27th October 2017 - Great Knoutberry Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.3 miles
Total ascent: 1776 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Dent Head Viaduct-Stone House-Pennine Bridleway-Galloway Gate-Pikes Edge-Great Knoutberry Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Newby Head Gate-Dent Head Viaduct
When I first did this walk back in April this year I said at the time that I could see myself repeating it as soon as autumn, when there was a fine, clear day so that the view of Dentdale from the bridleway on the side of Great Knoutberry Hill could be better appreciated. The day that I'd done it on in April was pretty hazy so that view was quite restricted. No such problems today as a day off work coincided with a forecast of good weather. I set off from beneath the Dent Head Viaduct with clear, sunny skies and light winds and it stayed that way until I'd reached the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. By then a strong westerly breeze had developed along with some cloud but it remained a great day for being on the fells.
From the layby below the Dent Head Viaduct I set off by walking along the road down into Dentdale to the hamlet of Stone House and Stone House Bridge. The road was left behind for the Pennine Bridleway which passes Stonehouse Farm and heads up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct. At its top I turned left and took the Galloway Gate bridleway (still part of the Pennine Bridleway), which I followed west and then north round the side of Great Knoutberry Hill. When it reached a gate at some sheepfolds and a fence I left the bridleway behind to follow the fence up to the cairns on Pikes Edge. Lunch was taken here and then it was uphill once more to the trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. After taking in the view I continued by following the wall south off the summit and down to the byway that had made its way up from Widdale. A right turn and I was soon back to where I was earlier in the day, the top of the bridleway up Arten Gill. Here I turned left and took the bridleway that runs south across the side of Wold Fell and down to Newby Head Gate. Once at Newby Head Gate I just had the walk down the road into Dentdale to the Dent Head Viaduct to finish.
Total ascent: 1776 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Dent Head Viaduct-Stone House-Pennine Bridleway-Galloway Gate-Pikes Edge-Great Knoutberry Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Newby Head Gate-Dent Head Viaduct
When I first did this walk back in April this year I said at the time that I could see myself repeating it as soon as autumn, when there was a fine, clear day so that the view of Dentdale from the bridleway on the side of Great Knoutberry Hill could be better appreciated. The day that I'd done it on in April was pretty hazy so that view was quite restricted. No such problems today as a day off work coincided with a forecast of good weather. I set off from beneath the Dent Head Viaduct with clear, sunny skies and light winds and it stayed that way until I'd reached the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. By then a strong westerly breeze had developed along with some cloud but it remained a great day for being on the fells.
From the layby below the Dent Head Viaduct I set off by walking along the road down into Dentdale to the hamlet of Stone House and Stone House Bridge. The road was left behind for the Pennine Bridleway which passes Stonehouse Farm and heads up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct. At its top I turned left and took the Galloway Gate bridleway (still part of the Pennine Bridleway), which I followed west and then north round the side of Great Knoutberry Hill. When it reached a gate at some sheepfolds and a fence I left the bridleway behind to follow the fence up to the cairns on Pikes Edge. Lunch was taken here and then it was uphill once more to the trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. After taking in the view I continued by following the wall south off the summit and down to the byway that had made its way up from Widdale. A right turn and I was soon back to where I was earlier in the day, the top of the bridleway up Arten Gill. Here I turned left and took the bridleway that runs south across the side of Wold Fell and down to Newby Head Gate. Once at Newby Head Gate I just had the walk down the road into Dentdale to the Dent Head Viaduct to finish.
Route map
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Before I set off I walked up the road to above the Dent Head Viaduct to get a couple of photos of it. I'll be walking back down here later but I thought it would be interesting to see how the time of day made a difference to how it looked.
Walking down into Dentdale
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Some photos of the infant River Dee as it flows down beside the road....
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At Stone House Bridge and walking past Stone House Farm to the Arten Gill Viaduct
Looking back to the Arten Gill Viaduct as I follow the Pennine Bridleway uphill..
Onto Galloway Gate, part of the Pennine Bridleway, that makes its way along the side of Great Knoutberry Hill. I'm looking forward to the views of Dentdale that I'll soon enjoy.
Ingleborough, Blea Moor and Whernside above the top of Dentdale
This is the view of Dentdale that I was so looking forward to seeing. The valley heads west flanked on one side by the slopes of Whernside, Great Coum and Middleton Fell, and on the other by Aye Gill Pike.
Wild Boar Fell above Mallerstang comes into view as the bridleway continues north
One last shot of Dentdale from the bridleway before I head up to Pikes Edge
Ingleborough and Whernside from the cairns on Pikes Edge. It was a good place to stop for lunch with the largest cairn and the boulder it's sat on providing some shelter from the strengthening westerly wind and a perch to sit on.
Dentdale, Great Coum, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike
Wild Boar Fell and High Seat to the north
Aye Gill Pike, Garsdale, part of the Howgills and Baugh Fell from the climb to the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill
At the stone built trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill. One of the more remote summits in the Dales but worth getting to for a fantastic all round view.
Looking north to Wild Boar Fell and High Seat
Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat to the northeast
Dodd Fell Hill and Penyghent to the southeast
Looking south to Penyghent and a cloud topped Ingleborough. I can make out Pendle Hill through the gap between them.
Whernside, Great Coum and Middleton Fell to the southwest and west
I've crossed to the other side of the summit so that I can see down Widdale into Wensleydale
and for this final shot from the top, looking towards the Howgills and Baugh Fell
Following the wall south from the summit towards Wold Fell
Before I continue south along the bridleway round Wold Fell, a quick look down into Widdale and Wensleydale
Back at the junction of bridleways where I was earlier in the day. I came up the one pointing away from me, from Stone House, then took the one for Coal Road. I'm now taking the one to Newby Head Road.
Looking across the top of Wold Fell
On the bridleway to Newby Head Road with a view to the head of Ribblesdale in front of me..
Looking across the top of Dentdale
From Newby Head Gate I have a walk down the road to the Dent Head Viaduct to finish with
and that includes a great view of the Dent Head Viaduct. Better than the one I took this morning with shadows now being cast across the landscape.