18th February 2024 - In Moor and Dale Edge
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.8 miles
Total ascent: 1871 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Lofthouse-Stean-Nidderdale Way-Middlesmoor-In Moor Lane-Rain Stang trig point-In Moor Lane-Scar House Reservoir-Carle Fell Road-Nidderdale Way-Dale Edge-Thrope Edge-Trapping Hill-Lofthouse
For my walk this weekend I decided to head for Nidderdale to do a route that would take in some of the moors to the north of Lofthouse. Most of it was already familiar to me from previous walks in the area, although visiting the hamlet of Stean and the Nidderdale Way up to Middlesmoor was new, as well as the Rain Stang trig point on In Moor. I missed out on bagging it the last time I crossed In Moor in January 2022, and I nearly did again as I completely missed the point where I should have left In Moor Lane to head up to it. A pathless tramp from In Moor Lane across Woodale Moss took me it, and once I'd taken in the view I returned to In Moor Lane by the best route, which I now know for future visits. The forecast was for a mild winter's day with more in the way of sunshine the further east you went, and that's why I went to Nidderdale. After a cloudy start it brightened up through the morning, and in the sunny spells during the afternoon it felt positively springlike despite the strong winds.
After parking my car next to the reservoir access road just below Lofthouse I walked along the lane to the hamlet of Stean, followed the Nidderdale Way up to Middlesmoor, walked through the village, then took the track of In Moor Lane across In Moor and down to Scar House Reservoir, with a diversion to the Rain Stang trig point on the way. I then made my way across the dam of the reservoir and up to the track of Carle Fell Road, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I continued to follow the Nidderdale Way east along the track, and when the trail left it to head for the valley floor I continued along the track to reach a shooting house. From here the track took me uphill to join a bridleway, which I followed east to Dale Edge, then south to Lofthouse Moor and along Thrope Edge to a shooting house. Just past this as the bridleway heads east I went through a gate on the right and took the bridleway south down to the road down Trapping Hill. I then walked down the road, taking the short-cut of a footpath down a couple of fields to Lofthouse, and from there followed a footpath across the River Nidd back to where I'd parked my car next to the reservoir access road.
Total ascent: 1871 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Lofthouse-Stean-Nidderdale Way-Middlesmoor-In Moor Lane-Rain Stang trig point-In Moor Lane-Scar House Reservoir-Carle Fell Road-Nidderdale Way-Dale Edge-Thrope Edge-Trapping Hill-Lofthouse
For my walk this weekend I decided to head for Nidderdale to do a route that would take in some of the moors to the north of Lofthouse. Most of it was already familiar to me from previous walks in the area, although visiting the hamlet of Stean and the Nidderdale Way up to Middlesmoor was new, as well as the Rain Stang trig point on In Moor. I missed out on bagging it the last time I crossed In Moor in January 2022, and I nearly did again as I completely missed the point where I should have left In Moor Lane to head up to it. A pathless tramp from In Moor Lane across Woodale Moss took me it, and once I'd taken in the view I returned to In Moor Lane by the best route, which I now know for future visits. The forecast was for a mild winter's day with more in the way of sunshine the further east you went, and that's why I went to Nidderdale. After a cloudy start it brightened up through the morning, and in the sunny spells during the afternoon it felt positively springlike despite the strong winds.
After parking my car next to the reservoir access road just below Lofthouse I walked along the lane to the hamlet of Stean, followed the Nidderdale Way up to Middlesmoor, walked through the village, then took the track of In Moor Lane across In Moor and down to Scar House Reservoir, with a diversion to the Rain Stang trig point on the way. I then made my way across the dam of the reservoir and up to the track of Carle Fell Road, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I continued to follow the Nidderdale Way east along the track, and when the trail left it to head for the valley floor I continued along the track to reach a shooting house. From here the track took me uphill to join a bridleway, which I followed east to Dale Edge, then south to Lofthouse Moor and along Thrope Edge to a shooting house. Just past this as the bridleway heads east I went through a gate on the right and took the bridleway south down to the road down Trapping Hill. I then walked down the road, taking the short-cut of a footpath down a couple of fields to Lofthouse, and from there followed a footpath across the River Nidd back to where I'd parked my car next to the reservoir access road.
Route map
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Walking along the road past Studfold Farm
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and then towards Stean, with How Stean Gorge over the wall to my right..
Following the lane all the way to its end at the hamlet of Stean..
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From the end of the lane I take the Nidderdale Way down to and across How Stean Gorge..
..and then up through fields to Middlesmoor
The view down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir as I reach Middlesmoor
The church of St. Chad's in Middlesmoor
From Middlesmoor I take the track of In Moor Lane (which is part of the Nidderdale Way), which gives me a great view down Nidderdale when I turn around..
Meugher, Riggs Moor, and the valley of How Stean Beck to my left
Little Whernside ahead as In Moor Lane crosses the top of In Moor. I'm pretty sure I've gone past where I wanted to turn off and head up to the Rain Stang trig point.
Leaving In Moor Lane I follow a wall up onto Woodale Moss
As I reach its top Dale Edge, Lofthouse Moor, and Thrope Edge come into view on the other side of Nidderdale
After a pathless tramp through the heather I reach the Rain Stang trig point on In Moor. Looking east to Dale Edge, Lofthouse Moor, and Thrope Edge..
..north to Great Haw and Little Haw..
..and down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir
Great Whernside and Little Whernside at the head of Nidderdale
From the trig point I follow a wall down to In Moor Lane, which I can get onto through a gate. I'll know where to leave it in the future for visiting the trig point.
On In Moor Lane again, and heading north
A last look back down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir before the bridleway reaches its summit
Little Whernside ahead as In Moor Lane crosses the top of In Moor
and then Carle Fell Side
To my left, Great Whernside beyond the expanse of Kay Head Allotment
Heading down to Scar House Reservoir
The reservoir is certainly full to overflowing at the moment
Looking west across choppy waters to Nidd Head and Little Whernside
and east across Scar Plantation to Dale Edge in the distance
Once across the dam I make my way up to the track of Carle Fell Road
Looking down on Scar House Reservoir..
After a break for lunch I follow the Nidderdale Way east along the track
Looking back to Scar House Reservoir, with Great Whernside in the distance
and down Nidderdale to Lofthouse Moor and Thrope Edge
Following the track down to and across Woo Gill..
Looking back to Woo Gill, and the not as deep Twizling Gill on the right
I keep on the track, which is no longer part of the Nidderdale Way, and follow it up to a shooting house on the moor
Looking back to Scar House Reservoir and Carle Fell Side, with Great Whernside in the distance
Past the shooting house and I follow the track and bridleway east along Dale Edge
Views of Nidderdale and its surrounding moorland as I follow the bridleway east and then south towards Thrope Edge.....
In Moor, Great Whernside, Little Whernside, and Carle Fell around the head of Nidderdale
Above the crossroads of the bridleways at the southern end of Dale Edge, from where I look west and take in the view of the head of Nidderdale
and east across Pott Moor
Great Whernside and Little Whernside in the distance, with In Moor on the left to the south of Nidderdale, and Carle Fell and North Moor on the right to the north of Nidderdale
Heading south along the bridleway from Dale Edge to Thrope Edge
Looking back north along Dale Edge
The shooting house on Thrope Edge appears as I follow the bridleway south
The Shooting House on Thrope Edge
Taking in the view across Nidderdale from Thrope Edge
From Thrope Edge I take the bridleway down to Trapping Hill
Looking north up Nidderdale to Carle Fell, Great Haw, Little Haw, Dale Edge, and Thrope Edge..
Views down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir and to Fountains Earth Moor as I follow the bridleway down to Trapping Hill..
Walking down the road of Trapping Hill with Raygill House Moor and Ramsgill Moor on the other side of Nidderdale
Long shadows across Nidderdale
To my left, a view down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir opens up
The village of Middlesmoor sits on the opposite hillside
A footpath gets me off the road down to Lofthouse
Making my way through Lofthouse
Crossing the River Nidd below Lofthouse as I return to where I've parked by the reservoir access road