18th June 2016 - Old Cote Moor Top & Littondale
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.7 miles
Total ascent: 1533 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-New Barn-Littondale-Litton-Ackerley Moor-Old Cote Moor Top-Hawkswick Moor-Knipe Scar-Hawkswick-Littondale-Arncliffe
My first walk since getting back home from the Isle of Skye and I decided to head for Littondale in the Yorkshire Dales. The route I followed was one that I've done a couple of times before and thoroughly enjoyed. Littondale is a quiet valley and at this time of year the meadows are full of wildflowers, while the walk down the moorland of Old Cote Moor Top offers good views. When I arrived in Arncliffe there were bits of blue sky and sunshine about and I was hoping that these would last as I walked up the valley to Litton so that I could see the wildflowers at their best. Unfortunately they didn't but they still looked good. The clouds filled in as I was walking up Littondale so that by the time I was up on the moorland it was pretty cool and grey.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked west through the village to the sharp left hand bend on Brootes Lane. Here I took the track that goes straight on past New Barn and then the footpath that makes its way up Littondale, taking the stepping stones across the River Skirfare, to arrive in Litton. A short walk up the road to the Queen's Arms pub later and I was on the bridleway up onto the moor to Buckden. When I reached the top of the bridleway I left it for the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top. Lunch was taken sitting against the nearby wall. The moorland part of the walk was next. A clear enough path follows the wall southeast to reach a ladder stile, which I crossed onto the Wharfedale side of the fell to continue walking down the ridge all the way to Knipe Scar. I then took the path down to Hawkswick in Littondale where after turning right and a short walk along the road I took the footbridge over the River Skirfare. The last part of my walk was to follow the footpath up Littondale to arrive in Arncliffe by St. Oswald's church. A short time later and I was back where I'd parked.
Total ascent: 1533 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-New Barn-Littondale-Litton-Ackerley Moor-Old Cote Moor Top-Hawkswick Moor-Knipe Scar-Hawkswick-Littondale-Arncliffe
My first walk since getting back home from the Isle of Skye and I decided to head for Littondale in the Yorkshire Dales. The route I followed was one that I've done a couple of times before and thoroughly enjoyed. Littondale is a quiet valley and at this time of year the meadows are full of wildflowers, while the walk down the moorland of Old Cote Moor Top offers good views. When I arrived in Arncliffe there were bits of blue sky and sunshine about and I was hoping that these would last as I walked up the valley to Litton so that I could see the wildflowers at their best. Unfortunately they didn't but they still looked good. The clouds filled in as I was walking up Littondale so that by the time I was up on the moorland it was pretty cool and grey.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked west through the village to the sharp left hand bend on Brootes Lane. Here I took the track that goes straight on past New Barn and then the footpath that makes its way up Littondale, taking the stepping stones across the River Skirfare, to arrive in Litton. A short walk up the road to the Queen's Arms pub later and I was on the bridleway up onto the moor to Buckden. When I reached the top of the bridleway I left it for the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top. Lunch was taken sitting against the nearby wall. The moorland part of the walk was next. A clear enough path follows the wall southeast to reach a ladder stile, which I crossed onto the Wharfedale side of the fell to continue walking down the ridge all the way to Knipe Scar. I then took the path down to Hawkswick in Littondale where after turning right and a short walk along the road I took the footbridge over the River Skirfare. The last part of my walk was to follow the footpath up Littondale to arrive in Arncliffe by St. Oswald's church. A short time later and I was back where I'd parked.
Route map
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The sun is out as I arrive in Arncliffe
I leave Arncliffe on the track to New Barn
Looking across to Yew Cogar Scar and Blue Scar
I now have a lovely walk up the valley towards Litton with lots of wildflower filled fields...
No problems crossing the stepping stones over the River Skirfare today
More wildflower filled fields.......
Prominent among them are buttercups, red clover and meadow bistort
The Queen's Arms pub ahead as I approach Litton
A host of meadow bistort
Looking back down on Littondale and Litton as I take the bridleway up onto Firth Fell
Penyghent and Plover Hill come into view as I gain height
At the trig point and high point of the walk on Old Cote Moor Top
The view from here is entirely one of moorlands. Buckden Pike.
Great Whernside
Penyghent and Plover Hill. The highest hill in the distance on the right is Whernside.
A broad sprawl of fell heads northwest towards Horse Head Moor
I'm heading in the other direction though, to the southeast. More featureless moors. The view will improve.
Pendle Hill puts in an appearance in the distance..
The cotton grass really brightens up the moors at this time of year, especially when it's a bit grey and overcast as it is today
Buckden below Buckden Pike as I arrive on the Wharfedale side of the fell
The better views to come as I follow the ridge down to where Wharfedale and Littondale meet
Great Whernside and Kettlewell
Blue Scar
At the trig point on Hawkswick Moor
My walk down the ridge comes to an end above Knipe Scar where Littondale joins Wharfedale. A bit of sunshine on Barden Moor in the distance.
Heading back down into Littondale and..
..towards the hamlet of Hawkswick
In Hawkswick..
..and this is where I cross back over the River Skirfare
Up close and personal
Lots more wildflower filled fields to look at as I walk up the valley back to Arncliffe. It's a shame that there isn't any sunshine.
The path briefly joins the River Skirfare at a large loop in the river..
Past Castleberg Barns..
Beside the river again just outside Arncliffe
The church of St. Oswald's in Arncliffe
Finally back in Arncliffe