaching gate and road. Turn left to T junction in road and then left along main road for 400m. Turn right into Barden Tower (tea room here) grounds and exit through stile at bottom to meet the minor road to Barden Bridge. Turn right either before or after Barden Bridge returning to Cavendish pavilion on one of two paths on either side of River Wharfe via Strid To Contents

• The Strid near Bolton Abbey

To Contents

Walk 5 - Bolton Park and Barden Fell Circular -5 miles - a family walk  A pleasant walk into upland areas with limited exposure. Start at Cavendish Pavilion (parking fee payable) and cross wooden bridge. Cross minor road and continue up farm road through Bolton Park Farm. The vehicle track continues past farm and through estate emerging at access area. Keep to right hand track (the left hand track goes to a remote house only). After 1/4 mile take right hand track at T junction. About 100m on left (up a slight incline) there is a useful shooting hut that could be used as a refuge. Continue along track. This eventually descends to cross  a beck by means of a ford. The track now proceeds along valley side descending slowly to Storriths. There are several signposts.

• Bolton Park on the way to Barden Fell

• Barden Fell looking towards Barden Moor

On leaving Access Area bear right down grassy track for 400m crossing minor road (A slight deviation of 100m at this point would be worthwhile to reach Buffers tea shop at the 'Back '0 The Hill Farm') and straight on onto farm road.   Walk past farm and into walled footpath. Bolton Abbey comes into view. Turn right and follow surfaced path back to Cavendish Pavilion

• Barden Moor from Barden Fell

• Bolton Abbey Station

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Important note:- Whilst the author has taken every care in assembling the information on this site no responsibility can be taken for any error or omission herein. If in any doubt walkers should consult the relevant OS map.

Links

Public Transport- www.traveldales.org.uk

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