2nd June 2022 - Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.3 miles
Total ascent: 1639 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-Litton-Nether Hesleden-Halton Gill Bridge-Halton Gill-Horse Head Moor-Sugar Loaf-Birks Fell-Birks Tarn-Old Cote Moor Top-Arncliffe
It's the first day of the long Platinum Jubilee weekend and I struggled to think of somewhere to go walking today after my holiday in the Lake District last week. I suppose it wasn't very imaginative of me to decide on doing this route that I did the same time last year, but at least I knew that I'd enjoy it and of course I'd know the way. During the past few years I've managed to walk the whole of the moorland ridge that separates Littondale and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. Not in one go though, but during the course of following several different routes. The part of the ridge that I did today was the one that completed my exploration of it back in 2019, from Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top. I had a fine early summer's day for tackling that long moorland walk again, sunny spells and good visibility for taking in the views, and having wildflower filled fields to walk through in Littondale made the other part of the walk most enjoyable.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked along the road to the western end of the village to the sharp left hand bend and went straight on, taking the footpath up Littondale. I followed this up the valley, crossing the River Skirfare at the stepping stones to eventually arrive in Litton. I then took the bridleway opposite the Queens Arms in Litton down to and across the ford over the River Skirfare, then turned right and followed the footpath up the valley, crossing Hesleden Beck to Nether Hesleden, then across fields past Heber Side Barns to reach Halton Gill Bridge, where I walked up into Halton Gill to stop for lunch. After taking my break, I left Halton Gill by taking the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor. When I reached its top at Horse Head Gate I left it and made my way up to the trig point on Horse Head Moor just to the north. After taking in the view I returned to Horse Head Gate, went through it, then set off following the wall south along the moorland ridge. I kept to the eastern side of the wall all the way to where the Buckden to Litton bridleway crosses the moor, except for visiting the cairn on Sugar Loaf. Once that bridleway was reached the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top was just a short walk away. I then continued my way down the ridge, crossing a ladder stile to keep to the eastern side of the wall, until I reached the Kettlewell to Arncliffe footpath. Here I turned right and took the footpath down to Arncliffe, taking advantage of a footpath as a short-cut between the road below and the one into Arncliffe. I then had a short walk back into Arncliffe to where I was parked.
Total ascent: 1639 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-Litton-Nether Hesleden-Halton Gill Bridge-Halton Gill-Horse Head Moor-Sugar Loaf-Birks Fell-Birks Tarn-Old Cote Moor Top-Arncliffe
It's the first day of the long Platinum Jubilee weekend and I struggled to think of somewhere to go walking today after my holiday in the Lake District last week. I suppose it wasn't very imaginative of me to decide on doing this route that I did the same time last year, but at least I knew that I'd enjoy it and of course I'd know the way. During the past few years I've managed to walk the whole of the moorland ridge that separates Littondale and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. Not in one go though, but during the course of following several different routes. The part of the ridge that I did today was the one that completed my exploration of it back in 2019, from Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top. I had a fine early summer's day for tackling that long moorland walk again, sunny spells and good visibility for taking in the views, and having wildflower filled fields to walk through in Littondale made the other part of the walk most enjoyable.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked along the road to the western end of the village to the sharp left hand bend and went straight on, taking the footpath up Littondale. I followed this up the valley, crossing the River Skirfare at the stepping stones to eventually arrive in Litton. I then took the bridleway opposite the Queens Arms in Litton down to and across the ford over the River Skirfare, then turned right and followed the footpath up the valley, crossing Hesleden Beck to Nether Hesleden, then across fields past Heber Side Barns to reach Halton Gill Bridge, where I walked up into Halton Gill to stop for lunch. After taking my break, I left Halton Gill by taking the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor. When I reached its top at Horse Head Gate I left it and made my way up to the trig point on Horse Head Moor just to the north. After taking in the view I returned to Horse Head Gate, went through it, then set off following the wall south along the moorland ridge. I kept to the eastern side of the wall all the way to where the Buckden to Litton bridleway crosses the moor, except for visiting the cairn on Sugar Loaf. Once that bridleway was reached the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top was just a short walk away. I then continued my way down the ridge, crossing a ladder stile to keep to the eastern side of the wall, until I reached the Kettlewell to Arncliffe footpath. Here I turned right and took the footpath down to Arncliffe, taking advantage of a footpath as a short-cut between the road below and the one into Arncliffe. I then had a short walk back into Arncliffe to where I was parked.
Route map
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I leave Arncliffe on the footpath to Litton
Yew Cogar Scar beyond the buttercup filled fields to my left..
Heading up Littondale.....
The slopes of Middle Moor that rise above Litton
As I follow the footpath north to Litton I pass through lots of wildflower filled fields..............
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In the village of Litton with the pub of the Queens Arms ahead on the right
Onto the footpath from Litton to Nether Hesleden
The dry bed of the River Skirfare from New Bridge
Lots more wildflower filled fields as I follow the footpath to Nether Hesleden, and then on to Halton Gill..........
Looking across to Halton Gill on the other side of the River Skirfare
Another buttercup filled field
On the road up to Halton Gill
Looking back to Halton Gill and Littondale, as I leave Halton Gill on the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor
The hamlet of Foxup at the head of Littondale
Looking down on Halton Gill and Littondale as I follow the bridleway uphill
As I gain height the view opens up to include Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough
At the trig point on Horse Head Moor. Fountains Fell, Penyghent and Plover Hill to the southwest.
Looking west to Ingleborough and Whernside
Dodd Fell Hill, Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat to the north
Yockenthwaite Moor and Buckden Pike on the other side of a hidden Langstrothdale
To the southeast the moorland that I'll soon be walking across stretches into the distance
Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough as I head back to Horse Head Gate
At Horse Head Gate. I'll go through it and then follow the wall across the moor to the right to Sugar Loaf.
Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough from the cairn on Sugar Loaf
Buckden Pike and the top of Great Whernside behind the moorland of Birks Fell
A long moorland walk to come to reach the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top
There are gates and stiles on the northern side of the moor top wall to aid onward progress
A moorland pool and Yockenthwaite Moor on the other side of a hidden Langstrothdale
Penyghent, Plover Hill, Horse Head Moor, and Whernside from the top of Birks Fell
Looking back to the northwest along the broad moorland ridge
A short walk to the east from the cairn and I have a view of Buckden below Buckden Pike
Cloudberry in flower. I've not seen the fruit of one yet..
Buckden Pike as I pass Birks Tarn
Looking back to Birks Fell as I reach the Buckden to Litton bridleway
Finally at the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top, with Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill and Whernside in the distance
Buckden Pike and Great Whernside
Leaving the trig point I follow the wall south, and then cross the moor to arrive at a ladder stile
As I cross to the Wharfedale side of the ridge I get a great view of Buckden Pike and the head of Wharfedale
and across to Starbotton, Cam Pasture and Great Whernside
and down Wharfedale to Kettlewell
The moorland ridge narrows as I make my way south giving great views of the fells lower down Wharfedale..
The moors above Conistone and Grassington in the distance, along with Barden Fell and Barden Moor
Having a look back up the moorland ridge
Mountain Pansies. Most of the ones I come across are yellow but they also come in purple or even a mixture of both..
It's finally time to head down as I take the footpath to Arncliffe
Arncliffe and the valley of Littondale below as I reach the final descent into the woodland on Park Scar..
Buttercup filled fields as I follow a footpath down to the bridge over the River Skirfare
Crossing the River Skirfare
Back in Arncliffe after a great day on the fells