19th March 2023 - Lippersley Pike to Beamsley Beacon
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.6 miles
Total ascent: 1887 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Bark Lane, Addingham-Dales Way-West Hall Farm-West Hall Lane-Nesfield-Moorcroft Farm-Low Moor-Hardings Lane-Long Ridge-Middleton Moor-West Moor House Farm-Bow Beck Gill-Hollingley Farm-Hathenshaw Farm-Lane End Farm-Denton Road-Denton Moor-Lippersley Pike-Gawk Hall Gate-Round Hill-The Old Pike-Beamsley Beacon-Lanshaw Bank-Currer Lane-Hardings Lane-Beech House Farm-West Hall Lane-West Hall Farm-Dales Way-Bark Lane, Addingham
I decided to head to Addingham in Lower Wharfedale for my walk this weekend, and a route across the moorland to the east of the dale. Quite a lot of it was already familiar to me from walks done during the past couple of years, the moorland stretch from Lippersley Pike to Beamsley Beacon, but to take in some new paths I took a different route to get to Lippersley Pike than I had before. The paths and lanes from Middleton Moor to Denton Road were quiet and easy to follow, I'll use them again. With hindsight I should have done this walk the other way round, taking in the moorland stretch during the best weather of the day in the morning, as was forecast, but I'd got it into my head that I was going to do this from east to west so that I was walking towards the best views of the day. I set off from Addingham with blue skies, sunshine, and a fresh northwesterly breeze, but the skies started to cloud over while I was making my way up Denton Moor to Lippersley Pike. The rest of the walk was done under cloudy skies and the occasional sunny interval.
From where I parked on Bark Lane in Addingham I briefly followed the Dales Way north, but soon left it for the footpath across the suspension bridge over the River Wharfe to West Hall Farm and West Hall Lane. I then walked along West Hall Lane to the hamlet of Nesfield where I took a bridleway north up the hillside to Moorcroft Farm, Low Moor, and Hardings Lane. After a brief walk along Hardings Lane to Moor End Farm I took the bridleway up across Long Ridge to a milestone where I turned right and followed a footpath south across Middleton Moor, and then a footpath east along a track to West Moor House Farm. From West Moor House Farm I took the footpath to East Moor House Farm, then down into Bow Beck Gill and up to Hollingley Farm. A walk down the lane from Hollingley Farm to Lane End Farm brought me to Denton Road, where I turned left and walked up the road to its end and then the track up onto Denton Moor. Walking up this track took me to a shooting house, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, it was a short walk north along the track for a brief ascent to the top of Lippersley Pike. After taking in the view from Lippersley Pike I followed the footpath northwest across Stainforth Gill Head, past Gawk Hall Gate and up to the summit of Round Hill. I then made my way southwest across Beamsley Moor to The Old Pike and to Beamsley Beacon, and after taking in the view I made my way down to the road of Lanshaw Bank. A walk south down the road brought me to Beech House Farm on Hardings Lane, where I took a bridleway down the hillside to West Hall Lane. A brief walk south along West Hall Lane brought me to the track to West Hall Farm, and from there I retraced my steps to Bark Lane in Addingham.
Total ascent: 1887 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Bark Lane, Addingham-Dales Way-West Hall Farm-West Hall Lane-Nesfield-Moorcroft Farm-Low Moor-Hardings Lane-Long Ridge-Middleton Moor-West Moor House Farm-Bow Beck Gill-Hollingley Farm-Hathenshaw Farm-Lane End Farm-Denton Road-Denton Moor-Lippersley Pike-Gawk Hall Gate-Round Hill-The Old Pike-Beamsley Beacon-Lanshaw Bank-Currer Lane-Hardings Lane-Beech House Farm-West Hall Lane-West Hall Farm-Dales Way-Bark Lane, Addingham
I decided to head to Addingham in Lower Wharfedale for my walk this weekend, and a route across the moorland to the east of the dale. Quite a lot of it was already familiar to me from walks done during the past couple of years, the moorland stretch from Lippersley Pike to Beamsley Beacon, but to take in some new paths I took a different route to get to Lippersley Pike than I had before. The paths and lanes from Middleton Moor to Denton Road were quiet and easy to follow, I'll use them again. With hindsight I should have done this walk the other way round, taking in the moorland stretch during the best weather of the day in the morning, as was forecast, but I'd got it into my head that I was going to do this from east to west so that I was walking towards the best views of the day. I set off from Addingham with blue skies, sunshine, and a fresh northwesterly breeze, but the skies started to cloud over while I was making my way up Denton Moor to Lippersley Pike. The rest of the walk was done under cloudy skies and the occasional sunny interval.
From where I parked on Bark Lane in Addingham I briefly followed the Dales Way north, but soon left it for the footpath across the suspension bridge over the River Wharfe to West Hall Farm and West Hall Lane. I then walked along West Hall Lane to the hamlet of Nesfield where I took a bridleway north up the hillside to Moorcroft Farm, Low Moor, and Hardings Lane. After a brief walk along Hardings Lane to Moor End Farm I took the bridleway up across Long Ridge to a milestone where I turned right and followed a footpath south across Middleton Moor, and then a footpath east along a track to West Moor House Farm. From West Moor House Farm I took the footpath to East Moor House Farm, then down into Bow Beck Gill and up to Hollingley Farm. A walk down the lane from Hollingley Farm to Lane End Farm brought me to Denton Road, where I turned left and walked up the road to its end and then the track up onto Denton Moor. Walking up this track took me to a shooting house, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, it was a short walk north along the track for a brief ascent to the top of Lippersley Pike. After taking in the view from Lippersley Pike I followed the footpath northwest across Stainforth Gill Head, past Gawk Hall Gate and up to the summit of Round Hill. I then made my way southwest across Beamsley Moor to The Old Pike and to Beamsley Beacon, and after taking in the view I made my way down to the road of Lanshaw Bank. A walk south down the road brought me to Beech House Farm on Hardings Lane, where I took a bridleway down the hillside to West Hall Lane. A brief walk south along West Hall Lane brought me to the track to West Hall Farm, and from there I retraced my steps to Bark Lane in Addingham.
Route map
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The River Wharfe from the footbridge across from Addingham
On the lane from West Hall Farm to West Hall Lane. The hillside ahead will be descended at the end of the walk.
Walking along West Hall Lane to Nesfield
Looking across Wharfedale to Addingham High Moor
In the hamlet of Nesfield
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From Nesfield I follow a byway uphill to Low Moor and Hardings Lane..
Beamsley Beacon to my left
and looking up Wharfedale to Barden Moor
and back to Addingham High Moor and Addingham
Addingham and Skipton Moor in the distance from Low Moor
Moor End Farm below as I head up onto Long Ridge
Beamsley Beacon above Blackhill House
Heading east up Long Ridge
The moorland of Round Hill and Gawk Hall Ridge ahead
The milestone on Long Ridge which is my cue to take the footpath..
..south across Middleton Moor
Another milestone at the southeastern corner of Middleton Moor
Round Hill and Gawk Hall Ridge from the southeastern corner of Middleton Moor
Following the footpath along the track to West Moor House Farm
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Crossing Bow Beck..
Hollingley Farm at the top of the lane down to Denton Road
Ilkley and the eastern slopes of Ilkley Moor ahead as I walk down the lane
Passing Hathenshaw Farm
At Lane End Farm at the junction with Denton Road
Heading north up Denton Road past Hardisty's Farm and up the track onto Denton Moor..
Looking back across Wharfedale to Ilkley Moor
March Ghyll Reservoir, Middleton Moor, and Beamsley Beacon to the west
Following the track up onto Denton Moor. I'll stop at the shooting house ahead to take a break for lunch.
Ilkley and Ilkley Moor as I reach the shooting house
Approaching the large shelter cairn on Lippersley Pike
On the top of Lippersley Pike
Looking east to Askwith Moor
and west to Beamsley Beacon and Round Hill
Looking back to Lippersley Pike from the path to Gawk Hall Gate
Through Gawk Hall Gate and onto the footpath up Round Hill
Past the milestone at Gawk Hall Gate
Looking back to Lippersley Pike as I head up Round Hill
March Ghyll Reservoir, Ilkley, and Ilkley Moor to the south
A gap in the wall gives me a view to Beamsley Beacon
A small cairn marks the top of Round Hill. Looking southwest to Beamsley Beacon.
Rocking Moor and Blubberhouses Moor to the northeast
Heading southwest across Beamsley Level towards The Old Pike
To my right, Barden Moor and Barden Fell
Looking back to Round Hill as I reach The Old Pike
and down Wharfedale to The Chevin, with Ilkley and Ilkley Moor on the right
Chelker Reservoir, Skipton Moor, and Barden Moor from The Old Pike
A short walk across the moor from The Old Pike to Beamsley Beacon
At the trig point on Beamsley Beacon
Looking across Wharfedale to Chelker Reservoir and Skipton Moor
and to Barden Moor
Leaving Beamsley Beacon I walk down to the road of Lanshaw Bank at West Lodge
To my right, Barden Moor, Wharfedale, and Barden Fell
Walking down Hardings Lane to Beech House Farm
From Beech House Farm I take a bridleway down to West Hall Lane with a view across to Addingham High Moor and Addingham ahead of me..
The River Wharfe as I cross back over the suspension bridge to Addingham