17th August 2025 - Wolfhole Crag
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.9 miles
Total ascent: 1670 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Tower Lodge, Wyresdale-Wyre Way-White Moor-Wyre Way-Gilberton Farm-Wyre Way-Tarnbrook-Tarnsyke Clough-Tarnbrook Fell-Gables Clough-Wolfhole Crag-Brennand Great Hill-Millers House-Rowantree Rocks-White Moor-Wyre Way-Tower Lodge, Wyresdale
It's back to the Forest of Bowland for my walk this weekend, and a route that will take me to the top of a fell that I've already visited this year, Wolfhole Crag. Where I started from for getting to it was new though, Tower Lodge in Wyresdale. Since I now get to this part of the Forest of Bowland a different way after moving home six years ago I came up with a new starting point, Tower Lodge, which is next to the road at the northern end of the Trough of Bowland. There's off-road parking here and I can use the Wyre Way to get to Tarnbrook for the paths up onto Ward's Stone, which I've already done, and Wolfhole Crag. As well as new starting point I managed to take in a bit of new territory in the form of the track from the top of Tarnsyke Clough to Gables Clough, and the moorland from Millers House to the top of the track up from Tower Lodge. The forecast was for a fine summer's day, and that's what I got. Sunny spells, a bit of fair weather cloud, and visibility good enough for taking in the great views. This is a route that I'll definitely use again.
From where I parked by the side of the road near Tower Lodge in Wyresdale, I took the track by Tower Lodge and followed it uphill to the edge of access land and White Moor. I went through the gate onto access land and then made my way west along a path to the western edge of access land where I crossed a stile and joined the trail of the Wyre Way. I then followed the Wyre Way north to Gilberton Farm and then along the farm's access road to reach a track where I turned left and followed it to Tarnbrook. From Tarnbrook I took the track north up by Tarnsyke Clough to reach another track, which I followed east across Tarnbrook Fell until it met up with the track above Gables Clough, which I took to its top to the west of Wolfhole Crag. I left the track here and took to the open moor, following the fence east to finally arrive at Wolfhole Crag, the high point of the walk, where I stopped for lunch. Break had I followed the wall west from Wolfhole Crag to a fence junction where I took the path south signposted for Millers House, and made my way south by the fence or wall on its western side to Brennand Great Hill, and then Millers House. From Millers House I made my way down to the footpath signpost below, and took the faint path across the moor to Rowantree Rocks and then to the wall along the edge of access land. The concessionary footpath to Tower Lodge was met here, and I took it west along the edge of access land and across White Moor to the top of the track up from Tower Lodge. I then made my way down the track and back to where I parked by the side of the road near Tower Lodge in Wyresdale.
Total ascent: 1670 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Tower Lodge, Wyresdale-Wyre Way-White Moor-Wyre Way-Gilberton Farm-Wyre Way-Tarnbrook-Tarnsyke Clough-Tarnbrook Fell-Gables Clough-Wolfhole Crag-Brennand Great Hill-Millers House-Rowantree Rocks-White Moor-Wyre Way-Tower Lodge, Wyresdale
It's back to the Forest of Bowland for my walk this weekend, and a route that will take me to the top of a fell that I've already visited this year, Wolfhole Crag. Where I started from for getting to it was new though, Tower Lodge in Wyresdale. Since I now get to this part of the Forest of Bowland a different way after moving home six years ago I came up with a new starting point, Tower Lodge, which is next to the road at the northern end of the Trough of Bowland. There's off-road parking here and I can use the Wyre Way to get to Tarnbrook for the paths up onto Ward's Stone, which I've already done, and Wolfhole Crag. As well as new starting point I managed to take in a bit of new territory in the form of the track from the top of Tarnsyke Clough to Gables Clough, and the moorland from Millers House to the top of the track up from Tower Lodge. The forecast was for a fine summer's day, and that's what I got. Sunny spells, a bit of fair weather cloud, and visibility good enough for taking in the great views. This is a route that I'll definitely use again.
From where I parked by the side of the road near Tower Lodge in Wyresdale, I took the track by Tower Lodge and followed it uphill to the edge of access land and White Moor. I went through the gate onto access land and then made my way west along a path to the western edge of access land where I crossed a stile and joined the trail of the Wyre Way. I then followed the Wyre Way north to Gilberton Farm and then along the farm's access road to reach a track where I turned left and followed it to Tarnbrook. From Tarnbrook I took the track north up by Tarnsyke Clough to reach another track, which I followed east across Tarnbrook Fell until it met up with the track above Gables Clough, which I took to its top to the west of Wolfhole Crag. I left the track here and took to the open moor, following the fence east to finally arrive at Wolfhole Crag, the high point of the walk, where I stopped for lunch. Break had I followed the wall west from Wolfhole Crag to a fence junction where I took the path south signposted for Millers House, and made my way south by the fence or wall on its western side to Brennand Great Hill, and then Millers House. From Millers House I made my way down to the footpath signpost below, and took the faint path across the moor to Rowantree Rocks and then to the wall along the edge of access land. The concessionary footpath to Tower Lodge was met here, and I took it west along the edge of access land and across White Moor to the top of the track up from Tower Lodge. I then made my way down the track and back to where I parked by the side of the road near Tower Lodge in Wyresdale.
Route map
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Heading up the track from Tower Lodge to White Moor
Approaching the top of the track and access land
Looking back across the valley of the Marshaw Wyre to Hawthornthwaite Fell
Following the path west across White Moor
Looking across the valley of the Tarnbrook Wyre to Tarnbrook Fell..
..and to Brennand Great Hill
Following the Wyre Way north down to Gilberton Farm..
At Gilberton Farm. The footpath doesn't go through the farmyard but across a footbridge out of sight on the right.
A short walk along the track from Gilberton Farm and I arrive at the hamlet of Tarnbrook
Leaving Tarnbrook..
..I take the track up Tarnsyke Clough
Looking back across Wyresdale to Hawthornthwaite Fell
and across to Threapshaw Fell, Whins Brow, and Top of Blaze Moss
and down Wyresdale towards the coast
Reaching Thorn Crag at the top of Tarnsyke Clough
I take the track east along the side of Tarnbrook Fell
Looking across Wyresdale to Hawthornthwaite Fell
and across Gables Clough to Brennand Great Hill
The track I'm on meets the one that comes up Gables Clough
On the track up Gables Clough
Gables Clough and the western slopes of Brennand Great Hill
Following the track north across Hare Syke
Looking back along the track to Tarnbrook Fell
The Yorkshire Dales come into view in the distance as I reach the top of the track
I leave the track and follow the fence towards Wolfhole Crag
At the fence/wall junction to the west of Wolfhole Crag. I'll be back here later to follow the fence to the right.
The trig point on Wolfhole Crag is in sight, on the next rise just ahead
At the trig point on Wolfhole Crag
Taking in the view from Wolfhole Crag. Starting with White Hill to the east.
Pendle Hill in the distance beyond the moorland ridge of Baxton Fell to Beatrix Fell
Looking south and southwest to Whins Brow and Brennannd Great Hill, with Totridge, Fair Snape Fell, and Hawthornthwaite Fell in the distance..
The broad swell of Ward's Stone rises to the west
I've crossed over to the northern side of the summit wall to get a better view looking in that direction. Roeburndale and its surrounding moorland below to the northwest.
Salter Fell to the north. I can make out the track of Hornby Road that runs across it.
To the northeast are the nearby moors around Hindburndale, with Gragareth, Whernside, Ingleborough, and Penyghent in the distance
White Hill to the east
Leaving Wolfhole Crag I follow the wall back west
Back at the wall/fence junction. I'll turn left and follow the fence south to Brennand Great Hill and Millers House.
Following the fence south to Brennand Great Hill..
Ward's Stone to my right
Looking back to Wolfhole Crag
On Brennand Great Hill. My next destination of Millers House is ahead on the hillside below.
Dunsop Fell, Brennand Fell, Brennandale, and Whins Brow
Looking down into the valley of Wyresdale
Following the wall south to the gritstone knoll of Millers House
Whins Brow to the south from Millers House
The fells around Brennandale over the wall to my left
Looking back up to Brennand Great Hill and Wolfhole Crag
An abandoned millstone. Maybe the reason for the name of this rocky knoll.
At the signpost just below Millers House. I'm going to take the concessionary footpath that links up access land with the Wyre Way.
Before I do, I go through a gate in the wall to take in the view along it to Whins Brow
Below the rocky knoll of Millers House
Following a faint path towards Rowantree Rocks
Whins Brow from Rowantree Rocks
Brennand Great Hill and Millers House to the north
The tops of Grit Fell and Ward's Stone in the distance to the northwest
Rowantree Rocks, with Millers House behind on the skyline
Leaving Rowantree Rocks I make my across the moor towards the wall on the edge of access land
Reaching the wall I find a wooden post with markers for the concessionary footpath. There are great views across Threaphaw Fell to Whins Brow..
..and south to the Trough of Bowland, Top of Blaze Moss, and Marshaw Fell
Following the path west by the wall
Looking back along the colourful and rocky edge of access land
and across to Threaphaw Fell, Whins Brow, the Trough of Bowland, and Top of Blaze Moss
Making my west across White Moor..
Grit Fell and Ward's Stone to my right
Looking back east across White Moor
From White Moor I take the track back down to Tower Lodge..
