11th August 2024 - Barden Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.9 miles
Total ascent: 1720 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley and 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Car park by Reservoir Road-Reservoir Road-Thruscross Reservoir-Roundell's Allotment-Whit Moor-Whit Moor Road-Hoodstorth Lane-Pock Stones Moor-Great Pock Stones-Lord's Seat-Simon's Seat-Lord's Seat-Rocking Moor-North Moor Road-West End Lane-Reservoir Road-Car park by Reservoir Road
It's that time of year when the heather covered moors put on a fine display of colour as they become carpets of purple. My walk in the Forest of Bowland last weekend gave me a preview of what was to come as the heather was starting to come into bloom. That pretty much decided where I'd be planning my next few walks to be, and I'm spoilt for choice when it comes to locations to choose from. There are my local South Pennines moors and not too far away there are moors in the Yorkshire Dales that fit the bill, which my destination for today does. I've done many walks on Barden Fell, visiting its high point of Simon's Seat on most occasions. The route that I did today was one that I've done before, on 9th August 2021, and on that occasion the heather put on a good display. I had a lovely late summer's day for enjoying this walk, with lots of blue skies, warm sunshine, and great visibility for enjoying the views. Despite me being two days later than the last time I did this walk there wasn't much heather in bloom. Perhaps it's just late, or maybe a bad year for it.
From the car park above Thruscross Reservoir I walked along the road across its dam, then round to the left and uphill until I reached a footpath on the left. I then followed this path west and north by the reservoir, up to and across the moorland of Roundell's Allotment, down to and across the footbridge over the River Washburn, and then from here I took a concessionary footpath across Whit Moor to the access road for Whitmoor Farm and out to Whit Moor Road. After walking north along Whit Moor Road and Hoodstorth Lane I reached a track on the left at a right hand bend. I took this track and followed it uphill to its high point on Pock Stones Moor, where I left it for the gritstone outcrops of Little Pock Stones on the right. After taking in the view I made my way back to the track, crossed it, and then followed a path by the south side of the wall west to Great Pock Stones, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, it was then on to Lord's Seat to take in the view from both the eastern, and after I went through a gate, the western outcrops, and then I took the flagged path west to reach Simon's Seat. Once I'd taken in the view I returned to Lord's Seat, then took the flagged path south across Barden Fell to Little Agill Head, where shooter's tracks were followed south onto Rocking Moor to meet a track going east through a gate. I went through the gate and took the track to Rocking Hall, then from there the track southeast across Rocking Moor and down to the edge of access land at Spittle Ings House, where a track was followed out to North Moor Road. A walk north along North Moor Road, east along West End Lane, and then north along Reservoir Road took me back to the car park above Thruscross Reservoir.
Total ascent: 1720 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley and 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Car park by Reservoir Road-Reservoir Road-Thruscross Reservoir-Roundell's Allotment-Whit Moor-Whit Moor Road-Hoodstorth Lane-Pock Stones Moor-Great Pock Stones-Lord's Seat-Simon's Seat-Lord's Seat-Rocking Moor-North Moor Road-West End Lane-Reservoir Road-Car park by Reservoir Road
It's that time of year when the heather covered moors put on a fine display of colour as they become carpets of purple. My walk in the Forest of Bowland last weekend gave me a preview of what was to come as the heather was starting to come into bloom. That pretty much decided where I'd be planning my next few walks to be, and I'm spoilt for choice when it comes to locations to choose from. There are my local South Pennines moors and not too far away there are moors in the Yorkshire Dales that fit the bill, which my destination for today does. I've done many walks on Barden Fell, visiting its high point of Simon's Seat on most occasions. The route that I did today was one that I've done before, on 9th August 2021, and on that occasion the heather put on a good display. I had a lovely late summer's day for enjoying this walk, with lots of blue skies, warm sunshine, and great visibility for enjoying the views. Despite me being two days later than the last time I did this walk there wasn't much heather in bloom. Perhaps it's just late, or maybe a bad year for it.
From the car park above Thruscross Reservoir I walked along the road across its dam, then round to the left and uphill until I reached a footpath on the left. I then followed this path west and north by the reservoir, up to and across the moorland of Roundell's Allotment, down to and across the footbridge over the River Washburn, and then from here I took a concessionary footpath across Whit Moor to the access road for Whitmoor Farm and out to Whit Moor Road. After walking north along Whit Moor Road and Hoodstorth Lane I reached a track on the left at a right hand bend. I took this track and followed it uphill to its high point on Pock Stones Moor, where I left it for the gritstone outcrops of Little Pock Stones on the right. After taking in the view I made my way back to the track, crossed it, and then followed a path by the south side of the wall west to Great Pock Stones, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, it was then on to Lord's Seat to take in the view from both the eastern, and after I went through a gate, the western outcrops, and then I took the flagged path west to reach Simon's Seat. Once I'd taken in the view I returned to Lord's Seat, then took the flagged path south across Barden Fell to Little Agill Head, where shooter's tracks were followed south onto Rocking Moor to meet a track going east through a gate. I went through the gate and took the track to Rocking Hall, then from there the track southeast across Rocking Moor and down to the edge of access land at Spittle Ings House, where a track was followed out to North Moor Road. A walk north along North Moor Road, east along West End Lane, and then north along Reservoir Road took me back to the car park above Thruscross Reservoir.
Route map
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Thruscross Reservoir as I walk along the road across its dam
Following the path north by its eastern shore
Blue skies as I cross Roundell's Allotment
Crossing the River Washburn
Following the footpath across Whit Moor..
..and then along the track from Whitmoor Farm to Whit Moor Road
Views across the valley of the River Washburn as I walk north along Whit Moor Road...
Just ahead on the left is the track that will take me up onto Pock Stones Moor
Following the track up onto Pock Stones Moor
The moors surrounding the valley of the infant River Washburn
Looking back down the track with Menwith Hill in the distance
The track heads down to and crosses Harden Gill..
..and then heads for the top of Pock Stones Moor, with Great Pock Stones on the left, and Little Pock Stones on the right
A last look back down the track as I reach its top
Taking in the view from Little Pock Stones. The moorland of Katty White's Allotments to the northeast, where the River Washburn has its source.
Looking down the valley of the River Washburn towards Menwith Hill..
Looking across to Great Pock Stones, on the other side of the track that crosses Pock Stones Moor
To the northwest the moorland gradually rises to a distant Great Whernside
On my way up to Great Pock Stones
On Great Pock Stones, and it's a good time to stop for lunch. I'll resume by following the wall across the moor to Lord's Seat.
Looking back to Little Pock Stones
I can make out part of Thruscross Reservoir in the distance as I look down the valley of the River Washburn
Looking south across the rest of Barden Fell to Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor
The moorland of Katty White's Allotments to the northeast
The moorland around upper Wharfedale in the distance, with Great Whernside on the right
Break over, I follow the wall across the moor to Lord's Seat
Looking back to Great Pock Stones
On the eastern outcrops of Lord's Seat. A view across to Simon's Seat and Wharfedale.
Looking north to Hebden Moor and Appletreewick Moor, with Great Whernside in the distance
Pock Stones Moor to the east
I've made my way to the western outcrops of Lord's Seat. Simon's Seat is just a short distance to the west, with Barden Moor and Wharfedale beyond.
The eastern outcrops of Lord's Seat, the moorland of Katty White's Allotments, and Pock Stones Moor on the right
From Lord's Seat I follow the flagged path to Simon's Seat
A great view of Wharfedale appears as I reach Simon's Seat
The trig point on Simon's Seat, with the outcrops of Lord's Seat just to its right
It's a beautiful late summer's day for taking in the great view from Simon's Seat. Looking south down Wharfedale to Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor.
Pendle Hill in the distance to the southwest beyond the southern end of Barden Moor
Looking northwest up Wharfedale, with Barden Moor on the left
From Simon's Seat I've made my way back to Lord's Seat
I leave Lord's Seat and follow the flagged path south across Barden Fell
A hazy outline of Pendle Hill in the distance as I reach the depression of Little Agill Head
Looking back to Lord's Seat
Following the track south across Barden Fell
Looking back across Barden Fell to Carncliff Top on the left, and Simon's Seat and Lord's Seat on the right
Round Hill and Beamsley Beacon to the south as the track I'm on reaches the one that crosses Hazlewood Moor and Rocking Moor
I turn left and take the track east across Rocking Moor..
Rocking Hall and Rocking Stone on Rocking Moor
Looking back to Rocking Hall as I follow..
..the track southeast across Rocking Moor
There are great views across the surrounding heather covered moorland in the late afternoon sunshine.....
Looking back to Rocking Hall on the skyline
Through the gate and off access land
On the track from Spittle Ings House to North Moor Road
Looking south across Redshaw Gill to Brandrith Crags
It's a lovely end to the afternoon as I walk along country lanes back to the car park..
