Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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24th February 2018 - Capplestone Gate and the Dales Way

Walk Details

Distance walked: 9.5 miles

Total ascent: 1828 ft

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

Time taken: 6 hrs

Route description: Conistone-Conistone Dib-Bycliffe Road-Conistone Turf Road-Capplestone Gate-Langcliffe-Kettlewell-Highgate Leys Lane-Dales Way-Conistone Dib-Conistone


This was the walk that I'd originally planned on doing last weekend. It's a route that I've done a couple of times before and offers great views across the moors around Wharfedale and Littondale. This weekend was the build up to the "Beast from the East". I may have had sunny skies today but there was a strong and cold easterly wind blowing, the reason why I didn't opt for heading for one of the high tops. It was nothing compared to the bitter wind and snow that arrived a few days later though. A haze did limit the visibility to the nearby fells.

From the hamlet of Conistone I made my way through the hamlet and along the path up Conistone Dib. At its top I took the bridleway of Bycliffe Road which I left at a right turn for the footpath of Conistone Turf Road which heads uphill to the trig point at Capplestone Gate. After taking a break in the shelter of the wall here I followed the path northwest across the hillside of Langcliffe down to Kettlewell. I had another stop in Kettlewell at Zarina's Tea Room where I had coffee and a slice of Bakewell Tart. Time to head back. I started by making my way down to the bridge over the Wharfe to take the path south by the river. I left this for the Kettlewell to Conistone road which was joined by the trail of the Dales Way. I then followed the Dales Way south back to the top of Conistone Dib. A walk down the Dib brought me back to Conistone (with a detour up to the cairn on the hillside of Davy Dimple).

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

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Looking back at the hamlet of Conistone..
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..as I enter Conistone Dib
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Making my way past Bull Scar
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and approaching the top of Conistone Dib
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Looking back down Conistone Dib
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The bridleway of Bycliffe Road takes me up onto the limestone moorland above Wharfedale
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There are great views across the surrounding moors as I follow the path of the Conistone Turf Road up to the trig point at Capplestone Gate....
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By the trig point at Capplestone Gate
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It's pretty hazy today but there's still a great view from here. Looking across to the moorland where Littondale and Wharfedale meet.
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Old Cote Moor Top and a hazy Buckden Pike
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The moorland around Wharfedale to the south..
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..and Barden Moor
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Finally, Malham Moor and Kilnsey Moor on the other side of the valley
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Time to head for Kettlewell
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The southern end of Great Whernside
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The sprawling moorland between Wharfedale and Nidderdale
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Great views ahead as the path heads northwest and downhill...
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No guesses needed to work out where the farmer has just put feed down for his sheep
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The southern end of Buckden Pike comes into view as I get nearer to Kettlewell...
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Dowber Gill Beck with the summit of Great Whernside above
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By Cam Gill Beck in Kettlewell
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Having taken a break in Kettlewell it's time to head back to Conistone. First, a look at the bridge carrying the B6160 over the Wharfe.
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Leaving Kettlewell behind
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Crookacre Wood on the side of the valley
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A last chance to get next to the river before I take to the side of the valley on the trail of the Dales Way
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Looking up Wharfedale from the Kettlewell to Conistone road
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Onto the trail of the Dales Way
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and as it reaches the limestone pavement of Swineber Scar there are plenty of photo opportunities as I look back up Wharfedale......
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The limestone outcrop of Conistone Pie on the left, Barden Moor in the distance and Wharfedale
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The meeting of Littondale and Wharfedale below
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Conistone Pie. A good place to take a final break, out of the wind.
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Back onto the Dales Way with a view of Littondale, Old Cote Moor Top and Wharfedale
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Looking back to Conistone Pie
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More limestone scars as I approach the top of Conistone Dib
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Making my way down Conistone Dib
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Looking back from beneath Bull Scar
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It was a bit of a slog up the hillside to reach the cairn on Davy Dimple, but worth it for this view..
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There's a steep descent to Conistone
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As well as an excuse to take another photo
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Conistone bathed in the late afternoon sun
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The final shot of the day is the Wharfe from Conistone Bridge

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2025                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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