21st November 2021 - Great Knoutberry Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.3 miles
Total ascent: 1776 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Dent Head Viaduct-Stone House-Pennine Bridleway-Galloway Gate-Pikes Edge-Great Knoutberry Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Newby Head Gate-Dent Head Viaduct
I always knew that I'd be doing this walk at some point during the autumn, and I certainly picked the right day for it. I would have done it last autumn but the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place prevented me, but it was well worth the wait. Glorious autumn weather with blue skies, sunny spells and excellent visibility. The sort of day that makes me glad that I took up hill walking, and it's not too bad for photography either. There were fantastic views to enjoy from start to finish, with that of Dentdale from the bridleway along the side of Great Knoutberry Hill being the highlight.
From the layby below the Dent Head Viaduct I set off by walking along the road down into Dentdale to the hamlet of Stone House. The road was left behind for the Pennine Bridleway which passes Stonehouse Farm and heads up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct. At its top I turned left and took the Galloway Gate bridleway (still part of the Pennine Bridleway), which I followed west and then north round the side of Great Knoutberry Hill. When it reached a gate at some sheepfolds and a fence I left the bridleway behind to follow the fence up to the cairns on Pikes Edge. Lunch was taken here and then it was uphill once more to the trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. After taking in the view I continued by following the wall south off the summit and down to the byway that had made its way up from Widdale. A right turn and I was soon back to where I was earlier in the day, the top of the bridleway up Arten Gill. Here I turned left and took the bridleway that runs south across the side of Wold Fell and down to Newby Head Gate. Once at Newby Head Gate I just had the walk down the road into Dentdale to the Dent Head Viaduct to finish.
Total ascent: 1776 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Dent Head Viaduct-Stone House-Pennine Bridleway-Galloway Gate-Pikes Edge-Great Knoutberry Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Newby Head Gate-Dent Head Viaduct
I always knew that I'd be doing this walk at some point during the autumn, and I certainly picked the right day for it. I would have done it last autumn but the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place prevented me, but it was well worth the wait. Glorious autumn weather with blue skies, sunny spells and excellent visibility. The sort of day that makes me glad that I took up hill walking, and it's not too bad for photography either. There were fantastic views to enjoy from start to finish, with that of Dentdale from the bridleway along the side of Great Knoutberry Hill being the highlight.
From the layby below the Dent Head Viaduct I set off by walking along the road down into Dentdale to the hamlet of Stone House. The road was left behind for the Pennine Bridleway which passes Stonehouse Farm and heads up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct. At its top I turned left and took the Galloway Gate bridleway (still part of the Pennine Bridleway), which I followed west and then north round the side of Great Knoutberry Hill. When it reached a gate at some sheepfolds and a fence I left the bridleway behind to follow the fence up to the cairns on Pikes Edge. Lunch was taken here and then it was uphill once more to the trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. After taking in the view I continued by following the wall south off the summit and down to the byway that had made its way up from Widdale. A right turn and I was soon back to where I was earlier in the day, the top of the bridleway up Arten Gill. Here I turned left and took the bridleway that runs south across the side of Wold Fell and down to Newby Head Gate. Once at Newby Head Gate I just had the walk down the road into Dentdale to the Dent Head Viaduct to finish.
Route map
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Driving down into Dentdale and I had to pull over and take a photo of the Dent Head Viaduct. I'll be walking back down here later, but I thought it would be interesting to see how the time of day made a difference to how it looked.
Walking down the road to Stone House in Dentdale
Looking back up the road, which fortunately is very quiet
Eleven miles to Sedbergh
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I soon have the River Dee for company as it heads downstream alongside the road. The river drops over numerous rocky ledges, which gives me plenty of photo opportunities......
The waterfall of Scow Force
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The River Dee from Stone House Bridge
I join the Pennine Bridleway at Stonehouse Farm and follow the track up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct..
Looking back to the Arten Gill Viaduct as I follow the Pennine Bridleway uphill..
Great Coum and Middleton Fell in the distance as I near the top of Arten Gill
At the top of Arten Gill I join the Galloway Gate bridleway that runs along the western slopes of Great Knoutberry Hill. The views from this across Dentdale and its surrounding fells are fantastic.
Ingleborough, Whernside and Great Coum with Arten Gill and the Arten Gill Viaduct below
As I continue west along the bridleway the view down Dentdale starts to reveal itself
Ingleborough, Whernside, the head of Dentdale and the Arten Gill Viaduct
Baugh Fell appears ahead as the bridleway turns north along the side of Great Knoutberry Hill
After waiting for about ten minutes for the shadow cast by some cloud to move on, I take in the fantastic views of Dentdale and the fells of Great Coum, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike.......
Further round and I can now see the flat top of Wild Boar Fell to the north
Aye Gill Pike and Baugh Fell as I leave the bridleway to follow the fence up the side of Great Knoutberry Hill to Pikes Edge
Dentdale, Middleton Fell, Aye Gill Pike, part of the Howgills, and Baugh Fell as I look back from higher up
On Pikes Edge. I can make out the Lake District fells in the distance behind Aye Gill Pike.
Ingleborough and Whernside from Pikes Edge. The boulders provide a good seat for me to stop and have lunch on.
Aye Gill Pike, part of the Howgills and Baugh Fell
Wild Boar Fell to the north
On my way up to the trig point and it isn't easy not to stop every few steps to turn round and take in that view
At the trig point on Great Knoutberry Hill. Middleton Fell, Dentdale, Aye Gill Pike, Garsdale, the Howgills and Baugh Fell with a long line of Lake District fells in the distance.
Wild Boar Fell, High Seat and Great Shunner Fell to the north
Looking east down into Widdale and Wensleydale
Penyghent and Ingleborough, with Pendle Hill in the distance between them, and Wold Fell below
Ingleborough, Whernside and Great Coum
Dodd Fell Hill and Snaizeholme Fell ahead as I follow the wall from the summit down to Arten Gill Moss
The bright green of the grass on the flat-topped limestone hill of Wold Fell stands out
Looking towards Widdale and Wensleydale from the top of the bridleway on Arten Gill Moss
At the junction of bridleways I was at earlier in the day, and this time I take the one to Newby Head Road
Looking back to Great Knoutberry Hill. The line of the bridleway that runs along its western slopes can be made out.
There's a great light on the slopes of Widdale Fell as the sun gets lower in the sky
Dodd Fell Hill and Snaizeholme Fell..
..and Penyghent and Ingleborough, with Newby Head Farm protected by its stand of trees next to the Hawes to Ribblehead road below, from the bridleway across Wold Fell
A short detour from the bridleway was required to reach the top of Wold Fell. Although it's very flat there's a good view with Middleton Fell, some of the Lake District fells on the skyline, Aye Gill Pike, the Howgills and Baugh Fell to the west.
Following the bridleway down to Newby Head Road
Looking back up to Wold Fell
From Newby Head Gate I have a walk down the road to the Dent Head Viaduct to finish with
and that includes a great view of the Dent Head Viaduct...
