17th July 2016 - Wolf Stones & Stanbury Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.1 miles
Total ascent: 1671 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Stanbury-Hob Lane-Millennium Way-Oldfield Lane-Millennium Way-Hare Hill Edge-Millennium Way-Keighley Moor Reservoir-Pennine Way-Wolf Stones-Pennine Way-Ponden Reservoir-Ponden Clough-Ponden Kirk-Alcomden Stones-Stanbury Moor-Top Withins-Pennine Way-Back Lane-Hob Lane-Stanbury
When I'm trying to work out where to go at the weekend I often have a look back and try to pick somewhere that I haven't been to for a while. That was the case today with my decision to head for the Worth valley and Bronte Country. It was April 2015 when I last did a walk in the area and nearly two years ago when I last walked across Stanbury Moor to Top Withins. It's a great area for walking and I must try and visit it more often, perhaps in the next few weeks when the heather is out. The route I did today was really one of two halves as I took in the trig points at the top of two moors on either side of the Worth valley, that at Wolf Stones on the northern side and that on Stanbury Moor on the southern side. The weather seemed to mirror this with hazy sunshine, some cloud and a cool breeze on Wolf Stones and by the time I was on Stanbury Moor it was sunny and had really warmed up.
I started the walk from a layby on Hob Lane at the eastern end of Stanbury and to avoid walking through the centre of the village on the narrow lane I took a footpath that goes round it to the north. Once back on Hob Lane I walked west down past the Old Silent Inn to reach the trail of the Millennium Way. I then followed this trail up to Oldfield Lane, then Hare Hill Edge and across Oakworth Moor to Keighley Moor Reservoir. The trail was left here for a path that links up with the Pennine Way and this trail brought me to the trig point on Wolf Stones. After having lunch here it was back onto the Pennine Way and a descent into the Worth valley. I kept on the trail until I reached Ponden Reservoir and then just before Ponden Hall I turned right onto a track that heads for the open moor and is signposted for Ponden Kirk. The track was left for another signposted path that heads uphill above Ponden Clough to reach Ponden Kirk. The next part of my route up to the Alcomden Stones did involve a bit of heather bashing but some of it can be avoided by following a line of grouse butts up Middle Moor Clough. I then had a path to follow through the heather from the Alcomden Stones to the trig point on the top of Stanbury Moor and across to the ruins of Top Withins. The final part of the walk back to Stanbury was done by taking the Pennine Way downhill past Lower Withins, across the moorland of The Height and when the trail turned left I kept going straight on down the track and onto Back Lane. At the end of Back Lane I turned right onto Hob Lane for the short walk back into Stanbury.
Total ascent: 1671 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Stanbury-Hob Lane-Millennium Way-Oldfield Lane-Millennium Way-Hare Hill Edge-Millennium Way-Keighley Moor Reservoir-Pennine Way-Wolf Stones-Pennine Way-Ponden Reservoir-Ponden Clough-Ponden Kirk-Alcomden Stones-Stanbury Moor-Top Withins-Pennine Way-Back Lane-Hob Lane-Stanbury
When I'm trying to work out where to go at the weekend I often have a look back and try to pick somewhere that I haven't been to for a while. That was the case today with my decision to head for the Worth valley and Bronte Country. It was April 2015 when I last did a walk in the area and nearly two years ago when I last walked across Stanbury Moor to Top Withins. It's a great area for walking and I must try and visit it more often, perhaps in the next few weeks when the heather is out. The route I did today was really one of two halves as I took in the trig points at the top of two moors on either side of the Worth valley, that at Wolf Stones on the northern side and that on Stanbury Moor on the southern side. The weather seemed to mirror this with hazy sunshine, some cloud and a cool breeze on Wolf Stones and by the time I was on Stanbury Moor it was sunny and had really warmed up.
I started the walk from a layby on Hob Lane at the eastern end of Stanbury and to avoid walking through the centre of the village on the narrow lane I took a footpath that goes round it to the north. Once back on Hob Lane I walked west down past the Old Silent Inn to reach the trail of the Millennium Way. I then followed this trail up to Oldfield Lane, then Hare Hill Edge and across Oakworth Moor to Keighley Moor Reservoir. The trail was left here for a path that links up with the Pennine Way and this trail brought me to the trig point on Wolf Stones. After having lunch here it was back onto the Pennine Way and a descent into the Worth valley. I kept on the trail until I reached Ponden Reservoir and then just before Ponden Hall I turned right onto a track that heads for the open moor and is signposted for Ponden Kirk. The track was left for another signposted path that heads uphill above Ponden Clough to reach Ponden Kirk. The next part of my route up to the Alcomden Stones did involve a bit of heather bashing but some of it can be avoided by following a line of grouse butts up Middle Moor Clough. I then had a path to follow through the heather from the Alcomden Stones to the trig point on the top of Stanbury Moor and across to the ruins of Top Withins. The final part of the walk back to Stanbury was done by taking the Pennine Way downhill past Lower Withins, across the moorland of The Height and when the trail turned left I kept going straight on down the track and onto Back Lane. At the end of Back Lane I turned right onto Hob Lane for the short walk back into Stanbury.
Route map
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Heading out of Stanbury
and down Hob Lane past the Old Silent Inn
I pass through a wildflower filled field as I head up to Oldfield
Looking across the Worth valley to Stanbury from Oldfield Lane
Haworth Moor and Stanbury Moor from Hare Hill Edge
Heading up onto Oakworth Moor
Looking northeast down into the valley of Newsholme Dean
By Keighley Moor Reservoir
As I join the Pennine Way to head for Wolf Stones, one of the more surprising encounters that I've had out on the hills. I pass someone playing bagpipes at the wall end just back there.
The Wolf Stones are in sight and Pendle Hill comes into view on the left
As far north along the Pennine Way as I'm going. I can make out the hills around Skipton in the distance such as Sharp Haw and Barden Moor. Time to head for the trig point on Wolf Stones.
Watersheddles Reservoir and Boulsworth Hill from the Wolf Stones
Pendle Hill in the distance beyond Combe Hill
The trig point above
A few shots of the view from the trig point. Looking east across Keighley Moor.
Pendle Hill, Colne, Twiston Moor and Burn Moor
A hazy view to the north towards the hills around Skipton and those around Wharfedale beyond
Heading back to the Worth valley on the Pennine Way
Ponden Reservoir appears below
and the top end of the Worth valley
At the western end of Ponden Reservoir
and again from the Pennine Way above its southern shore
Off the Pennine Way and onto the open moor as I head for Ponden Clough
Looking across the Worth valley to the moorland that rises to Wolf Stones
There's a great view down the Worth valley as I walk up by Ponden Clough. It's become sunnier and much warmer since I left Wolf Stones.
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Across Ponden Clough Beck
Ponden Clough from Ponden Kirk
The Alcomden Stones on the skyline as I head up Middle Moor Clough
On the Alcomden Stones and it's a warm and sunny afternoon now, perfect weather for being on these moors. The view isn't bad either with the crest of Boulsworth Hill to the west.
Hints of the fells of the Yorkshire Dales above the moorland to the north
Looking down Middle Moor Clough into the Worth valley
Looking south across the shoulders of Withins Height and Round Hill. I can make out the top of Blackstone Edge way in the distance.
Looking back to the Alcomden Stones
and I arrive at the trig point on the top of Stanbury Moor
Looking across the Worth valley to Oakworth Moor
and down it and across Stanbury Moor towards Haworth
Boulsworth Hill and Crow Hill. The top of Pendle Hill can be made out peeping over the moorland between them.
Crossing the top of Stanbury Moor
It's a glorious afternoon as I look east down the valley of South Dean
The ruins of Top Withins
I've left Top Withins by the Pennine Way which will take me back towards Stanbury
Looking back to Top Withins, which is by the tree up on the hillside on the left
Ponden Reservoir to the north
Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir in view
On Back Lane. Great looking sky.
I got off the road and onto a footpath for this shot of Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir..
..and this one looking up South Dean
A beautiful end to the afternoon in the Worth valley
Heading through the back of Stanbury past the church to where I parked at the east end of the village