28th October 2018 - Rylstone to Weets Top and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.4 miles
Total ascent: 1573 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Wsetern areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Rylstone-Hetton-Moor Lane-Dales High Way-Hetton Common Head-Weets Top-Hawthorns Lane-Smearbottoms Lane-Middle Laithe-Mastiles Lane-Mastiles Gate-Malham Moor Lane-Threshfield Moor-Boss Moor-Boss Moor Lane-Moor Lane-Hetton-Rylstone
My long walk of the weekend and I certainly made use of all the daylight hours available to me. I did have to keep reminding myself that the clocks went back last night and that it was going to get dark an hour earlier than it did yesterday. I've been to the summit of Weets Top several times now but it's always been from Malham. This route starting from Rylstone made use of the numerous tracks and bridleways that cross the moors around the valley north of Winterburn Reservoir. I really enjoyed it. The autumn sunshine made the colours of the moors look at their best, and although I had a lots of miles to cover the gentle gradients and good paths meant that I had no trouble setting a quick enough pace. The wind was just as strong and cold as it was yesterday though with plenty of sunny spells as compensation.
After parking in the layby on the road through Rylstone I took the road towards Hetton and then after walking under a railway bridge, the bridleway. I then turned right when I arrived in Hetton, walked past the Angel Inn and took the track of Moor Lane. I followed this north to a junction of bridleways where I took the one signposted for Weets Top, which took me down to and across Hetton Common Beck, up to Hetton Common Head and eventually Weets Top. After having a break for lunch I made my way down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane, then turned right and followed Smearbottoms Lane north to Middle Laithe and onto the bridleway to Mastiles Lane. I followed Mastiles Lane east to Mastiles Gate, where I took the bridleway south to the western end of Malham Moor Lane. I then walked down Malham Moor Lane until I reached a bridleway on the right signposted for Boss Moor. I followed this south past Height Laithe and across Threshfield Moor and Boss Moor to Boss Moor Lane. A brief walk south down this lane brought me to the bridleway of Moor Lane on the right and following this took me back to the junction of bridleways that I was at earlier in the day. I was then left with retracing my steps back to Hetton and Rylstone.
Total ascent: 1573 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Wsetern areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Rylstone-Hetton-Moor Lane-Dales High Way-Hetton Common Head-Weets Top-Hawthorns Lane-Smearbottoms Lane-Middle Laithe-Mastiles Lane-Mastiles Gate-Malham Moor Lane-Threshfield Moor-Boss Moor-Boss Moor Lane-Moor Lane-Hetton-Rylstone
My long walk of the weekend and I certainly made use of all the daylight hours available to me. I did have to keep reminding myself that the clocks went back last night and that it was going to get dark an hour earlier than it did yesterday. I've been to the summit of Weets Top several times now but it's always been from Malham. This route starting from Rylstone made use of the numerous tracks and bridleways that cross the moors around the valley north of Winterburn Reservoir. I really enjoyed it. The autumn sunshine made the colours of the moors look at their best, and although I had a lots of miles to cover the gentle gradients and good paths meant that I had no trouble setting a quick enough pace. The wind was just as strong and cold as it was yesterday though with plenty of sunny spells as compensation.
After parking in the layby on the road through Rylstone I took the road towards Hetton and then after walking under a railway bridge, the bridleway. I then turned right when I arrived in Hetton, walked past the Angel Inn and took the track of Moor Lane. I followed this north to a junction of bridleways where I took the one signposted for Weets Top, which took me down to and across Hetton Common Beck, up to Hetton Common Head and eventually Weets Top. After having a break for lunch I made my way down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane, then turned right and followed Smearbottoms Lane north to Middle Laithe and onto the bridleway to Mastiles Lane. I followed Mastiles Lane east to Mastiles Gate, where I took the bridleway south to the western end of Malham Moor Lane. I then walked down Malham Moor Lane until I reached a bridleway on the right signposted for Boss Moor. I followed this south past Height Laithe and across Threshfield Moor and Boss Moor to Boss Moor Lane. A brief walk south down this lane brought me to the bridleway of Moor Lane on the right and following this took me back to the junction of bridleways that I was at earlier in the day. I was then left with retracing my steps back to Hetton and Rylstone.
Route map
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On the bridleway from Rylstone to Hetton
The footbridge over Hetton Beck is a slab of gritstone with a groove worn in it from the passage of countless boots
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Leaving Hetton by the bridleway to Weets Top
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It's a beautiful morning as I start the walk north along Moor Lane
Pendle Hill in the distance to my left
Sharp Haw and Pendle Hill
Looking back south along Moor Lane
A bit further on and Hetton Common appears on the left
I'll be back at this junction of bridleways later in the day via the one from Boss Moor
Heading down into the valley of Hetton Common Beck, which feeds Winterburn Reservoir
Winterburn Reservoir backed by Pendle Hill
Blue skies and sunshine as I make my way up onto Hetton Common
Sharp Haw, the South Pennines and Pendle Hill behind me
The barn of Ray Gill Laithe on the right as I near Hetton Common Head..
Looking back to Barden Moor in the distance
Pendle Hill from Hetton Common Head. Great moorland colours.
Rye Loaf Hill and Kirkby Fell. The top of Ingleborough can be made out through a gap in the moors on the right.
Fountains Fell in the distance with Weets Top to the right
Great Whernside in the distance
Time to take a break and enjoy the view from Weets Top
Fountains Fell and the limestone moorland to the north of Mastiles Lane
The limestone moorland of Proctor High Mark with Great Whernside in the distance
Kirkby Fell and the entrance to Gordale Scar
The remains of Weets Cross
There's a great view to the north as I take the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane
On Smearbottoms Lane to Middle Laithe
It's 3/4 of a mile from Middle Laithe to Mastiles Lane
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OS benchmark on a gatepost
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Limestone pastures with Kirkby Fell in the distance to the west
Cracoe Fell to the southeast
On the bridleway to Mastiles Lane
Heading east along Mastiles Lane
Looking back to the west
The limestone moorland to the north of Mastiles Lane
Making my way east along Mastiles Lane
Leaning on Mastiles Gate and this is where I leave Mastiles Lane as it continues east across Kilnsey Moor
I'm going to take the bridleway to Malham Moor Lane
On the bridleway to Malham Moor Lane
Looking back along Malham Moor Lane
Making my way down Malham Moor Lane
There's a bit of weather action going on behind me
Height House from the bridleway to Boss Moor
A bit further on and I'm fortunate to turn around to see a shower with a rainbow over Grassington Moor..
Great Whernside in the distance
Crossing the top of Threshfield Moor..
Hetton Common Head and Weets Top with Kirkby Fell in the distance
Threshfield Moor
Cracoe Fell..
..and Pendle Hill as I cross Boss Moor..
Looking back to Threshfield Moor
Grassington Moor in the distance
Briefly on Boss Moor Lane
and then it's onto the bridleway of Moor Lane
Looking across to Hetton Common
Looking back along the track of Moor Lane..
..as I follow it down to Hetton
Long shadows and dramatic skies as I reach Hetton
The Angel Inn in Hetton
