28th October 2019 - 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
I last did this walk almost exactly two years ago to the day and it was done in very similar conditions. Although dare I say that this time it was perfect? Glorious autumn weather with blue skies, sunny spells and excellent visibility. The sort of day that makes me glad that I took up hill walking, and it's not too bad for photography either. There were fantastic views to enjoy from start to finish, with that of Dentdale from the bridleway along the side of Great Knoutberry Hill being the highlight.
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. 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
I last did this walk almost exactly two years ago to the day and it was done in very similar conditions. Although dare I say that this time it was perfect? Glorious autumn weather with blue skies, sunny spells and excellent visibility. The sort of day that makes me glad that I took up hill walking, and it's not too bad for photography either. There were fantastic views to enjoy from start to finish, with that of Dentdale from the bridleway along the side of Great Knoutberry Hill being the highlight.
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. 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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Driving down into Dentdale and I had to pull over and take a photo of the Dent Head Viaduct
Walking down the road to Stone House in Dentdale
I soon have the River Dee for company as it heads downstream alongside the road
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The river drops over numerous rocky ledges, which gives me plenty of photo opportunities.....
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The waterfall of Scow Force
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I join the Pennine Bridleway at Stonehouse Farm and follow the track up Arten Gill beneath the Arten Gill Viaduct..
Looking back down to Stone House in Dentdale
As I make my way up the Pennine Bridleway the view gradually opens up...
Whernside, Great Coum and Middleton Fell in the distance as I near the top of Arten Gill
At the top of Arten Gill I join the Galloway Gate bridleway that runs along the western slopes of Great Knoutberry Hill. The views from this across Dentdale and its surrounding fells are fantastic.
Ingleborough, Whernside and Great Coum with Arten Gill and the Arten Gill Viaduct below
As I continue west along the bridleway the view down Dentdale starts to reveal itself
Ingleborough, Whernside, the head of Dentdale and the Arten Gill Viaduct
Fantastic views of Dentdale and the fells of Great Coum, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike to enjoy.....
Further round and I can now see Wild Boar Fell to the north with low cloud on it. I think there must have been fog in Mallerstang this morning.
Great Coum, Dentdale, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike as I follow the fence up to Pikes Edge on Great Knoutberry Hill
The bulky Baugh Fell to the northwest
Ingleborough and Whernside from Pikes Edge
Great Coum, Dentdale, Middleton Fell and Aye Gill Pike round to the southern slopes of the Howgills and Baugh Fell. With the excellent visibility today it's easy to make out the Lake District fells in the far distance on the right..
It isn't easy not to stop every few steps to turn round and take in that view..
The trig point on the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill
Part of the Howgills, Baugh Fell and Wild Boar Fell
Looking east down into Widdale and Wensleydale
Middleton Fell, Dentdale, Aye Gill Pike, Garsdale, the Howgills and Baugh Fell with a long line of Lake District fells in the distance
Penyghent and Ingleborough, with Pendle Hill in the distance between them, and Wold Fell below
Ingleborough, Whernside and Great Coum
Whernside, Great Coum and Middleton Fell
Dodd Fell Hill and Snaizeholme Fell as I follow the wall from the summit down to Arten Gill Moss
The bright green of the grass on the flat-topped limestone hill of Wold Fell stands out
As I leave the open fell I take the bridleway towards the top of Arten Gill
At the junction of bridleways I was at earlier in the day, and this time I take the one to Newby Head Road
Looking back to Great Knoutberry Hill
Looking down Widdale to Wensleydale
Penyghent and Ingleborough, with Newby Head Farm protected by its stand of trees next to the Hawes to Ribblehead road below, from the bridleway across Wold Fell
A short detour from the bridleway was required to reach the top of Wold Fell. Although it's very flat there's a good view with Great Coum, Middleton Fell, some of the Lake District fells on the skyline, Aye Gill Pike, the Howgills and Baugh Fell to the west.
Great Knoutberry Hill to the north
Following the bridleway down to Newby Head Road
I leave the Pennine Bridleway behind when I reach Newby Head Gate
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.