11th August 2023 - Street Gate to Littondale and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.1 miles
Total ascent: 1608 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Street Gate-Middle House Farm-Monk's Road-Arncliffe-Littondale-Out Gang Lane-Arncliffe Cote-High Cote Moor-High Lineseed Head-Great Close-Street Gate
Today is my Friday off work and I've decided to head for the Yorkshire Dales and do a walk that I'd already done several times before, and I knew that I would enjoy. The last time was nearly two years ago in September 2021. On previous occasions I've started from Arncliffe, and done the route in both directions, but like last time I started from Street Gate above Malham. It's a bit closer to home and there's plenty of parking on the verges by the moorland road. The forecast was for a fine summer's day, and that's what I had, a mix of warm sunny spells and fair weather clouds. I had hoped, but didn't expect, to take in the waterfall in Cote Gill. Even though there's been quite a bit of rain recently it was just a trickle. It probably needs some really wet weather during summer for there to be a decent amount of water going over it. On the way home I couldn't resist stopping at Winskill Stones to take in the view across Ribblesdale.
From where I parked at Street Gate I took the bridleway along the track to Middle House Farm, then the bridleway and footpath from there north past the ruins of Middle House, and northeast across the moors and down to Arncliffe. I then made my way through Arncliffe to St. Oswald's church, took the footpath down Littondale to reach Out Gang Lane, which I walked up to reach the main road up the dale, where I then turned right and walked across the bridge over Cote Gill to reach a bridleway on the left. I took this bridleway and followed it past Arncliffe Cote, up onto High Cote Moor, then southwest across the moors, down to and across the ford at Great Close Mire, and then on to Street Gate and back to where I was parked.
Total ascent: 1608 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Street Gate-Middle House Farm-Monk's Road-Arncliffe-Littondale-Out Gang Lane-Arncliffe Cote-High Cote Moor-High Lineseed Head-Great Close-Street Gate
Today is my Friday off work and I've decided to head for the Yorkshire Dales and do a walk that I'd already done several times before, and I knew that I would enjoy. The last time was nearly two years ago in September 2021. On previous occasions I've started from Arncliffe, and done the route in both directions, but like last time I started from Street Gate above Malham. It's a bit closer to home and there's plenty of parking on the verges by the moorland road. The forecast was for a fine summer's day, and that's what I had, a mix of warm sunny spells and fair weather clouds. I had hoped, but didn't expect, to take in the waterfall in Cote Gill. Even though there's been quite a bit of rain recently it was just a trickle. It probably needs some really wet weather during summer for there to be a decent amount of water going over it. On the way home I couldn't resist stopping at Winskill Stones to take in the view across Ribblesdale.
From where I parked at Street Gate I took the bridleway along the track to Middle House Farm, then the bridleway and footpath from there north past the ruins of Middle House, and northeast across the moors and down to Arncliffe. I then made my way through Arncliffe to St. Oswald's church, took the footpath down Littondale to reach Out Gang Lane, which I walked up to reach the main road up the dale, where I then turned right and walked across the bridge over Cote Gill to reach a bridleway on the left. I took this bridleway and followed it past Arncliffe Cote, up onto High Cote Moor, then southwest across the moors, down to and across the ford at Great Close Mire, and then on to Street Gate and back to where I was parked.
Route map
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From Street Gate I set off by taking the bridleway along the track to Middle House Farm..
Looking back from above Middle House Farm
Passing the ruins of Middle House..
At a fork in the road and I go straight ahead on the path to Arncliffe
Crossing limestone moorland on the path to Arncliffe...
Darnbrook Fell to the north
Approaching the descent to Arncliffe
The top of Yew Cogar Scar is worth a visit first though. For the view up the valley of Cowside Beck..
..and down to the village of Arncliffe..
Following the Monk's Road path down to Arncliffe..
In the village of Arncliffe
A brief detour for a view of the River Skirfare from the bridge across it
St. Oswald's church in Arncliffe
Leaving Arncliffe by the footpath by the River Skirfare..
The path leaves the riverbank and there are great views of Littondale to be had...
The path joins the riverside again at a big bend
A few more shots of Littondale as I follow the path south towards Hawkswick...
Looking back from Out Gang Lane to the limestone scars on the side of Hawkswick Moor
I leave the main road up Littondale for the bridleway past Arncliffe Cote
Looking back down into Littondale as I take the bridleway up onto High Cote Moor..
Heading up onto High Cote Moor and I get closer to Cote Gill on my left
Looking down Cote Gill
The waterfalls in Cote Gill. There hasn't been enough rain recently to make them more than just a trickle.
Looking down Cote Gill from its top, with Great Whernside in the distance
Following the bridleway up to the moorland of Lee Gate High Mark
Looking back down to Littondale from Low Lineseed Head
Passing the ruins of a lime kiln
Buckden Pike in the distance on the right beyond Old Cote Moor Top as I reach High Lineseed Head
Reaching the top of the bridleway at Lee Gate High Mark
A last look back to Buckden Pike and Great Whernside in the distance as I cross the moorland of Lee Gate High Mark
Now that I've crossed the top of the moor I can make out Pendle Hill in the distance..
..as well as Barden Moor
Kirkby Fell and Great Close Hill ahead as the bridleway approaches Great Close Mire
Summer skies above limestone moorland
At the ford across the outflow of Great Close Mire. I've been here before when there was so much water pouring out and it was so deep I had to make quite a detour to get around it. No such problem today.
Looking back at the moorland that I've just crossed
Great Close Scar on the side of Great Close Hill, Middle House Farm, and Clapham High Mark as I follow the bridleway to Street Gate
Back at a quiet Street Gate
Driving past Winskill Stones on the way to Langcliffe I stop to take in the view across Ribblesdale..
