13th December 2025 - Addlebrough
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.5 miles
Total ascent: 1425 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Layby on A684 below Thornton Rust-Thornton Rust-Thornton Rust Moor-Addlebrough-Carpley Green Road-Worton Pasture-Cubeck-Worton Scar-Worton-Worton Scar-Thornton Rust-Nipe Lane-Layby on A684 below Thornton Rust
This wasn't the walk that I'd planned when I set off from home this morning. My walk for this weekend was meant to start from West Burton and take in the moors above the village, but on the drive down Bishopdale I could see that those moors were shrouded in low cloud. After a bit of thought I decided to head over to Wensleydale and the brighter skies that I could see there. I ended up parking my car in a layby on the A684 below Thornton Rust and doing a route that would take me to the top of Addlebrough and back. Most of it was already familiar to me, but having never started a walk from that layby before, getting to and from that was new. The forecast was for a mild and windy day with low cloud breaking to the east of high ground, which was why I went where I did. I just didn't expect to need to be more precise in deciding on where to go. Anyway, I ended up enjoying some nice spells of winter sunshine on what was indeed a mild and windy day.
From the layby on the A684 below Thornton Rust I took a footpath up through fields to the village of Thornton Rust, reaching it opposite the Thornton Rust Mission building. I turned right and walked along the road through the village until I reached the lane opposite the village hall, which I took to its end. From the end of the lane I left Thornton Rust by taking the bridleway southwest up onto Thornton Rust Moor, then took a concessionary footpath from Thornton Rust Moor to reach the top of Addlebrough. After taking in the view from Addlebrough I returned to the bridleway and followed it west down to Carpley Green Road. A walk north along Carpley Green Road brought me to a bridleway on the right, which I followed across Worton Pasture and down to the hamlet of Cubeck, (stopping for a break on the way). From Cubeck I took the footpath signposted for Bainbridge to reach the top of Worton Scar, then a footpath from Worton Scar down to the village of Worton. I then walked east along the A684 through Worton, then took a footpath on the right back up to Worton Scar and Thornton Road, which I walked east along to Thornton Rust. I left Thornton Rust by taking the track of Nipe Lane down to the A684, and then I had a walk east along the verge back to the layby where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 1425 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Layby on A684 below Thornton Rust-Thornton Rust-Thornton Rust Moor-Addlebrough-Carpley Green Road-Worton Pasture-Cubeck-Worton Scar-Worton-Worton Scar-Thornton Rust-Nipe Lane-Layby on A684 below Thornton Rust
This wasn't the walk that I'd planned when I set off from home this morning. My walk for this weekend was meant to start from West Burton and take in the moors above the village, but on the drive down Bishopdale I could see that those moors were shrouded in low cloud. After a bit of thought I decided to head over to Wensleydale and the brighter skies that I could see there. I ended up parking my car in a layby on the A684 below Thornton Rust and doing a route that would take me to the top of Addlebrough and back. Most of it was already familiar to me, but having never started a walk from that layby before, getting to and from that was new. The forecast was for a mild and windy day with low cloud breaking to the east of high ground, which was why I went where I did. I just didn't expect to need to be more precise in deciding on where to go. Anyway, I ended up enjoying some nice spells of winter sunshine on what was indeed a mild and windy day.
From the layby on the A684 below Thornton Rust I took a footpath up through fields to the village of Thornton Rust, reaching it opposite the Thornton Rust Mission building. I turned right and walked along the road through the village until I reached the lane opposite the village hall, which I took to its end. From the end of the lane I left Thornton Rust by taking the bridleway southwest up onto Thornton Rust Moor, then took a concessionary footpath from Thornton Rust Moor to reach the top of Addlebrough. After taking in the view from Addlebrough I returned to the bridleway and followed it west down to Carpley Green Road. A walk north along Carpley Green Road brought me to a bridleway on the right, which I followed across Worton Pasture and down to the hamlet of Cubeck, (stopping for a break on the way). From Cubeck I took the footpath signposted for Bainbridge to reach the top of Worton Scar, then a footpath from Worton Scar down to the village of Worton. I then walked east along the A684 through Worton, then took a footpath on the right back up to Worton Scar and Thornton Road, which I walked east along to Thornton Rust. I left Thornton Rust by taking the track of Nipe Lane down to the A684, and then I had a walk east along the verge back to the layby where I'd parked my car.
Route map
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From the layby on the A684 I follow a footpath up through fields towards Thornton Rust
Behind me, a view across Wensleydale to Ivy Scar
The footpath climbs a steep bank to reach Thornton Rust
Looking across Wensleydale to Askrigg and Ellerkin Scar
I leave Thornton Rust on the bridleway across Thornton Rust Moor to Carpley Green
Looking across Wensleydale to Ivy Scar, and down Wensleydale from above Thornton Rust
As I gain height the top of Addlebrough appears ahead
Looking back across Wensleydale to Carperby Moor and Ivy Scar, and down Wensleydale towards Leyburn
Crossing Thornton Rust Moor, with Addlebrough on the right
Winter sunshine on Thornton Rust Moor
I leave the bridleway and take a concessionary footpath to Addlebrough..
Looking southeast across Flout Moor to Penhill
Taking in the view across Thornton Rust Moor and down Wensleydale as I reach the top of the steep climb up Addlebrough
Passing the cairn on the top of Addlebrough
Crossing the top of Addlebrough to its northern edge
Looking across the foot of Raydale, and up Wensleydale to the moors around Hawes
and across to Whitfield Scar, Askrigg Common, Askrigg, and Ellerkin Scar
and across Wensleydale to Carperby Moor, and Ivy Scar
Raydale, Semer Water, and Countersett from a very windy western edge of Addlebrough
Looking west to the head of Wensleydale in the distance, and across to Abbotside Common north of Hawes
Following the bridleway down to Carpley Green Road
The sun returns as I walk north along Carpley Green Road..
Addlebrough to my right
and to my left, looking across the valley of the River Rain and up Wensleydale to the moors around Hawes
Semer Water and Raydale from Carpley Green Road
I leave Carpley Green Road for the bridleway across Worton Pasture to Cubeck
Looking across Raydale to Crag
and to the moors around the top of Raydale
Abbotside Common and Whitfield Scar to the north on the other side of Wensleydale
Views over Wensleydale as I follow the bridleway across Worton Pasture....
Making my way down the bridleway to Cubeck..
From Cubeck I take a footpath across fields to Worton Scar
Below Worton Scar
On the footpath down to Worton
Back up to Worton Scar again, though this time it's to the east of the village
Looking across Worton and Wensleydale to Ellerkin Scar
and down Wensleydale to Ivy Scar
Walking along the road into Thornton Rust
Heading down the track of Nipe Lane
A last shot of Ivy Scar above the River Ure from by the A684