2nd November 2025 - In Moor and Dale Edge
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.2 miles
Total ascent: 1904 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Lofthouse-Stean-Nidderdale Way-Middlesmoor-In Moor Lane-Rain Stang trig point-In Moor Lane-Scar House Reservoir-Carle Fell Road-Nidderdale Way-Dale Edge-Thrope Edge-Trapping Hill-Lofthouse
For my walk this weekend I decided to head for Nidderdale to do a route that would take in some of the moors to the north of Lofthouse. Most of it was already familiar to me from previous walks in the area, the only bit that wasn't were the footpaths after crossing How Stean Beck below Stean, and then up to Middlesmoor. The forecast was for a decent autumn day with the best of the sunshine to the east of high ground, before clouding over by the middle of the afternoon, and that's why I went to Nidderdale. Setting off with plenty of blue skies and sunshine, it stayed that way (apart from a brief light shower on In Moor) until I was on Dale Edge in the middle of the afternoon. Cloud thick enough to give a bit of drizzle had made its way across the moors, and then the skies clouded over while I was on Thrope Edge.
After parking my car next to the reservoir access road just below Lofthouse I walked along the lane to the hamlet of Stean, then followed the Nidderdale Way down to cross How Stean Beck. I then followed a footpath north by How Stean Beck into woodland before taking one up through fields to Middlesmoor. I walked through the village, then took the track of In Moor Lane across In Moor and down to Scar House Reservoir, with a diversion to the Rain Stang trig point on the way. I then made my way across the dam of the reservoir and up to the track of Carle Fell Road, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I continued to follow the Nidderdale Way east along the track, and when the trail left it to head for the valley floor I continued along the track to reach a shooting house. From here the track took me uphill to join a bridleway, which I followed east to Dale Edge, then south to Lofthouse Moor and along Thrope Edge to a shooting house. Just past this as the bridleway heads east I went through a gate on the right and took the bridleway south down to the road down Trapping Hill. I then walked down the road, taking the short-cut of a footpath down a couple of fields to Lofthouse, and from there followed a footpath across the River Nidd back to where I'd parked my car next to the reservoir access road.
Total ascent: 1904 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Lofthouse-Stean-Nidderdale Way-Middlesmoor-In Moor Lane-Rain Stang trig point-In Moor Lane-Scar House Reservoir-Carle Fell Road-Nidderdale Way-Dale Edge-Thrope Edge-Trapping Hill-Lofthouse
For my walk this weekend I decided to head for Nidderdale to do a route that would take in some of the moors to the north of Lofthouse. Most of it was already familiar to me from previous walks in the area, the only bit that wasn't were the footpaths after crossing How Stean Beck below Stean, and then up to Middlesmoor. The forecast was for a decent autumn day with the best of the sunshine to the east of high ground, before clouding over by the middle of the afternoon, and that's why I went to Nidderdale. Setting off with plenty of blue skies and sunshine, it stayed that way (apart from a brief light shower on In Moor) until I was on Dale Edge in the middle of the afternoon. Cloud thick enough to give a bit of drizzle had made its way across the moors, and then the skies clouded over while I was on Thrope Edge.
After parking my car next to the reservoir access road just below Lofthouse I walked along the lane to the hamlet of Stean, then followed the Nidderdale Way down to cross How Stean Beck. I then followed a footpath north by How Stean Beck into woodland before taking one up through fields to Middlesmoor. I walked through the village, then took the track of In Moor Lane across In Moor and down to Scar House Reservoir, with a diversion to the Rain Stang trig point on the way. I then made my way across the dam of the reservoir and up to the track of Carle Fell Road, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I continued to follow the Nidderdale Way east along the track, and when the trail left it to head for the valley floor I continued along the track to reach a shooting house. From here the track took me uphill to join a bridleway, which I followed east to Dale Edge, then south to Lofthouse Moor and along Thrope Edge to a shooting house. Just past this as the bridleway heads east I went through a gate on the right and took the bridleway south down to the road down Trapping Hill. I then walked down the road, taking the short-cut of a footpath down a couple of fields to Lofthouse, and from there followed a footpath across the River Nidd back to where I'd parked my car next to the reservoir access road.
Route map
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Sunshine on the hillside below Middlesmoor
Walking along the road past Studfold Farm
and then towards Stean
Following the lane all the way to its end at the hamlet of Stean
From the end of the lane I take the Nidderdale Way down to and across How Stean Gorge
After crossing How Stean Beck I follow a footpath by it upstream and into woodland.....
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Heading up the footpath to Middlesmoor
Looking across to Stean
and back across the valley of How Stean Beck to Riggs Moor
The view down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir from below the church of St. Chad's
From Middlesmoor I take the track of In Moor Lane (which is part of the Nidderdale Way), which gives me a great view down Nidderdale when I turn around...
Meugher, Riggs Moor, and the valley of How Stean Beck to my left
Following In Moor Lane uphill
Looking back to Gouthwaite Reservoir in the distance
The top of Little Whernside appears ahead. I'll soon reach a gate on the right which I'll go through to head up to the Rain Stang trig point.
Looking over the wall on my left to Stean Moor, Meugher, and Riggs Moor
A last look down In Moor Lane before I head up to the trig point
At the Rain Stang trig point on In Moor. Looking east to Dale Edge, Lofthouse Moor, and Thrope Edge..
..north to Great Haw and Little Haw..
..and down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir
Great Whernside and Little Whernside at the head of Nidderdale
On In Moor Lane again, and heading north
Stean Moor, Meugher, and Riggs Moor
Great Whernside beyond the expanse of Kay Head Allotment
Little Whernside ahead as In Moor Lane crosses the top of In Moor
and then Carle Fell Side
Heading down to Scar House Reservoir....
Looking west across choppy waters to Nidd Head and Little Whernside as I cross the dam
and east across Scar Plantation to Dale Edge in the distance
Looking down on Scar House Reservoir..
After a break for lunch I follow the Nidderdale Way east along the track
Looking down Nidderdale to Lofthouse Moor and Thrope Edge
Following the track down to Woo Gill
Long shadows and autumn colours in Nidderdale
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Down to and across a colourful Woo Gill..
Sunshine and drizzle
I keep on the track, which is no longer part of the Nidderdale Way, and follow it up to a shooting house on the moor
Looking back to Scar House Reservoir and Carle Fell Side. The drizzle and sunshine makes for a dramatic photo.
Views of Nidderdale and its surrounding moorland as I follow the bridleway east and then south towards Thrope Edge..........
Great Whernside and Little Whernside in the distance, with In Moor on the left to the south of Nidderdale, and Carle Fell and North Moor on the right to the north of Nidderdale
Heading south along the bridleway from Dale Edge to Thrope Edge
The shooting house on Thrope Edge appears as I follow the bridleway south
The Shooting House on Thrope Edge
From Thrope Edge I take the bridleway down to Trapping Hill
Views down Nidderdale to Gouthwaite Reservoir and to Fountains Earth Moor as I follow the bridleway down to Trapping Hill..
Walking down the road of Trapping Hill with Raygill House Moor and Ramsgill Moor on the other side of Nidderdale
The village of Middlesmoor sits on the opposite hillside
A footpath gets me off the road down to Lofthouse
Making my way through Lofthouse and back to where I'd parked my car