11th May 2024 - Fountains Fell and Penyghent
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.1 miles
Total ascent: 2744 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas and OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Halton Gill-Nether Hesleden-New Bridge-Cow Close-Darnbrook Fell-Fountains Fell-Pennine Way-Dale Head, Silverdale Road-Pennine Way-Penyghent-Plover Hill-Foxup Moor-Foxup-Halton Gill
I decided to head for Littondale in the Yorkshire Dales for my walk this weekend, and a repeat of a route that I first did in July 2022 that takes in Darnbrook Fell, Fountains Fell, Penyghent, and Plover Hill. The only difference this time was the starting location, the hamlet of Halton Gill in Littondale instead of the top of the Silverdale Road. It meant that although the total amount of ascent was the same, the timings of them were different and I didn't have a long ascent in the second half of the walk. I enjoyed blue skies and sunshine, a bit hazy at times due to high cloud, and just a few fair weather clouds from start to finish on what turned out to be a lovely spring day.
After parking in Halton Gill I walked down to Halton Gill Bridge, and took the footpath down Littondale to Nether Helseden, then from there across Hesleden Beck and to New Bridge. Just before reaching New Bridge the footpath joins the byway across the hillsides of Cow Close and Dawson Close up to the Halton Gill to Silverdale Road. I took this and followed it uphill until I reached the point where the wall on my left ended on the hillside of Cow Close, then made my way up access land to reach the trig point on the top of Darnbrook Fell. The wall was then followed across the moor from Darnbrook Fell to Fountains Fell, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I took the Pennine Way west down to the Halton Gill to Silverdale Road, walked south along the road, and kept on the Pennine Way by following it past Dale Head Farm and then up to the trig point and summit of Penyghent. After a brief stop for a break and to take in the view, I made my way north across the moor to Plover Hill then descended the path on the northern slope of the hill to the bridleway across Foxup Moor. This bridleway then took me east to Foxup in Littondale, from where a footpath by the River Skirfare was followed to Halton Gill Bridge, for a return to Halton Gill.
Total ascent: 2744 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas and OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Halton Gill-Nether Hesleden-New Bridge-Cow Close-Darnbrook Fell-Fountains Fell-Pennine Way-Dale Head, Silverdale Road-Pennine Way-Penyghent-Plover Hill-Foxup Moor-Foxup-Halton Gill
I decided to head for Littondale in the Yorkshire Dales for my walk this weekend, and a repeat of a route that I first did in July 2022 that takes in Darnbrook Fell, Fountains Fell, Penyghent, and Plover Hill. The only difference this time was the starting location, the hamlet of Halton Gill in Littondale instead of the top of the Silverdale Road. It meant that although the total amount of ascent was the same, the timings of them were different and I didn't have a long ascent in the second half of the walk. I enjoyed blue skies and sunshine, a bit hazy at times due to high cloud, and just a few fair weather clouds from start to finish on what turned out to be a lovely spring day.
After parking in Halton Gill I walked down to Halton Gill Bridge, and took the footpath down Littondale to Nether Helseden, then from there across Hesleden Beck and to New Bridge. Just before reaching New Bridge the footpath joins the byway across the hillsides of Cow Close and Dawson Close up to the Halton Gill to Silverdale Road. I took this and followed it uphill until I reached the point where the wall on my left ended on the hillside of Cow Close, then made my way up access land to reach the trig point on the top of Darnbrook Fell. The wall was then followed across the moor from Darnbrook Fell to Fountains Fell, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I took the Pennine Way west down to the Halton Gill to Silverdale Road, walked south along the road, and kept on the Pennine Way by following it past Dale Head Farm and then up to the trig point and summit of Penyghent. After a brief stop for a break and to take in the view, I made my way north across the moor to Plover Hill then descended the path on the northern slope of the hill to the bridleway across Foxup Moor. This bridleway then took me east to Foxup in Littondale, from where a footpath by the River Skirfare was followed to Halton Gill Bridge, for a return to Halton Gill.
Route map
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Looking back to Halton Gill as I walk down the road to the bridge over the River Skirfare
Crossing the River Skirfare by Halton Gill Bridge
From Halton Gill Bridge I take the footpath down Littondale to Nether Hesleden
Looking back to Halton Gill
Passing Nether Hesleden
From Nether Hesleden I follow the footpath down Littondale towards Litton and New Bridge..
Approaching New Bridge and when I reach those trees just ahead I'll leave this footpath for the bridleway that heads up the hillside on the right
Taking the bridleway up onto the hillside of Cow Close
I soon have a great view of Littondale. Looking down the dale towards Litton..
..and up the dale towards Halton Gill
Heading up the bridleway and I need to pick my spot to leave it for access land on the left
Off the bridleway and making my way up to the top of Darnbrook Fell
Looking back down into Littondale
Conditions underfoot are pretty good with not that much rain recently, but I will need to find a gap in the wall that I can see up ahead
Looking across Penyghent Gill to Penyghent and Plover Hill as I near the top of Darnbrook Fell
Approaching the trig point on Darnbrook Fell. Erosion of the surrounding peat has left it standing proud, but I can still reach it's top.
Fountains Fell and Penyghent from Darnbrook Fell
I follow the fence to the west from the top of Darnbrook Fell until it meets this wall, where I'll cross the fence..
..and then to get to Fountains Fell, simply follow the wall..
Looking back to Darnbrook Fell, with Great Whernside in the distance on the right
At the cairns at the northern edge of Fountains Fell's summit. Buckden Pike and Great Whernside beyond Darnbrook Fell and Old Cote Moor Top.
Looking southeast to the limestone moorland of Kilnsey Moor and Proctor High Mark
Ingleborough and Penyghent from the summit cairn on Fountains Fell
Looking along Fountains Fell's south ridge to Knowe Fell and Rye Loaf Hill
Ingleborough and Penyghent as I join the Pennine Way
I get a great view across Penyghent Gill to Horse Head Moor above Halton Gill in Littondale before I head down
It's a lovely spring afternoon as I make my way down on the Pennine Way..
On the Silverdale Road and walking south along it past Rainscar Farm..
At Dale Head with a view of Penyghent from the limestone pavement that's by the side of the road
From the top of the Silverdale Road I keep on the Pennine Way past Dale Head Farm and onwards to Penyghent..
The steep climb up Penyghent awaits
A pause in the ascent gives me an opportunity to take a photo of Penyghent Gill, Darnbrook Fell and Fountains Fell
Taking in the view across the moorland of Overdale and down Ribblesdale as I reach the top of the climb
A flagged path for the final approach to the summit
On the summit of Penyghent
Taking in the view from Penyghent. Looking south down Ribblesdale to Pendle Hill in the distance.
The Forest of Bowland to the southwest
Looking across Ribblesdale to Ingleborough and Whernside
Whernside, the Howgills, Baugh Fell, Great Knoutberry Hill, and Dodd Fell Hill in the distance
Leaving Penyghent, I follow the wall north to Plover Hill
The ladder stile across this wall has been replaced
Looking back to Penyghent
and across Ribblesdale to Ingleborough and Whernside
Heading down the path to Foxup Moor and I have great views to the northwest to Whernside, the Howgills, Baugh Fell, Great Knoutberry Hill, Wild Boar Fell and Dodd Fell Hill..
..and north across High Green Field Knott to Dodd Fell Hill and the moorland around Wensleydale in the distance
Onto the bridleway across Foxup Moor and I'll follow it east to the hamlet of Foxup in Littondale.....
At Bridge Farm in Foxup
From Foxup I follow the footpath by the River Skirfare to Halton Gill Bridge...
Heading back to Halton Gill at the end of a lovely spring day