2nd August 2025 - Addlebrough and Raydale
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.0 miles
Total ascent: 1913 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Bainbridge-Brough Scar-Cubeck-Worton Pasture-Addlebrough-Carpley Green Road-Carpley Green Farm-Busk Lane-High Lane-Bob Lane-Stalling Busk-Semer Water-Stake Road-Semer Water Bridge-River Bain-Bracken Hill-A684-Bainbridge
For my walk this weekend I decided to head to Bainbridge in Wensleydale to do a route that would take in Addlebrough, the moorland on the eastern side of Raydale, and Semer Water. Most of it was already familiar to me from previous walks, but it was the first time that I'd used the permissive footpath up Addlebrough from the road between Cubeck and Thornton Rust. It's not on the OS map, the one from the bridleway across Thornton Rust Moor isn't either, so I hadn't known about it until spotting it by chance. The forecast was for a fine summer's day, and that's what I enjoyed, with more in the way of sunshine during the afternoon as the cloud broke up. Having just recovered from being ill for a couple of weeks this was a good walk for getting my fitness back.
After parking by the village green in Bainbridge, I walked by the A684 across the River Bain and up to the left hand bend in the road where I took the road up to Raydale on the right. I soon left this for a footpath on the left up to Brough Scar and then across fields to the hamlet of Cubeck, from where I walked along the road towards Thornton Rust. Just past East Scar Top Farm I reached a permissive footpath on the right, signposted for Addlebrough. I took this and followed it uphill and across Worton Pasture to the crags on the northern side of Addlebrough, where a breach allowed me to climb up and reach the summit. After taking in the view I made my way round the western and southwestern sides of Addlebrough before heading south to join the bridleway down to Carpley Green Road and a short walk south to Carpley Green Farm, from where I took the track of Busk Lane up onto Stake Allotments. When I reached the junction of byways on Stake Allotments I turned right and took the track of High Lane down towards Stalling Busk, leaving it for the track of Bob Lane down into the hamlet. From Stalling Busk I took the footpath signposted for the chapel ruins, which I followed down to and past, and then from there down to and along the east shore of Semer Water to Stake Road. I then walked down Stake Road to Semer Water Bridge, where I took the bridleway then footpath north alongside the River Bain, up and over Bracken Hill and down to the A684 just to the east of Bainbridge. After crossing the bridge over the River Bain I had a short walk back to where I was parked.
Total ascent: 1913 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Bainbridge-Brough Scar-Cubeck-Worton Pasture-Addlebrough-Carpley Green Road-Carpley Green Farm-Busk Lane-High Lane-Bob Lane-Stalling Busk-Semer Water-Stake Road-Semer Water Bridge-River Bain-Bracken Hill-A684-Bainbridge
For my walk this weekend I decided to head to Bainbridge in Wensleydale to do a route that would take in Addlebrough, the moorland on the eastern side of Raydale, and Semer Water. Most of it was already familiar to me from previous walks, but it was the first time that I'd used the permissive footpath up Addlebrough from the road between Cubeck and Thornton Rust. It's not on the OS map, the one from the bridleway across Thornton Rust Moor isn't either, so I hadn't known about it until spotting it by chance. The forecast was for a fine summer's day, and that's what I enjoyed, with more in the way of sunshine during the afternoon as the cloud broke up. Having just recovered from being ill for a couple of weeks this was a good walk for getting my fitness back.
After parking by the village green in Bainbridge, I walked by the A684 across the River Bain and up to the left hand bend in the road where I took the road up to Raydale on the right. I soon left this for a footpath on the left up to Brough Scar and then across fields to the hamlet of Cubeck, from where I walked along the road towards Thornton Rust. Just past East Scar Top Farm I reached a permissive footpath on the right, signposted for Addlebrough. I took this and followed it uphill and across Worton Pasture to the crags on the northern side of Addlebrough, where a breach allowed me to climb up and reach the summit. After taking in the view I made my way round the western and southwestern sides of Addlebrough before heading south to join the bridleway down to Carpley Green Road and a short walk south to Carpley Green Farm, from where I took the track of Busk Lane up onto Stake Allotments. When I reached the junction of byways on Stake Allotments I turned right and took the track of High Lane down towards Stalling Busk, leaving it for the track of Bob Lane down into the hamlet. From Stalling Busk I took the footpath signposted for the chapel ruins, which I followed down to and past, and then from there down to and along the east shore of Semer Water to Stake Road. I then walked down Stake Road to Semer Water Bridge, where I took the bridleway then footpath north alongside the River Bain, up and over Bracken Hill and down to the A684 just to the east of Bainbridge. After crossing the bridge over the River Bain I had a short walk back to where I was parked.
Route map
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In Bainbridge on a fine summer's morning
Leaving Bainbridge I take the footpath up to Brough Scar
Looking back to Bainbridge
Following the field path next to the woodland on Brough Scar..
..and then across fields to Cubeck
Cubeck as I take the road towards Thornton Rust
Walking along the road and I'm looking out for a permissive footpath sign on the right, just past East Scar Top Farm
Taking the permissive path up through fields
Looking back across Wensleydale to Ellerkin Scar, Carperby Moor, and Ivy Scar
The top of Addlebrough comes into view
A view down Wensleydale with Penhill on the right
Approaching the final climb up onto Addlebrough
On the summit of Addlebrough
Looking east down Wensleydale with Carperby Moor and Ivy Scar on the left and Penhill on the right. I can also make out the outline of the distant North York Moors.
Worton Pasture below, with Whitfield Scar, Askrigg Common, and Ellerkin Scar on the other side of Wensleydale
and looking west up Wensleydale, with the moorland rising to the high point of Lovely Seat on the right
Undoubtedly the best view from Addlebrough is that of Semer Water and Raydale from its western edge
Carpley Green Farm below Water Ling Pasture
On the bridleway down to Carpley Green Road
Making my way through Carpley Green Farm..
..and onto the track of Busk Lane
Looking back to Carpley Green Farm beneath Addlebrough
Great views across the surrounding moorland as I follow the byway south......
Approaching the junction of byways on Stake Allotments
To my right, a view across Raydale to Wether Fell
I reach the junction of byways on Stake Allotments, where I take the one to Stalling Busk
On the byway of High Lane down into Cragdale and to Stalling Busk..
Cragdale Moor to my left
Looking back up High Lane to Stake Allotments
Making my way down High Lane towards Stalling Busk..
On the track of Bob Lane down into Stalling Busk..
Looking across Raydale to Wether Fell and Common Allotments from above Stalling Busk
In the hamlet of Stalling Busk
Marsett and Raydale from Stalling Busk
I leave Stalling Busk for the path down to Semer Water
Blue skies and barns
The ruins of the old church of St. Matthew's below Stalling Busk
Following the path down to the shores of Semer Water..
Following the path by the east shore of Semer Water to Stake Road..
Walking down Stake Road to Semer Water
The view south across Semer Water from its northern end
Joining the bridleway by the start of the River Bain at Semer Water Bridge. Beautiful scenery as I follow the bridleway, then footpath, north by its east bank...
Looking south down Raydale as I leave the River Bain and head up Bracken Hill
Crossing Bracken Hill
Looking up Raydale from Bracken Hill
and across the valley of the River Bain to Crag and Bainbridge High Pasture, with the fells around Wensleydale beyond
On the home straight as I follow the path down from Bracken Hill towards the A684 just outside Bainbridge..
Above the River Bain..
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..and crossing the River Bain back into Bainbridge
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