1st December 2017 - The moors above Grassington
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.2 miles
Total ascent: 1024 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Grassington-Main Street-Chapel Street-Bank Lane-Dales Way-Conistone Pie-Dales Way-Bycliffe Road-Kelber-Downs Pasture-New Pasture Edge-Moor Lane-Main Street-Grassington
A day off work has happily coincided with a forecast of good weather. It's set to be cold and sunny but with a strong, cold northerly wind, so with this in mind I decided not to venture too high onto the moors. The route I ended up going for was a slightly shorter version of one that I did back in February 2015 on a very similar sort of day. There was a light covering of snow on moors on that day as well. I set off from Grassington with largely sunny skies and although the cloud did increase during the afternoon it was a lovely early winter's day for a walk across the moors.
From the car park in Grassington I walked up Main Street, then Chapel Street and Bank Lane and onto the Dales Way. I then followed this north to the limestone outcrop of Conistone Pie. After backtracking for a few hundred yards I turned left and onto the bridleway of Bycliffe Road, which I followed uphill through Kelber Gate and onto the moorland of Kelber. A small cairn to the right of the path was my cue to take the footpath south across Downs Pasture and New Pasture Edge to the hamlet of Yarnbury and Moor Lane. I then followed Moor Lane down into Grassington.
Total ascent: 1024 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Grassington-Main Street-Chapel Street-Bank Lane-Dales Way-Conistone Pie-Dales Way-Bycliffe Road-Kelber-Downs Pasture-New Pasture Edge-Moor Lane-Main Street-Grassington
A day off work has happily coincided with a forecast of good weather. It's set to be cold and sunny but with a strong, cold northerly wind, so with this in mind I decided not to venture too high onto the moors. The route I ended up going for was a slightly shorter version of one that I did back in February 2015 on a very similar sort of day. There was a light covering of snow on moors on that day as well. I set off from Grassington with largely sunny skies and although the cloud did increase during the afternoon it was a lovely early winter's day for a walk across the moors.
From the car park in Grassington I walked up Main Street, then Chapel Street and Bank Lane and onto the Dales Way. I then followed this north to the limestone outcrop of Conistone Pie. After backtracking for a few hundred yards I turned left and onto the bridleway of Bycliffe Road, which I followed uphill through Kelber Gate and onto the moorland of Kelber. A small cairn to the right of the path was my cue to take the footpath south across Downs Pasture and New Pasture Edge to the hamlet of Yarnbury and Moor Lane. I then followed Moor Lane down into Grassington.
Route map
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A bit of snow and ice walking through Grassington this morning
Looking across Wharfedale to Malham Moor
and again with Grass Wood and Bastow Wood on the right
Looking back to Grassington with Cracoe Fell behind
As I follow the Dales Way north there's fantastic scenery to enjoy with bare limestone, dry-stone walls and snow covered fells above........
Passing the top of Conistone Dib
The limestone outcrop of Conistone Pie comes into view. A good place to stop and have my lunch, sat in the sun and out of that cold northerly wind.
Lunch had, time to take in the view. To the north, Littondale and Wharfedale separated by Birks Fell.
Looking south down Wharfedale
Kilnsey Crag on the other side of the valley
The moorland to the southeast, which is where I'm heading for now
I'm following the Dales Way back south for a short distance before..
..taking the bridleway of Bycliffe Road
Great views across Wharfedale as I follow the track uphill to Kelber Gate......
Grassington Moor as I left the bridleway for the footpath south across Downs Pasture. A cairn marked the spot.
Great views as I follow the footpath across the snow covered moor. Although there's more cloud than there was earlier in the day there's a lovely light.....
The path passes High Barn on New Pasture Edge..
Pendle Hill in the distance
Heading down to Yarnbury
A cold and wintry scene with the bare, snow covered trees
Making my way down Moor Lane back to Grassington..
Looking across Wharfedale as I reach the outskirts of Grassington
Before I left for home I popped down to have a quick look at Linton Falls