16th May 2025 - Great Coum and Gragareth
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.0 miles
Total ascent: 2505 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & western areas
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Cowan Bridge-Leck-Leck Mill-Springs Wood-Ease Gill Kirk-Bullpot Farm-Little Aygill-Richard Man-Crag Hill-The Crag-Great Coum-Green Hill-Gragareth-Ireby Fell-Three Men of Gragareth-Leck-Cowan Bridge
It's my Friday off work, and to make the most of another glorious day of spring weather I decided to head to Cowan Bridge on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. The route I'd planned, taking in the moorland around the head of Ease Gill, was one that I'd done a couple of times before, in March 2022, and August 2015, the latter being almost the same as on this occasion. I have visited Crag Hill, Great Coum, and Gragareth via other routes many times. The dry spring has had its effect, even up on these normally boggy moors, with the normally squelchy stretch from Green Hill to Gragareth being firm underfoot. It was a wonderful day for being on the fells. Wall-to-wall blue skies and warm sunshine, and great visibility to take in the views that went on for miles.
From the Fraser Hall car park in Cowan Bridge (it's free but I made a donation to the honesty box) I turned left, walked under the bridge and up the road to a crossroads where I went straight on, then turned left at the next junction and followed the road down to Leck and Leck Mill. When I reached the end of the road at Low Leck House I went through a gate and onto the footpath up the valley of Leck Beck, keeping to the lower path through Springs Wood before heading uphill and joining the upper path further up the valley. Eventually, I reached the top of Leck Beck and after passing through Ease Gill Kirk I made it to Bullpot Farm. I then made my way along the bridleway to Barbondale, and on reaching its top I crossed a stile in a fence to enter access land on the right. The roughest part of the walk came next with a long gradual ascent to Crag Hill, initially following Little Aygill uphill, then to the cairn of Richard Man, and onwards up to Crag Hill, where I stopped for lunch. From Crag Hill the next part of the route was easy, follow the high ground round the head of Ease Gill. Heading south from Great Coum I took the east side of the wall and then crossed to the west on the way up Green Hill and to Gragareth. After taking in the view from the trig point on Gragareth I made my way down to the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth, and after taking in the view from there down to the track to the end of the road at Leck Fell House. I then walked down the road until I reached the left hand bend at Bank House, from where I took a footpath down through fields to reach the track that I left Leck by in the morning. I then walked along the road through Leck and back to Cowan Bridge.
Total ascent: 2505 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & western areas
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Cowan Bridge-Leck-Leck Mill-Springs Wood-Ease Gill Kirk-Bullpot Farm-Little Aygill-Richard Man-Crag Hill-The Crag-Great Coum-Green Hill-Gragareth-Ireby Fell-Three Men of Gragareth-Leck-Cowan Bridge
It's my Friday off work, and to make the most of another glorious day of spring weather I decided to head to Cowan Bridge on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. The route I'd planned, taking in the moorland around the head of Ease Gill, was one that I'd done a couple of times before, in March 2022, and August 2015, the latter being almost the same as on this occasion. I have visited Crag Hill, Great Coum, and Gragareth via other routes many times. The dry spring has had its effect, even up on these normally boggy moors, with the normally squelchy stretch from Green Hill to Gragareth being firm underfoot. It was a wonderful day for being on the fells. Wall-to-wall blue skies and warm sunshine, and great visibility to take in the views that went on for miles.
From the Fraser Hall car park in Cowan Bridge (it's free but I made a donation to the honesty box) I turned left, walked under the bridge and up the road to a crossroads where I went straight on, then turned left at the next junction and followed the road down to Leck and Leck Mill. When I reached the end of the road at Low Leck House I went through a gate and onto the footpath up the valley of Leck Beck, keeping to the lower path through Springs Wood before heading uphill and joining the upper path further up the valley. Eventually, I reached the top of Leck Beck and after passing through Ease Gill Kirk I made it to Bullpot Farm. I then made my way along the bridleway to Barbondale, and on reaching its top I crossed a stile in a fence to enter access land on the right. The roughest part of the walk came next with a long gradual ascent to Crag Hill, initially following Little Aygill uphill, then to the cairn of Richard Man, and onwards up to Crag Hill, where I stopped for lunch. From Crag Hill the next part of the route was easy, follow the high ground round the head of Ease Gill. Heading south from Great Coum I took the east side of the wall and then crossed to the west on the way up Green Hill and to Gragareth. After taking in the view from the trig point on Gragareth I made my way down to the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth, and after taking in the view from there down to the track to the end of the road at Leck Fell House. I then walked down the road until I reached the left hand bend at Bank House, from where I took a footpath down through fields to reach the track that I left Leck by in the morning. I then walked along the road through Leck and back to Cowan Bridge.
Route map
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Leaving Cowan Bridge behind I walk along the road to Leck
Next to the road, a field full of wildflowers coming into bloom
Passing through the hamlet of Leck
At the end of the road I go through a gate and follow the footpath up the valley of Leck Beck....
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By a low Leck Beck..
Views up and down the valley of Leck Beck..
The footpath leaves the beck and heads across the moor to Ease Gill Kirk
Passing through Ease Gill Kirk
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An early purple orchid
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The boulder choked bed of Ease Gill
Above Ease Gill Kirk
Looking back down the valley of Leck Beck to the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Bullpot Farm is in sight at last
At Bullpot Farm
Middleton Fell ahead as I take the bridleway from Bullpot Farm to Barbondale
At the top of the bridleway I crossed a fence on the right to follow Little Aygill uphill....
The slopes of Crag Hill rise ahead
Making my way uphill and I pass through swathes of cotton grass....
At the cairn of Richard Man. Looking down to Barbondale, with Barbon Low Fell on the left and Castle Knott on the right.
and back down the slopes of Crag Hill to the valley of Leck Beck and Barbon Low Fell
A look back as I near the top of Crag Hill to Gragareth on the left, and the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Approaching the top of Crag Hill
Looking across the top of Ease Gill to Green Hill and Gragareth
The Howgills from the trig point on Crag Hill
Looking across Barbondale to Middleton Fell with the Lake District fells in the distance
and down Barbondale to Morecambe Bay in the distance
Ingleborough and Gragareth from Crag Hill. I can make out Pendle Hill in the distance just to the left of the trig point.
A big view out to Morecambe Bay as I leave the trig point behind
The broad summit of Great Coum
Before I cross it, a visit to the cairn on the top of The Crag. Looking down Dentdale to the Howgills.
and up Dentdale with Aye Gill Pike on the left and Great Knoutberry Hill on the right behind the cairn
Ingleborough, Green Hill, and Gragareth
Looking across to Crag Hill from Great Coum
Looking across a hidden Dentdale to the Howgills, Baugh Fell, Aye Gill Pike, and Great Knoutberry Hill..
The Lake District fells in the distance
At this point I'll cross the summit wall, there are stiles for both sides of the wall heading south. I took the one for the western side first, but swapped over.
A moorland pool provides a foreground for a view of Ingleborough and Gragareth. I was surprised to see this much water in it given how dry spring has been.
Heading for Green Hill and Gragareth
Ingleborough and Green Hill from the cairn at Gatty Pike
The slopes of Great Coum fall into Deepdale
Heading for Green Hill
The County Stone. Up until 1974 this marked the point where Lancashire, Westmorland and the West Riding of Yorkshire met.
Cotton grass covered moorland around Ease Gill
Heading up onto Green Hill
Looking down Ease Gill and out to Morecambe Bay from Green Hill
and back to Crag Hill and Great Coum
and across the top of Ease Gill to the southern slopes of Crag Hill
Views across cotton grass covered moors as I head for Gragareth..
Looking over the wall to my left, and across Kingsdale to West Fell and Ingleborough
and back to Crag Hill, Great Coum and Green Hill
It's a beautiful day for being up here with these long distance views
Looking north to Crag Hill, Great Coum, and Green Hill as I approach the top of Gragareth. That gate and stile in the wall is where I've crossed it when I've climbed up to Gragareth from Kingsdale.
At the trig point on Gragareth, and I've got great weather for taking in the view. Starting with the sun shining on Morecambe Bay.
A long line of Lake District fells in the distance to the northwest
Middleton Fell, the Howgills, Crag Hill and Great Coum
Ingleborough on the left to the southeast, with Pendle Hill in the distance just to the left of the trig point
Finally, the Forest of Bowland in the distance to the south
Leaving the trig point I head down the western slopes of Gragareth to the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth
At the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth. It's a great place to take in the view from. Starting with Middleton Fell to the northwest behind Barbon High Fell.
Neighbouring Barbon Low Fell with the Lake District fells in the distance
Looking down the valley of the River Lune to Morecambe Bay..
From the Three Men of Gragareth I've made my way down to the track above Leck Fell House
A long walk down to Cowan Bridge to come. Fortunately it's downhill all the way and I'll keep these great views for most of the way, along with the occasional look back to Gragareth....
Looking across the countryside above Leck and Ireby to the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Heading down past Fellside Barn
I decide to leave the road and take a footpath down through fields to Leck
I'm back onto the track that I left Leck by this morning
Walking through the hamlet of Leck
Back in Cowan Bridge