24th November 2018 - Simon's Seat
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.1 miles
Total ascent: 1966 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Barden Bridge-Dales Way-Strid Wood-Posforth Bridge-Posforth Gill-Valley of Desolation-Great Agill-Simon's Seat-Lord's Seat-Barden Fell-Hammerthorn Hill-Bolton Park Farm-Wooden Bridge-Dales Way-Strid Wood-Barden Bridge
I decided to head to Wharfedale again for my walk this weekend to do a route across Barden Fell, which is down the valley from Grassington, my starting point last week. I've been to the summit of Simon's Seat several times over the years but it's been nearly eight years since I last walked through the Valley of Desolation. Going that way gave me the chance to take some more waterfall photos. The moorland of Barden Fell to the south of Simon's Seat and Lord's Seat was new to me and I picked the right time of day to be walking across it as the sun came in the early afternoon to give a fantastic light and colour on the moors. The gloomy weather of the morning didn't really matter while I was in Strid Wood and the Valley of Desolation.
From where I parked in the layby at Barden Bridge I started by following the trail of the Dales Way south by the east bank of the Wharfe. When the trail crossed the river I kept on the path on the same side and followed it south through Strid Wood to the road at Posforth Bridge. After a short walk down the road I took a track on the left to Posforth Gill and then the footpath into the Valley of Desolation. The waterfall is reached as the beck is crossed via a footbridge. After a break for photos of the waterfall I carried on up the path through the Valley of Desolation to reach a track through the conifer plantations and then north up Great Agill onto Barden Fell. The track was left behind for the path up to the summit of Simon's Seat. After a break for lunch I made my way across to the nearby Lord's Seat on a flagged path before heading south across the moorland of Barden Fell on another flagged path and then shooter's tracks (it briefly goes to the other side of the wall at Little Agill Head). When the track reached Long Ridge I followed it down across Hammerthorn Hill (with a detour to the trig point) to Bolton Park Farm and to the road above the Wooden Bridge. I made my way down to the Wooden Bridge, crossed it to Cavendish Pavilion, then followed the Dales Way north through Strid Wood and the footpath on the west bank of the Wharfe back to Barden Bridge.
Total ascent: 1966 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Barden Bridge-Dales Way-Strid Wood-Posforth Bridge-Posforth Gill-Valley of Desolation-Great Agill-Simon's Seat-Lord's Seat-Barden Fell-Hammerthorn Hill-Bolton Park Farm-Wooden Bridge-Dales Way-Strid Wood-Barden Bridge
I decided to head to Wharfedale again for my walk this weekend to do a route across Barden Fell, which is down the valley from Grassington, my starting point last week. I've been to the summit of Simon's Seat several times over the years but it's been nearly eight years since I last walked through the Valley of Desolation. Going that way gave me the chance to take some more waterfall photos. The moorland of Barden Fell to the south of Simon's Seat and Lord's Seat was new to me and I picked the right time of day to be walking across it as the sun came in the early afternoon to give a fantastic light and colour on the moors. The gloomy weather of the morning didn't really matter while I was in Strid Wood and the Valley of Desolation.
From where I parked in the layby at Barden Bridge I started by following the trail of the Dales Way south by the east bank of the Wharfe. When the trail crossed the river I kept on the path on the same side and followed it south through Strid Wood to the road at Posforth Bridge. After a short walk down the road I took a track on the left to Posforth Gill and then the footpath into the Valley of Desolation. The waterfall is reached as the beck is crossed via a footbridge. After a break for photos of the waterfall I carried on up the path through the Valley of Desolation to reach a track through the conifer plantations and then north up Great Agill onto Barden Fell. The track was left behind for the path up to the summit of Simon's Seat. After a break for lunch I made my way across to the nearby Lord's Seat on a flagged path before heading south across the moorland of Barden Fell on another flagged path and then shooter's tracks (it briefly goes to the other side of the wall at Little Agill Head). When the track reached Long Ridge I followed it down across Hammerthorn Hill (with a detour to the trig point) to Bolton Park Farm and to the road above the Wooden Bridge. I made my way down to the Wooden Bridge, crossed it to Cavendish Pavilion, then followed the Dales Way north through Strid Wood and the footpath on the west bank of the Wharfe back to Barden Bridge.
Route map
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Barden Bridge from where I'm parked
and as I set off by following the Dales Way south
On the Dales Way towards Strid Wood
The Dales Way crosses the river via this rather ornate bridge. I don't though and keep to the path on this side.
Making my way through Strid Wood with the Wharfe below........
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The path through Strid Wood was left behind at Posforth Bridge for the path up Posforth Gill to the Valley of Desolation
A few photos of the waterfall in the Valley of Desolation....
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Sheepshaw Beck
On the track up Great Agill to Barden Fell
Looking back towards the Valley of Desolation
On Barden Fell. Spot the grouse?
As I reach Simon's Seat the view to the north up Wharfedale is revealed
The crags of Simon's Seat
By the trig point on Simon's Seat
Looking down Wharfedale towards Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor
The neighbouring outcrops of Lord's Seat just to the east
Up close with the gritstone
Simon's Seat, Barden Moor and Wharfedale from Lord's Seat
The same view from some more gritstone outcrops on the other side of a wall from Lord's Seat. I think they have a slightly better view.
Sunshine on Grassington Moor and Appletreewick Moor on the eastern side of Wharfedale
Pock Stones Moor to the east above the Washburn Valley
Sunnier skies approaching from the northeast over Craven Moor
Back at Lord's Seat and I'm going to follow a flagged path south across Barden Fell
Sunshine and mist over Wharfedale
There's a lovely light across the moors as the sunshine becomes more widespread..
Draughton Moor in the distance to the southeast. The patch of water is Chelker Reservoir.
Barden Fell is a grouse shooting moor so as well as numerous grouse butts you pass the occasional shelter..
Looking back with Carncliff Top on the left and Lord's Seat on the right
Then Lord's Seat on the left and Great Pock Stones on the right
The sun shines on the radomes of Menwith Hill in the distance
On the track to Hammerthorn Hill
Draughton Moor in the distance from the trig point on Hammerthorn Hill
Barden Moor on the other side of Wharfedale
Carncliff Top and Simon's Seat across the Valley of Desolation
Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor to the south
Long shadows across Barden Fell
On the track down to Bolton Park Farm
Bolton Park Farm
Crossing the River Wharfe via the Wooden Bridge
Making my way through Strid Wood back to Barden Bridge in the failing light...
