16th March 2024 - Weets Top from Rylstone
Walk Details
Distance walked: 15.0 miles
Total ascent: 1935 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Wsetern areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Rylstone-Hetton-Moor Lane-Dales High Way-Hetton Common Head-Weets Top-Hawthorns Lane-Smearbottoms Lane-Middle Laithe-Mastiles Lane-Mastiles Gate-Holgates Kilnsey Moor-Malham Moor Lane-Threshfield Moor-Boss Moor-Boss Moor Lane-Moor Lane-Hetton-Rylstone
Today has the best weather of the weekend, and even then I've made an earlier than usual start to make the most of it. I may have woken up to blue skies and sunshine but the forecast is for it to go downhill during the afternoon with the arrival of cloud and rain. I've been to the summit of Weets Top on many occasions but this is only the second time that I've started from Rylstone, which was one reason why I chose it, the other being that it's the quickest to get to from home. This route makes use of the numerous tracks and bridleways that cross the moors around the valley north of Winterburn Reservoir, is one that I really enjoy, and although I had a lots of miles to cover the gentle gradients and good paths meant that I had no trouble setting a reasonable pace. After setting off from Rylstone with lots of blue skies and sunshine the sunny spells lasted until the early afternoon when thickening cloud arrived, the sunshine became increasingly hazy, and by the time I was making my way from Hetton back to Rylstone it had started to rain.
After parking in the layby on the road through Rylstone I took the road towards Hetton and then after walking under a railway bridge, the bridleway on the left to Hetton. I then turned right when I arrived in Hetton, walked past the Angel Inn and took the track of Moor Lane. I followed this north to a junction of bridleways where I took the one signposted for Weets Top, which took me down to and across Hetton Common Beck, up to Hetton Common Head and eventually Weets Top. After stopping for a break and to take in the view I made my way down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane, then turned right and followed Smearbottoms Lane north to Middle Laithe and onto the footpath to Mastiles Lane. I followed Mastiles Lane east to Mastiles Gate (with a stop for lunch on the way), where I took the bridleway south towards the western end of Malham Moor Lane. Before I reached Malham Moor Lane I left the bridleway through a gate on the left that allowed me to make my way up access land to the trig point on Holgates Kilnsey Moor. Once I'd taken in the view I retraced my steps back down to the bridleway, and continued along to the western end of Malham Moor Lane. I then walked down Malham Moor Lane until I reached a bridleway on the right signposted for Boss Moor. I followed this south past Height Laithe and across Threshfield Moor and Boss Moor to Boss Moor Lane. A brief walk south down this lane brought me to the bridleway of Moor Lane on the right and following this took me back to the junction of bridleways that I was at earlier in the day. I was then left with retracing my steps back to Hetton and Rylstone.
Total ascent: 1935 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Wsetern areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Rylstone-Hetton-Moor Lane-Dales High Way-Hetton Common Head-Weets Top-Hawthorns Lane-Smearbottoms Lane-Middle Laithe-Mastiles Lane-Mastiles Gate-Holgates Kilnsey Moor-Malham Moor Lane-Threshfield Moor-Boss Moor-Boss Moor Lane-Moor Lane-Hetton-Rylstone
Today has the best weather of the weekend, and even then I've made an earlier than usual start to make the most of it. I may have woken up to blue skies and sunshine but the forecast is for it to go downhill during the afternoon with the arrival of cloud and rain. I've been to the summit of Weets Top on many occasions but this is only the second time that I've started from Rylstone, which was one reason why I chose it, the other being that it's the quickest to get to from home. This route makes use of the numerous tracks and bridleways that cross the moors around the valley north of Winterburn Reservoir, is one that I really enjoy, and although I had a lots of miles to cover the gentle gradients and good paths meant that I had no trouble setting a reasonable pace. After setting off from Rylstone with lots of blue skies and sunshine the sunny spells lasted until the early afternoon when thickening cloud arrived, the sunshine became increasingly hazy, and by the time I was making my way from Hetton back to Rylstone it had started to rain.
After parking in the layby on the road through Rylstone I took the road towards Hetton and then after walking under a railway bridge, the bridleway on the left to Hetton. I then turned right when I arrived in Hetton, walked past the Angel Inn and took the track of Moor Lane. I followed this north to a junction of bridleways where I took the one signposted for Weets Top, which took me down to and across Hetton Common Beck, up to Hetton Common Head and eventually Weets Top. After stopping for a break and to take in the view I made my way down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane, then turned right and followed Smearbottoms Lane north to Middle Laithe and onto the footpath to Mastiles Lane. I followed Mastiles Lane east to Mastiles Gate (with a stop for lunch on the way), where I took the bridleway south towards the western end of Malham Moor Lane. Before I reached Malham Moor Lane I left the bridleway through a gate on the left that allowed me to make my way up access land to the trig point on Holgates Kilnsey Moor. Once I'd taken in the view I retraced my steps back down to the bridleway, and continued along to the western end of Malham Moor Lane. I then walked down Malham Moor Lane until I reached a bridleway on the right signposted for Boss Moor. I followed this south past Height Laithe and across Threshfield Moor and Boss Moor to Boss Moor Lane. A brief walk south down this lane brought me to the bridleway of Moor Lane on the right and following this took me back to the junction of bridleways that I was at earlier in the day. I was then left with retracing my steps back to Hetton and Rylstone.
Route map
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By the duck pond in Rylstone
On the bridleway from Rylstone to Hetton
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Crossing the footbridge over Hetton Beck, and then up the bridleway to Hetton..
Leaving Hetton by the bridleway to Weets Top
It's a beautiful morning as I start the walk north along Moor Lane
Looking back along Moor Lane, and across to Cracoe Fell and Rylstone Fell
Sharp Haw and Pendle Hill
Looking down the track of Cross Lane as I pass where it joins Moor Lane
A bit further on and Hetton Common appears on the left
I'll be back at this junction of bridleways later in the day via the one from Boss Moor
Heading down into the valley of Hetton Common Beck, which feeds Winterburn Reservoir
Winterburn Reservoir backed by Pendle Hill
Across Hetton Common Beck
Blue skies and sunshine as I make my way up onto Hetton Common
Looking back to Cracoe Fell, Rylstone Fell, and Sharp Haw
Approaching the top of Hetton Common Head
Looking back to Barden Moor in the distance
On the summit of Hetton Common Head. Weets Top is just a short distance away.
Great Whernside in the distance
Pendle Hill from Hetton Common Head
Looking across Malhamdale to Kirkby Fell
Having taken in the view from the top of Hetton Common Head, I return to the bridleway and head for Weets Top
Before going to the trig point on Weets Top, I take in the view of Kirkby Fell and the entrance to Gordale Scar looking over the wall to the west of Weets Gate
At the trig point on Weets Top. It's a bit early to stop for lunch, but I'll take in the view before moving on.
Looking south to Hetton Common Head
and southwest to Pendle Hill in the distance
Threshfield Moor and Boss Moor to the east
The remains of Weets Cross
There's a great view to the north as I take the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane
On Smearbottoms Lane to Middle Laithe
From Middle Laithe I take the footpath north to Mastiles Lane
Heading east along Mastiles Lane
The limestone moorland to the north of Mastiles Lane
Looking back to the west
Approaching Mastiles Gate and this is where I'll leave Mastiles Lane as it continues east across Kilnsey Moor
On the bridleway to Malham Moor Lane, but before I get there I'll make a detour to the top of Holgates Kilnsey Moor
At the trig point on Holgates Kilnsey Moor. Looking across Wharfedale to Buckden Pike and Great Whernside.
and to Conistone Moor and Grassington Moor
Pendle Hill in the distance beyond Hetton Common and Weets Top
The limestone moorland of Clapham High Mark and Proctor High Mark to the northwest
and Kirkby Fell on the other side of Malhamdale in the distance to the west
Heading back down from Holgates Kilnsey Moor
Making my way down Malham Moor Lane
I've left Malham Moor Lane for the bridleway to Boss Moor
To my left, Height Laithe, Cave Scar, and Height House
The bridleway crosses the top of Rowley Beck and there's a change from limestone to gritstone country
Looking back to Great Whernside in the distance
Crossing the top of Threshfield Moor..
Through the gate and onto Boss Moor
Crossing Boss Moor
Looking back to Threshfield Moor
Having briefly walked down Boss Moor Lane, it's onto the bridleway of Moor Lane..
Back at the junction of bridleways that I was at earlier in the day
Making my way down Moor Lane to Hetton...
On the bridleway from Hetton back to Rylstone