17th July 2021 - Cosh Knott to Horse Head Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.6 miles
Total ascent: 2627 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas & OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Yockenthwaite-Dales Way-Deepdale-Deepdale Bridge-Dales Way-Beckermonds-Eller Carr-Halton Gill-Halton Gill Bridge-Foxup-Harrop Barns-Cosh House-Cosh Beck Head-Cosh Knott-High Green Field Knott-Eller Carr Moss-Horse Head Moor-Raisgill Farm-Yockenthwaite
My second walk of the long weekend, and with hindsight I should have picked a route that was a bit shorter and had less ascent. Yesterday was warm, but today was very warm and it felt more humid. By the middle of the afternoon the heat and humidity was getting to me, and with miles still to go to get back to Yockenthwaite each step had become a chore, and I wasn't really enjoying the walk anymore. I'd brought 3 litres of water with me and I drank every drop. The route that I'd picked was one that I'd done before back in May 2018, and took in the moorland around Langstrothdale and the head of Littondale. It has a really nice combination of following paths by the Rivers Wharfe and Skirfare, and in the countryside in Langstrothdale and Littondale, along with taking in the wide open spaces of lonely moors. I had more or less wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine for this outing, with a gentle breeze that provided a bit of relief from the heat. Despite the warmth the visibility was very good and I had great views to enjoy from the tops of the moors.
From where I parked on the grass verge at Yockenthwaite I crossed the bridge over the River Wharfe and followed the trail of the Dales Way west to Deepdale and on to Beckermonds. Here I left the trail behind and took the footpath across the moor and down to Halton Gill, where I stopped for lunch, sat on a wall in the shade of a tree. Break had, I walked down the road to Halton Gill Bridge and took the footpath on the right by the River Skirfare to Foxup, where I joined a track at Foxup Bridge. I then walked west along the track past Bridge Farm and up into Foxup, where I took the footpath north past Harrop Barns and into the valley of Cosh Beck to reach Cosh House. Past Cosh House and there's a quadbike track to follow for a while until this peters out and then I just followed Cosh Beck to its source at Cosh Beck Head. I then made my way north by a wall up onto the moor and then west to its end at Cosh Knott and the trig point and pillar there. After a final break here I walked east along the crest of the moor to High Green Field Knott, down to Eller Carr Moss and up onto Horse Head Moor. I was then left with following the bridleway down into Langstrothdale from Horse Head Gate to Raisgill Farm, and a walk along the road to where I was parked near Yockenthwaite.
Total ascent: 2627 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas & OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Yockenthwaite-Dales Way-Deepdale-Deepdale Bridge-Dales Way-Beckermonds-Eller Carr-Halton Gill-Halton Gill Bridge-Foxup-Harrop Barns-Cosh House-Cosh Beck Head-Cosh Knott-High Green Field Knott-Eller Carr Moss-Horse Head Moor-Raisgill Farm-Yockenthwaite
My second walk of the long weekend, and with hindsight I should have picked a route that was a bit shorter and had less ascent. Yesterday was warm, but today was very warm and it felt more humid. By the middle of the afternoon the heat and humidity was getting to me, and with miles still to go to get back to Yockenthwaite each step had become a chore, and I wasn't really enjoying the walk anymore. I'd brought 3 litres of water with me and I drank every drop. The route that I'd picked was one that I'd done before back in May 2018, and took in the moorland around Langstrothdale and the head of Littondale. It has a really nice combination of following paths by the Rivers Wharfe and Skirfare, and in the countryside in Langstrothdale and Littondale, along with taking in the wide open spaces of lonely moors. I had more or less wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine for this outing, with a gentle breeze that provided a bit of relief from the heat. Despite the warmth the visibility was very good and I had great views to enjoy from the tops of the moors.
From where I parked on the grass verge at Yockenthwaite I crossed the bridge over the River Wharfe and followed the trail of the Dales Way west to Deepdale and on to Beckermonds. Here I left the trail behind and took the footpath across the moor and down to Halton Gill, where I stopped for lunch, sat on a wall in the shade of a tree. Break had, I walked down the road to Halton Gill Bridge and took the footpath on the right by the River Skirfare to Foxup, where I joined a track at Foxup Bridge. I then walked west along the track past Bridge Farm and up into Foxup, where I took the footpath north past Harrop Barns and into the valley of Cosh Beck to reach Cosh House. Past Cosh House and there's a quadbike track to follow for a while until this peters out and then I just followed Cosh Beck to its source at Cosh Beck Head. I then made my way north by a wall up onto the moor and then west to its end at Cosh Knott and the trig point and pillar there. After a final break here I walked east along the crest of the moor to High Green Field Knott, down to Eller Carr Moss and up onto Horse Head Moor. I was then left with following the bridleway down into Langstrothdale from Horse Head Gate to Raisgill Farm, and a walk along the road to where I was parked near Yockenthwaite.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
A dry riverbed as I cross the bridge over the River Wharfe at Yockenthwaite
From Yockenthwaite I follow the Dales Way above the north bank of the river to Deepdale..
Then at Deepdale I cross the river again via Deepdale Bridge and keep on the Dales Way towards Beckermonds...
Wildflower filled pastures, including one with lots of Melancholy Thistles..
Great scenery on a warm summer's morning as I follow the Dales Way to Beckermonds....
Greenfield Beck and Oughtershaw Beck meet at Beckermonds and the River Wharfe begins
Leaving Beckermonds and Langstrothdale behind as I take the footpath across the shoulder of Horse Head Moor to Halton Gill..
As I reach the top of the path Fountains Fell and Plover Hill appear ahead of me
To my right, Plover Hill, Blaydike Moss, the valley of Cosh Beck, Ingleborough, and High Green Field Knott
Ingleborough, High Green Field Knott, and Whernside
The hamlet of Foxup ahead as I join the bridleway down to Halton Gill
Heading down to Halton Gill and Littondale. I think I need to take a break.
In Halton Gill and I've found a spot in the shade to have my lunch, sat on a wall under a tree. It's very warm and quite humid.
The River Skirfare from Halton Gill Bridge
|
Melancholy Thistles
|
Loads of Meadowsweet by the path from Halton Gill Bridge to Foxup
Looking across the River Skirfare to Halton Gill
By the River Skirfare
Passing Bridge Farm in Foxup
Views down into Littondale as I take the path from Foxup to Cosh House..
Following the path past Harrop Barns...
I can make out Cosh House in the distance on the opposite hillside. To reach it I need to follow the path down to and across Cosh Beck...
Looking down the valley of Cosh Beck to the slopes of Horse Head Moor
Cosh House. It doesn't look as though it's currently occupied, but it is in a good state of repair. I'm going to go through the gate to the right of the outbuilding.
From Cosh House I have a thin trod to follow up to Cosh Beck Head at the stand of trees on the horizon
Looking back down to Cosh Beck Head as I make my way up onto High Green Field Knott
and across Foxup Moor to Plover Hill
Some time later and I finally arrive at the stone pillar above Ribblesdale that marks the western end of this moorland ridge. Looking west to Ingleborough and Whernside.
Whernside, Aye Gill Pike, the Howgills, Baugh Fell and Great Knoutberry Hill. I can make out a few of the Lake District fells in the far distance to the right of Whernside.
Plover Hill and Penyghent from the trig point on Cosh Knott. I can make out Pendle Hill in the distance to the right of Penyghent.
Ingleborough and Whernside
Looking towards the moors around the head of Littondale
The Howgills, Baugh Fell, Great Knoutberry Hill and Dodd Fell Hill to the north
Following the wall east along the top of the moor to High Green Field Knott
A view down Littondale from High Green Field Knott
Yockenthwaite Moor and Buckden Pike to the east
I get a better view of Littondale as I follow the wall towards Horse Head Moor. The yellow flowers in the foreground are Bog Asphodel.
It's a long walk from High Green Field Knott to Horse Head Moor, and I'm more than ready to get back to Yockenthwaite
Looking back to High Green Field Knott with Ingleborough and Whernside in the distance
and north across Langstrothdale to Dodd Fell Hill and Woldside
Back at where I was earlier in the day, at the point where the path from Beckermonds crosses the moor to Halton Gill. It passes through the gate in the wall.
The trig point on Horse Head Moor is now in sight on the other side of the wall
Fountains Fell, Penyghent and Plover Hill from Horse Head Moor
Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough. There's a nice light on the moors at the end of the afternoon.
Great views down Langstrothdale to Buckden Pike as I follow the bridleway down to Yockenthwaite..
Yockenthwaite finally appears below