26th December 2024 - Buckden Pike
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.5 miles
Total ascent: 2800 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Buckden-Rakes Wood-Buckden Rake-Buckden Pike-Walden Road-Buckden Out Moor-Buckden Pike-Buckden Rake-Rakes Wood-Buckden
This was not the walk that I planned on doing when I set off from home this morning. The weather had turned much milder during Christmas, and with a southwesterly wind blowing and a forecast of low cloud shrouding the hills I was going to do a walk in Bishopdale and Wensleydale. I was hoping to find some shelter from the wind and better weather by heading north and east. The first signs that things might be different than expected was when I was driving up Wharfedale past Grassington, there were hints of brightness and small breaks in the cloud. However, it was when driving down into Kettlewell that had me thinking of an alternative to what I'd planned. I could see all the way up to the summit of Great Whernside through a gap in the cloud, and it was surrounded by clear skies. I decided to head up Buckden Pike from Buckden instead. It proved to be a good decision as a temperature inversion had trapped the low cloud so that the tops of the fells were above it in clear skies and sunshine. This was not in either of the mountain weather forecasts that I look at. A great day to be on the fells was enjoyed, so good that I went up to the summit of Buckden Pike a second time.
From the car park in Buckden I set off by walking up the bridleway of Buckden Rake, and then onto the bridleway up to the summit of Buckden Pike. After taking in the view I walked south along the summit ridge to the memorial cross then down to the wall corner where the bridleway of Walden Road is reached. I followed this downhill towards Starbotton but just before the final descent to the valley floor I left it for a footpath on the right signposted for Buckden Lead Mine. I stopped on a conveniently placed bench for lunch before taking this footpath. This contoured north across the hillside and when it approached the ruins of the lead mine I made my way across the hillside above it to pick up the footpath up to the summit ridge. I then followed the footpath north to the summit, and after taking in the view I returned to Buckden by the same route that I made my way up by earlier in the day.
Total ascent: 2800 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Buckden-Rakes Wood-Buckden Rake-Buckden Pike-Walden Road-Buckden Out Moor-Buckden Pike-Buckden Rake-Rakes Wood-Buckden
This was not the walk that I planned on doing when I set off from home this morning. The weather had turned much milder during Christmas, and with a southwesterly wind blowing and a forecast of low cloud shrouding the hills I was going to do a walk in Bishopdale and Wensleydale. I was hoping to find some shelter from the wind and better weather by heading north and east. The first signs that things might be different than expected was when I was driving up Wharfedale past Grassington, there were hints of brightness and small breaks in the cloud. However, it was when driving down into Kettlewell that had me thinking of an alternative to what I'd planned. I could see all the way up to the summit of Great Whernside through a gap in the cloud, and it was surrounded by clear skies. I decided to head up Buckden Pike from Buckden instead. It proved to be a good decision as a temperature inversion had trapped the low cloud so that the tops of the fells were above it in clear skies and sunshine. This was not in either of the mountain weather forecasts that I look at. A great day to be on the fells was enjoyed, so good that I went up to the summit of Buckden Pike a second time.
From the car park in Buckden I set off by walking up the bridleway of Buckden Rake, and then onto the bridleway up to the summit of Buckden Pike. After taking in the view I walked south along the summit ridge to the memorial cross then down to the wall corner where the bridleway of Walden Road is reached. I followed this downhill towards Starbotton but just before the final descent to the valley floor I left it for a footpath on the right signposted for Buckden Lead Mine. I stopped on a conveniently placed bench for lunch before taking this footpath. This contoured north across the hillside and when it approached the ruins of the lead mine I made my way across the hillside above it to pick up the footpath up to the summit ridge. I then followed the footpath north to the summit, and after taking in the view I returned to Buckden by the same route that I made my way up by earlier in the day.
Route map
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Looking back down on Buckden and Wharfedale as I set off
Following the bridleway up through Rakes Wood
Looking up into Langstrothdale with the sun shining through breaks in the cloud
Heading north on the bridleway on Buckden Rake. Just ahead I'll leave it for the bridleway to the summit of Buckden Pike.
Following the bridleway up through the cloud..
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Hints of fogbows as I reach the top of the cloud..
Cloud drifts across the moor
Clear blue skies ahead as I continue uphill
It doesn't take long to pass the top of the cloud layer
Looking north to the moorland on the other side of Kidstones Bank
At the trig point on the summit of Buckden Pike
Looking northeast down the valley of Waldendale. The ridge on the right heads from Brown Haw to Penhill above Wensleydale..
The top of Yockenthwaite Moor pokes through the cloud
The summit ridge heads south with Great Whernside in the distance on the left
A sea of cloud stretches into the distance
Looking west to Fountains Fell on the left, then the tops of Penyghent, Plover Hill, and probably Ingleborough and Whernside in the distance
Heading south along the summit ridge
Dry stone walls make a good foreground for taking in the view to the west
More of Yockenthwaite Moor is above the cloud than it was earlier
Looking back north along the summit ridge
and across a cloud filled Wharfedale to Fountains Fell, Birks Fell, Penyghent, and Plover Hill
Great Whernside in the distance as I reach the southern end of the summit ridge
The war memorial at the southern end of the summit ridge
I follow the wall downhill to reach the bridleway of Walden Road
As I reach the bridleway of Walden Road I get a last glimpse northeast into the valley of Waldendale
I take the bridleway towards Starbotton..
Mist briefly drifts up and across the moor
The bridleway heads downhill above the valley of Cam Gill Beck
Great views across the valley of Cam Gill Beck, and of the cloud dispersing as it drifts up the moor..
A fogbow
Continuing downhill and just about above the cloud. It's very atmospheric..
Looking back up to the blue skies above a sunlit fellside
Approaching the final descent into Starbotton, and I'll definitely be in the cloud soon
The village of Starbotton in Wharfedale. It's a gloomy day below the cloud.
Looking across Wharfedale to the side of Birks Fell
I've decided to stay in the sunshine by taking the footpath up to Buckden Lead Mine, and from there up to the summit for a second time. It left the bridleway at the wall corner below.
Following the path north up the hillside, and back into blue skies and sunshine...
Above the cloud and looking across Wharfedale to Birks Fell
and across Buckden Gill to Buckden Out Moor and Yockenthwaite Moor
Up onto the summit ridge, and taking in the view looking west to Penyghent, Plover Hill, Ingleborough, and Whernside. The top of the cloud is lower than it was earlier in the day.
Heading north to the trig point and summit
A couple more shots of the view west to Fountains Fell on the left, then the tops of Penyghent, Plover Hill, Ingleborough, and Whernside..
Looking south along the summit ridge
Approaching the trig point
Looking northeast down the valley of Waldendale. The ridge on the right heads from Brown Haw to Penhill above Wensleydale.
The moorland of Stake Allotments to the north on the other side of Bishopdale
At the trig point on Buckden Pike for the second time today. The view is even better than it was this morning, with the top of the cloud being lower and more of the fells visible.
Looking northwest to the moorland around Wensleydale
A zoom-in over the tops of Yockenthwaite Moor and Great Knoutberry Hill to glimpses of distant Lake District fells. The Scafell range is to the left, and Helvellyn to the right of Great Knoutberry Hill.
A sea of cloud in Langstrothdale as I take in the view looking west to Fountains Fell, Birks Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill, Ingleborough, Horse Head Moor, Whernside, and Yockenthwaite Moor
To the south I can make out the tops of Boulsworth Hill and Pendle Hill above the cloud
Cloud flows over the top of Kidstones into Bishopdale..
Making my way down the bridleway to Buckden as the sun starts to set...
Down through the cloud and into Buckden