Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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22nd March 2023 - Weets Top from Malham

Walk Details

Distance walked: 9.6 miles

Total ascent: 1687 ft

OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas

Time taken: 6 hrs

Route description: Malham-Scalegill Mill-Hanlith Bridge-Pennine Way-Airton-Calton Lane-Calton-Foss Gill-Calton Moor-Weets Top-Hawthorns Lane-Gordale Scar-Gordale Bridge-Dales High Way-Malham Rakes-Malham Cove-Pennine Way-Malham


I'm off work today so I decided to head to Malham for a walk. It being a work day I knew it would be much quieter than during the weekend, and that proved to be the case. I took the opportunity to have a bite to eat in The Old Barn Tearoom before setting off. The route I went for was a variation of previous walks from Malham to Weets Top, but I wanted to take in some footpaths and bridleways that I hadn't used before. With this in mind I walked up to the hamlet of Calton from Airton and took the bridleway up Calton Moor to reach Weets Top, and while I was doing that I could visit Foss Gill. I had some changeable weather for this walk, blue skies and sunny spells until I reached Calton, and then the skies clouded over for the afternoon as I was following the bridleway up to Weets Top. For a while there was a little bit of light rain but fortunately the cloud broke up to allow some sunshine for taking in the view from the top of Malham Cove.

From Malham I took the footpath south past Aire Head to Scalegill Mill and to Hanlith Bridge, which I crossed, and then the Pennine Way south to Airton. I then walked up Calton Lane into the hamlet of Calton and along Kell Syke Lane to reach a bridleway down to Foss Gill. I took this down a track to Foss Gill, and after a brief detour to see the waterfalls on Foss Gill, I followed the bridleway north up Calton Moor to eventually arrive on Weets Top, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I left Weets Top by the bridleway down to Hawthorns Lane, then walked down Hawthorns Lane to reach the footpath to Gordale Scar. After visiting Gordale Scar I returned to Hawthorns Lane, and once across Gordale Bridge I took the footpath on the right across to the road of Malham Rakes. I crossed the road and took the footpath opposite to reach the eastern edge of Malham Cove, and after crossing the limestone pavement I got onto the trail of the Pennine Way, which I followed back to Malham.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Looking back to Malham as I take the path south to Aire Head
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Looking back as I pass Aire Head and I can see the entrance to Gordale Scar
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Following the path south to Scalegill Mill
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Passing Scalegill Mill
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By the River Aire to Hanlith Bridge
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Across the fields to the tower of St. Michael the Archangel in Kirkby Malham
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The River Aire from Hanlith Bridge
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On the Pennine Way by the River Aire to Airton..
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I can just about make out Malham Cove when I look back
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The River Aire in Airton
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The outline of Pendle Hill in the distance as I walk up Calton Lane from Airton to Calton
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Makling my way through the hamlet of Calton
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I leave Kell Syke Lane in Calton and take the bridleway down to Foss Gill
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A short detour to see the waterfalls on Foss Gill..
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Leaving Foss Gill on the bridleway to Weets Top
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It doesn't take long for me to have a view of the wooded Foss Gill and Calton below, with Pendle Hill in the distance when I look back
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There's a trig point on the top of the hill on the other side of Foss Gill. It's on access land but would be tricky to reach.
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On the bridleway up Calton Moor
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To my left, Kirkby Fell on the other side of Malhamdale
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Behind and to my right, Cracoe Fell and Flasby Fell
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Approaching Weets Top and Hetton Common Head
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Looking back down Calton Moor to Pendle Hill in the distance
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Hetton Common Head as I near Weets Top
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The final approach to Weets Top. The trig point is on the rise on the right.
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There's a junction of bridleways on Weets Top. I'll be leaving on the one to Hawthorns Lane.
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The remains of Weets Cross
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Looking north from Weets Gate to the limestone moorland of Parson's Pulpit and Proctor High Mark in the distance, with the top of Great Whernside on the right
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At the trig point on Weets Top
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Taking in the view from Weets Top. Malham Moor and Threshfield Moor to the east.
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Cracoe Fell, Boss Moor, and Hetton Common Head
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Kirkby Fell and the limestone crags that mark the entrance to Gordale Scar
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Looking southwest across Calton Moor and Hanlith Moor to Pendle Hill in the distance
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Walking down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane..
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..and then down Hawthorns Lane to Gordale Scar
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A few photos of my there and back visit to Gordale Scar...
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Looking back from the path from Gordale Bridge to Malham Rakes with the limestone cliffs around Gordale Scar on the left
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Malhamdale below and Pendle Hill in the distance as I reach the road of Malham Rakes
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Across Malham Rakes and heading for Malham Cove
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Brighter skies arrive as I look to my left at the view across Malhamdale
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On the eastern edge of Malham Cove. I'm glad that I've got a bit of sunshine for taking in the view as I cross its top....
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The limestone pavement above Malham Cove
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Malham Cove and Malham Beck
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Looking back to Malham Cove as I follow the Pennine Way back to Malham

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
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  • Walking Diaries
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  • Lake District Walks
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  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
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