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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.

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

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Barden Bridge from where I'm parked
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and as I set off by following the Dales Way south
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On the Dales Way towards Strid Wood
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The Dales Way crosses the river via this rather ornate bridge. I don't though and keep to the path on this side.
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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
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A few photos of the waterfall in the Valley of Desolation....
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Sheepshaw Beck
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On the track up Great Agill to Barden Fell
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Looking back towards the Valley of Desolation
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On Barden Fell. Spot the grouse?
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As I reach Simon's Seat the view to the north up Wharfedale is revealed
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The crags of Simon's Seat
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By the trig point on Simon's Seat
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Looking down Wharfedale towards Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor
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The neighbouring outcrops of Lord's Seat just to the east
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Up close with the gritstone
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Simon's Seat, Barden Moor and Wharfedale from Lord's Seat
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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.
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Sunshine on Grassington Moor and Appletreewick Moor on the eastern side of Wharfedale
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Pock Stones Moor to the east above the Washburn Valley
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Sunnier skies approaching from the northeast over Craven Moor
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Back at Lord's Seat and I'm going to follow a flagged path south across Barden Fell
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Sunshine and mist over Wharfedale
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There's a lovely light across the moors as the sunshine becomes more widespread..
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Draughton Moor in the distance to the southeast. The patch of water is Chelker Reservoir.
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Barden Fell is a grouse shooting moor so as well as numerous grouse butts you pass the occasional shelter..
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Looking back with Carncliff Top on the left and Lord's Seat on the right
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Then Lord's Seat on the left and Great Pock Stones on the right
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The sun shines on the radomes of Menwith Hill in the distance
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On the track to Hammerthorn Hill
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Draughton Moor in the distance from the trig point on Hammerthorn Hill
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Barden Moor on the other side of Wharfedale
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Carncliff Top and Simon's Seat across the Valley of Desolation
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Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor to the south
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Long shadows across Barden Fell
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On the track down to Bolton Park Farm
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Bolton Park Farm
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Crossing the River Wharfe via the Wooden Bridge
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Making my way through Strid Wood back to Barden Bridge in the failing light...
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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2022                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
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  • Walking Diaries
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  • Lake District Walks
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