26th February 2022 - High Bishopside to Heyshaw Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.3 miles
Total ascent: 2768 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Pateley Bridge-King Street-New Church Street-Quarry Lane-Sparrowhawk Farm-Wath Lane-High Bishopside-Wath Lane-Wath Road-Wath-Wath Bridge-Grange Lane-Heathfield-Nidderdale Way-Ashfold Side-Nidderdale Way-Hillend-Ivin Waite Farm-B6265-Toft Riggs-Gillbeck Farm-Peat Lane-Low Moor-Nought Moor-Nought Moor Road-High Crag-Guise Cliff-Nidderdale Way-Nought Moor-Nought Bank Road-Bewerley-Pateley Bridge
There's some fine spring-like weather forecast for this weekend, and to make the most of it I've got a walk planned for both days. After nearly missing out for two weekends in a row I'm not assuming that next weekend will be alright. Today's destination is Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale and a route that will take me onto the moorland above the village on both sides of the dale. Nearly all of the route was already familiar to me from walks done during the past few years, except for the moorland of High Bishopside, which rises to the north of Pateley Bridge. While I was up at the trig point on High Bishopside I decided to try visiting the southern end of Yeadon Crag, which is on access land a short distance to the north. This proved to be good decision as it gave me great views looking north up Nidderdale that I'm guessing not many people see. It was a lovely late winter's day for being on the moors, with quite a bit of sunshine, mild temperatures and a strong breeze.
From where I parked in the car park next to the showground in Pateley Bridge I walked across the bridge over the River Nidd, then took King Street on the left and walked to its top, then left onto New Church Street, past St. Cuthbert's Church, and up to Quarry Lane on the right. I then walked up Quarry Lane to its top at Sparrowhawk Farm, and onto the public footpath from there up the hillside past a small reservoir, and through disused quarries to reach Wath Lane. After a short walk down Wath Lane I reached a gate on the right which let me onto access land, and I then made made my way up the hillside to reach the trig point on High Bishopside. While I was up there I decided to visit the southern end of Yeadon Crag. I made my way down from the trig point to a gate at a corner in the wall below, went through it, then north across the hillside to another gate and through this to reach the gritstone boulders of Yeadon Crag. Once I'd taken in the view I retraced my steps and made my way back down to Wath Lane. After returning to Wath Lane I walked down the road to Wath Road, then down Wath Road and through the hamlet of Wath to the main road up Nidderdale. I then crossed the road and took the footpath opposite up the hillside to Grange Lane, turned right and walked up Grange Lane to the hamlet of Heathfield until I reached the Nidderdale Way on the left. The Nidderdale Way was then followed south and west to Ashfold Side and the ruins of the Prosperous Lead Mine, then east to Hillend where I took a bridleway on the right to Coldstones Fold, soon leaving this for a footpath on the left up to Ivin Waite Farm and the B6265. After crossing the B6265 I took the footpath opposite across the hillside and down to Gillbeck Farm, joining a track down to Gill Beck, then taking a footpath on the right up to Peat Lane, which I crossed to take the bridleway opposite onto Low Moor. When this bridleway met another one I turned right, followed this south for a short distance, and then took a footpath on the left down to and across Fosse Gill and up across Nought Moor to Nought Bank Road. I then walked south up Nought Moor Road until I reached a footpath on the left across High Crag Ridge, past the trig point on High Crag, and to the southern end of Guise Cliff. I then made my way north along the top of Guise Cliff and onto the Nidderdale Way, which I followed down to Nought Bank Road, across Nought Moor, down through Skrikes Wood, and then down the road to the village of Bewerley. I left the trail behind in Bewerley for the walk along the road back to Bridgehouse Gate and the car park next to the showground in Pateley Bridge.
Total ascent: 2768 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Pateley Bridge-King Street-New Church Street-Quarry Lane-Sparrowhawk Farm-Wath Lane-High Bishopside-Wath Lane-Wath Road-Wath-Wath Bridge-Grange Lane-Heathfield-Nidderdale Way-Ashfold Side-Nidderdale Way-Hillend-Ivin Waite Farm-B6265-Toft Riggs-Gillbeck Farm-Peat Lane-Low Moor-Nought Moor-Nought Moor Road-High Crag-Guise Cliff-Nidderdale Way-Nought Moor-Nought Bank Road-Bewerley-Pateley Bridge
There's some fine spring-like weather forecast for this weekend, and to make the most of it I've got a walk planned for both days. After nearly missing out for two weekends in a row I'm not assuming that next weekend will be alright. Today's destination is Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale and a route that will take me onto the moorland above the village on both sides of the dale. Nearly all of the route was already familiar to me from walks done during the past few years, except for the moorland of High Bishopside, which rises to the north of Pateley Bridge. While I was up at the trig point on High Bishopside I decided to try visiting the southern end of Yeadon Crag, which is on access land a short distance to the north. This proved to be good decision as it gave me great views looking north up Nidderdale that I'm guessing not many people see. It was a lovely late winter's day for being on the moors, with quite a bit of sunshine, mild temperatures and a strong breeze.
From where I parked in the car park next to the showground in Pateley Bridge I walked across the bridge over the River Nidd, then took King Street on the left and walked to its top, then left onto New Church Street, past St. Cuthbert's Church, and up to Quarry Lane on the right. I then walked up Quarry Lane to its top at Sparrowhawk Farm, and onto the public footpath from there up the hillside past a small reservoir, and through disused quarries to reach Wath Lane. After a short walk down Wath Lane I reached a gate on the right which let me onto access land, and I then made made my way up the hillside to reach the trig point on High Bishopside. While I was up there I decided to visit the southern end of Yeadon Crag. I made my way down from the trig point to a gate at a corner in the wall below, went through it, then north across the hillside to another gate and through this to reach the gritstone boulders of Yeadon Crag. Once I'd taken in the view I retraced my steps and made my way back down to Wath Lane. After returning to Wath Lane I walked down the road to Wath Road, then down Wath Road and through the hamlet of Wath to the main road up Nidderdale. I then crossed the road and took the footpath opposite up the hillside to Grange Lane, turned right and walked up Grange Lane to the hamlet of Heathfield until I reached the Nidderdale Way on the left. The Nidderdale Way was then followed south and west to Ashfold Side and the ruins of the Prosperous Lead Mine, then east to Hillend where I took a bridleway on the right to Coldstones Fold, soon leaving this for a footpath on the left up to Ivin Waite Farm and the B6265. After crossing the B6265 I took the footpath opposite across the hillside and down to Gillbeck Farm, joining a track down to Gill Beck, then taking a footpath on the right up to Peat Lane, which I crossed to take the bridleway opposite onto Low Moor. When this bridleway met another one I turned right, followed this south for a short distance, and then took a footpath on the left down to and across Fosse Gill and up across Nought Moor to Nought Bank Road. I then walked south up Nought Moor Road until I reached a footpath on the left across High Crag Ridge, past the trig point on High Crag, and to the southern end of Guise Cliff. I then made my way north along the top of Guise Cliff and onto the Nidderdale Way, which I followed down to Nought Bank Road, across Nought Moor, down through Skrikes Wood, and then down the road to the village of Bewerley. I left the trail behind in Bewerley for the walk along the road back to Bridgehouse Gate and the car park next to the showground in Pateley Bridge.
Route map
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Looking back as I reach the top of Quarry Lane
The view across Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale as I reach Sparrowhawk Farm
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Above Sparrowhawk Farm and the footpath climbs steeply up the hillside...
Looking across Nidderdale to Nought Moor and Flat Moor
Past a small reservoir on the hillside
Walking down Wath Lane to reach the gate that lets me onto access land
From the gate there's a quadbike track up the moor towards the trig point
At the trig point on High Bishopside with a view across Nidderdale to Cold Stones and Bewerley Moor
It's a beautiful morning as I look north across the moors on the eastern side of Nidderdale
Gouthwaite Reservoir appears below as I near the southern part of Yeadon Crag
The crags are very modest, just some gritstone boulders scattered along the edge of the moor
It was worth getting here for this view though. Heathfield Moor, Gouthwaite Moor and Raygill House Moor on the other side of Nidderdale, with the hamlet of Wath and Gouthwaite Reservoir below..
Guise Cliff and Heyshaw Moor on the other side of Nidderdale as I make my way back down access land to Wath Lane
Walking down Wath Lane to Wath..
The Sportsman's Arms in Wath
The River Nidd from Wath Bridge
Looking across Nidderdale to High Bishopside from the footpath up to Heathfield
On Grange Lane in the hamlet of Heathfield
The moorland of High Bishopside, and Pateley Bridge from Heathfield
From Heathfield I follow the Nidderdale Way across to Ashfold Side..
..and then west along the track above Ashfold Side Beck to the ruins of Prosperous Lead Mine
The ruins and spoil heaps of Prosperous Lead Mine..
Ashfold Side Beck
From up here I can take in just how extensive the mine workings were
I leave the mine workings on the Nidderdale Way
Looking back across Ashfold Side to Heathfield Moor
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The Nidderdale Way takes me down to and across Brandstone Beck, and then on to Hillend...
I leave the Nidderdale Way and take the bridleway and footpath to Ivin Waite Farm
Above Ivin Waite Farm
Looking back across the countryside that I've just walked through as I reach the B6265
After crossing the road I follow a footpath south across fields to Gillbeck Farm..
By Noonstone Farm on Low Moor
It's a beautiful afternoon for taking in the views across Nidderdale from Low Moor...
I leave the bridleway on Low Moor for a footpath down to Fosse Gill and up onto Nought Moor....
Looking north up Nidderdale as I walk up Nought Moor Road
I can make out the radomes on Menwith Hill in the distance as the road crosses Heyshaw Moor
Off the road and onto the footpath to the High Crag trig point on Heyshaw Moor
At the High Crag trig point, with a great view down Nidderdale
Looking south across the moorland on the western side of Nidderdale to Menwith Hill
It's a short walk from the trig point to reach Guise Cliff, and although the sunshine of earlier in the afternoon has gone there's still a good view to be had. Looking up Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir and Pateley Bridge.
and across Nidderdale to the village of Glasshouses, with Brimham Moor in the distance on the right
The ruins of Yorke's Folly
Heading back to Pateley Bridge..
..via Bewerley