28th April 2019 - Thrope Edge and Fountains Earth Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.4 miles
Total ascent: 1958 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Lofthouse-Park House-Halfway House-Middlesmoor-Thrope Farm-Nidderdale Way-Limley Farm-Thwaite House-Lofthouse Moor-Thrope Edge-Pot Moor High Road-Ouster Bank-Fountains Earth Moor-Bouthwaite-Nidderdale Way-Lofthouse
After my first walk in Nidderdale last weekend I'm back for another one, and I more or less started from where I left off last time, by exploring the moorland on the eastern side of the dale, but further south. There was some overlap though, I wanted to enjoy the views from Thrope Edge again, which didn't disappoint, but I did avoid repeating all of that part of the Nidderdale Way by heading up to Middlesmoor. While walking across Fountains Earth Moor I had planned on visiting the gritstone pillars of "Jenny Twigg and her Daughter Tib" but couldn't. Unfortunately because of all the dry weather recently, and the moorland fires of the past couple of weeks, access land was closed. The gate from the byway onto the moor was padlocked. I might go back and try again towards the end of summer when the heather is out. It was a nice spring day for being up on the moors. Cool in the morning with not that much in the way of sunshine, but an improvement during the afternoon as it became sunnier and warmer, perfect for enjoying the great views from Fountains Earth Moor.
From the car park by the memorial hall in Lofthouse I turned right and walked along the road until I reached the war memorial where I took the footpath between the two rows of cottages there. I then followed this path down to and across the footbridge over the River Nidd, across the reservoir access road, then past the pitch for the cricket club and up the hillside to Middlesmoor and the church of St. Chad. After making my way around the front of the church and past some cottages I took a footpath back down into Nidderdale, across the reservoir access road to reach the banks of the Nidd and then north to cross the river to Thrope Farm. I joined the Nidderdale Way here and followed it north to Thwaite House. A bridleway from Thwaite House was then followed up the hillside onto access land and up to the bridleway on Lofthouse Moor, which took me south along Thrope Edge to the shooting house. After a break for lunch I continued south then east on the bridleway to reach the road from Lofthouse across to Wensleydale. I walked a short distance north along the road, took the byway on the right and followed this east until I reached a convenient place to make the short ascent to the trig point on Ouster Bank. Once back down from the trig point I resumed my journey east along the byway across Fountains Earth Moor, taking the left fork at the first junction then turning right at the next. I then followed another byway south down to the hamlet of Bouthwaite, and from there the trail of the Nidderdale Way took me back up Nidderdale to Lofthouse.
Total ascent: 1958 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Lofthouse-Park House-Halfway House-Middlesmoor-Thrope Farm-Nidderdale Way-Limley Farm-Thwaite House-Lofthouse Moor-Thrope Edge-Pot Moor High Road-Ouster Bank-Fountains Earth Moor-Bouthwaite-Nidderdale Way-Lofthouse
After my first walk in Nidderdale last weekend I'm back for another one, and I more or less started from where I left off last time, by exploring the moorland on the eastern side of the dale, but further south. There was some overlap though, I wanted to enjoy the views from Thrope Edge again, which didn't disappoint, but I did avoid repeating all of that part of the Nidderdale Way by heading up to Middlesmoor. While walking across Fountains Earth Moor I had planned on visiting the gritstone pillars of "Jenny Twigg and her Daughter Tib" but couldn't. Unfortunately because of all the dry weather recently, and the moorland fires of the past couple of weeks, access land was closed. The gate from the byway onto the moor was padlocked. I might go back and try again towards the end of summer when the heather is out. It was a nice spring day for being up on the moors. Cool in the morning with not that much in the way of sunshine, but an improvement during the afternoon as it became sunnier and warmer, perfect for enjoying the great views from Fountains Earth Moor.
From the car park by the memorial hall in Lofthouse I turned right and walked along the road until I reached the war memorial where I took the footpath between the two rows of cottages there. I then followed this path down to and across the footbridge over the River Nidd, across the reservoir access road, then past the pitch for the cricket club and up the hillside to Middlesmoor and the church of St. Chad. After making my way around the front of the church and past some cottages I took a footpath back down into Nidderdale, across the reservoir access road to reach the banks of the Nidd and then north to cross the river to Thrope Farm. I joined the Nidderdale Way here and followed it north to Thwaite House. A bridleway from Thwaite House was then followed up the hillside onto access land and up to the bridleway on Lofthouse Moor, which took me south along Thrope Edge to the shooting house. After a break for lunch I continued south then east on the bridleway to reach the road from Lofthouse across to Wensleydale. I walked a short distance north along the road, took the byway on the right and followed this east until I reached a convenient place to make the short ascent to the trig point on Ouster Bank. Once back down from the trig point I resumed my journey east along the byway across Fountains Earth Moor, taking the left fork at the first junction then turning right at the next. I then followed another byway south down to the hamlet of Bouthwaite, and from there the trail of the Nidderdale Way took me back up Nidderdale to Lofthouse.
Route map
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The River Nidd as I leave Lofthouse and cross it via the footbridge behind me
The pitch of Lofthouse cricket club
Looking down Nidderdale as I start up the path to Middlesmoor
Following the path up to the church of St. Chad
I get a fantastic view down the valley when I reach it
I leave Middlesmoor and take a path back down into Nidderdale
and then join the Nidderdale Way just north of Thrope Farm
Welcoming committee as I approach Limley Farm
and the river has a dry bed at this point as well
Looking up Nidderdale to Little Whernside and Dead Man's Hill as I climb the bridleway from Thwaite House to that on Dale Edge
Looking north along Dale Edge
Heading south along Thrope Edge to the shooting house
There are great views from Thrope Edge. Starting with looking across Nidderdale to In Moor and Stean Moor.
In Moor with Great Whernside, Little Whernside and Dead Man's Hill in the distance
Finally, looking up Nidderdale to Little Whernside, Dead Man's Hill and Great Haw
This well-built shooting house was a convenient spot to stop for a break and enjoy the view
I was so engrossed with enjoying that view that it completely slipped my mind about which way I should be going, and went through a gate onto the bridleway I was on last weekend. Never mind, it gave me the opportunity to take a few more shots of the view across Nidderdale, looking even better now that there's a bit of sunshine in the mix...
The bridleway I should be on, which heads for the road from Lofthouse across to Wensleydale
and having crossed the road, on the byway across Fountains Earth Moor. I'll leave it shortly and head up to the trig point on Ouster Bank on the left.
Wide open views as I look back, with Great Whernside, Little Whernside and Dead Man's Hill in the distance
A short time later and I'm at the trig point on Ouster Bank. The view west to Great Whernside, In Moor, Little Whernside, Dead Man's Hill and Great Haw.
To the east the moorland gives way to lower Wensleydale
Boundary stone with "Fountains Earth" on it
I couldn't resist taking a few more shots looking towards the fells around the head of Nidderdale as I return to the byway below. It's a fantastic view with the increasing amounts of sunshine...
Heading east on the byway across Fountains Earth Moor..
A grand view of wide open spaces as I take a look back
Boundary stone with OS benchmark as I leave the byway I'm on..
..and follow this one south across Fountains Earth Moor down to Bouthwaite
Lower down and I have a view of Sypeland Crags above me to the right
On the byway down to Bouthwaite...
OS benchmark on a gatepost
Raygill House Moor and Ramsgill ahead
Gouthwaite Reservoir
Making my way through the hamlet of Bouthwaite
Great views of Nidderdale as I follow the Nidderdale Way north along the side of the dale.....
Low Sikes as the Nidderdale Way crosses the road to Lofthouse
It's a lovely afternoon to be Nidderdale..
The end of the walk is in sight as the buildings of Lofthouse appear ahead