21st September 2025 - Great Knoutberry Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.8 miles
Total ascent: 2103 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Car park next to road north of River Dent opposite Blandsgill-Cowgill-Lea Yeat Bridge-Stone House-Pennine Bridleway-Galloway Gate-Pikes Edge-Great Knoutberry Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Newby Head Gate-Stone House-Cowgill-Dales Way-Ewegales Bridge-road south of River Dent-Car park next to road north of River Dent opposite Blandsgill
It's familiar territory for my first walk after getting back from the Isle of Mull. I managed to go the whole of last year without visiting Great Knoutberry Hill, so I decided to make that my destination for this weekend's walk. Like today I've mostly done this walk in autumn, perhaps it's the colours that the countryside takes on at this time of year and the lengthening shadows that makes me decide that this is the best season for it. A new place to start from had to be found though. A landslip had closed the road from the B6255 at Newby Head down into Dentdale just below the Dent Head Viaduct. After a bit of a search I found the car park by the road north of the River Dent to the west of Cowgill. It did mean that quite a bit of walking along roads had to be done to get to the usual route. I did have a nice day for it though. Lovely early 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 car park by the road north of the River Dent opposite Blandsgill, I set off by walking east along the road through the hamlet of Cowgill, across Lea Yeat Bridge, and then along the road 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 (stopping for lunch on the way). When it reached a gate at some sheepfolds and a fence I left the bridleway behind to follow the fence up to Pikes Edge, then up to the trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. After taking in the fantastic 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 walked down the road into Dentdale to and through Stone House, and to Lea Yeat Bridge. I left the road here for the Dales Way path to Ewegales Bridge, then walked west along the road south of the River Dent until I reached a footpath on the right that I took down and across the River Dent back to the car park.
Total ascent: 2103 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Car park next to road north of River Dent opposite Blandsgill-Cowgill-Lea Yeat Bridge-Stone House-Pennine Bridleway-Galloway Gate-Pikes Edge-Great Knoutberry Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Newby Head Gate-Stone House-Cowgill-Dales Way-Ewegales Bridge-road south of River Dent-Car park next to road north of River Dent opposite Blandsgill
It's familiar territory for my first walk after getting back from the Isle of Mull. I managed to go the whole of last year without visiting Great Knoutberry Hill, so I decided to make that my destination for this weekend's walk. Like today I've mostly done this walk in autumn, perhaps it's the colours that the countryside takes on at this time of year and the lengthening shadows that makes me decide that this is the best season for it. A new place to start from had to be found though. A landslip had closed the road from the B6255 at Newby Head down into Dentdale just below the Dent Head Viaduct. After a bit of a search I found the car park by the road north of the River Dent to the west of Cowgill. It did mean that quite a bit of walking along roads had to be done to get to the usual route. I did have a nice day for it though. Lovely early 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 car park by the road north of the River Dent opposite Blandsgill, I set off by walking east along the road through the hamlet of Cowgill, across Lea Yeat Bridge, and then along the road 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 (stopping for lunch on the way). When it reached a gate at some sheepfolds and a fence I left the bridleway behind to follow the fence up to Pikes Edge, then up to the trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. After taking in the fantastic 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 walked down the road into Dentdale to and through Stone House, and to Lea Yeat Bridge. I left the road here for the Dales Way path to Ewegales Bridge, then walked west along the road south of the River Dent until I reached a footpath on the right that I took down and across the River Dent back to the car park.
Route map
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Setting off, I walk east along the road towards Cowgill
Blue skies above Allen Haw
Looking down Dentdale to Great Coum
Great Knoutberry Hill ahead as I walk along the road into Cowgill..
Looking back along the road
The River Dee from Lea Yeat Bridge
Lea Yeat Bridge over the River Dee
Past the Sportsman's Inn
The Arten Gill Viaduct on my left as I approach Stone House
I join the Pennine Bridleway at Stonehouse Farm and follow the track up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct
As I make my way up the Pennine Bridleway the view gradually opens up...
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
Looking back and across the top of Arten Gill to Dodd Fell Hill in the distance
Dentdale starts to come into view as I follow the bridleway west
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..
Further along and the sprawling bulk of Baugh Fell appears ahead
It's the view of Dentdale, and the fells of Great Coum, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike to my left that has my attention
The flat top of Wild Boar Fell is now in sight to the right of Baugh Fell
More fantastic views of Dentdale and the fells of Great Coum, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike to enjoy...
Baugh Fell and Wild Boar Fell ahead as I follow the bridleway north
Looking back along the bridleway to Ingleborough and Whernside
Leaving the bridleway when it reached a gate at some sheepfolds, I follow the fence up to Pikes Edge on Great Knoutberry Hill..
Ingleborough and Whernside from Pikes Edge
Great Coum, Dentdale, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike round to the southern slopes of the Howgills. With the excellent visibility today it's easy to make out the Lake District fells in the far distance on the right.
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. It's definitely worth stopping for a while to take in the great view.
Middleton Fell, Dentdale, Aye Gill Pike, Garsdale, the Howgills and Baugh Fell with a long line of Lake District fells in the distance
Whernside, Great Coum, and Middleton Fell
Penyghent and Ingleborough, with a distant Pendle Hill between them
Wild Boar Fell and High Seat above the valley of Mallerstang
Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat in the distance beyond Widdale Great Tarn and Widdale Fell
Looking east down into Widdale and Wensleydale
Dodd Fell Hill and Snaizeholme Fell as I follow the wall from the summit down to Arten Gill Moss
Lower down, and I have Cam Fell and Penyghent in front of me
Looking towards Widdale and Wensleydale from the top of the bridleway on Arten Gill Moss. I'm going the other way, down to the top of Arten Gill.
At the junction of bridleways I was at earlier in the day, and this time I take the one to Newby Head Road
I take the bridleway south across the side of Wold Fell
Looking down Widdale to Wensleydale
Penyghent and Ingleborough, with the Hawes to Ribblehead road below, from the bridleway across Wold Fell
Following the bridleway down to Newby Head Road..
From Newby Head Gate I walk down the road into Dentdale
Taking in the great view of the Dent Head Viaduct
Walking down the road to Stone House in Dentdale
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I soon have the River Dee for company as it heads downstream alongside the road. It drops over numerous rocky ledges, which gives me plenty of photo opportunities...
Past the Sportsman's Inn
Approaching Lea Yeat Bridge. I'll leave the road here for a footpath to Ewegales Bridge.
The River Dee from Lea Yeat Bridge
Following the footpath across to Ewegales Bridge
From Ewegales Bridge I walk west along the road on the south side of the River Dee
Looking back to the lower slopes of Great Knoutberry Hill
and across to the southern slopes of Aye Gill Pike
Looking down Dentdale to Great Coum as I walk west along the road
I leave the road for a footpath down to a footbridge over the River Dee, which will take me back to the car park
A final shot of the River Dee flowing down through a narrow and rocky gorge