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30th December 2019 - Simon's Seat

Walk Details

Distance walked: 7.2 miles

Total ascent: 1350 ft

OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale

Time taken: 5 hrs

Route description: Middle Skyreholme-Skyreholme Bank-Forest Road-Little Pock Stones-Great Pock Stones-Lord's Seat-Simon's Seat-Howgill-Howgill Lane-Skyreholme-Middle Skyreholme


A walk of two halves for my second one of the Christmas break. I decided to head for Wharfedale and do a shorter version of a route that I did back in September, taking in Pock Stones Moor and Simon's Seat. This time I started from Skyreholme, which sits in the valley below Simon's Seat, instead of Grimwith Reservoir. The two halves I mentioned was concerning the weather. I had blue skies and sunshine for following the byways up onto Pock Stones Moor in the morning, and this lasted into the afternoon and until I reached Lord's Seat. However, by then I could see that the low cloud that I'd noticed making inroads to the north and west was advancing rapidly, and by the time I reached Simon's Seat the skies were quickly turning overcast, and decidedly grey and gloomy. That sunshine on the moors during the morning was nice though.

From where I parked on the verge of the lane to Parcevall Hall I made my way to the road through Middle Skyreholme, turned left and walked up the road to High Skyreholme and onto the byway of Skyreholme Bank. I followed this uphill, taking the byway of Forest Road on the right when it branched, and continued up this track onto Pock Stones Moor and to Little Pock Stones. After a break for lunch I returned to the track, crossed the wall opposite, and followed it up the moor to Great Pock Stones and then to Lord's Seat, where I picked up a flagged path to reach Simon's Seat. From Simon's Seat I took the path southwest across the moor to pick up the track down to Howgill where I turned right and onto the track of Howgill Lane. I followed this uphill until I reached a footpath on the left, which I took and followed north to Skyreholme. I was then left with a walk along the road to Middle Skyreholme and the lane where I was parked.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Looking back down to Skyreholme and the valley of Blands Beck as I walk up the road and then byway of Skyreholme Bank...
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Ahead I'll go right onto the byway of Forest Road. Left would take me along Black Hill Road to the B6265.
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Heading up Forest Road
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Looking back with Barden Moor in the distance
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Heading east along Forest Road to cross Larnshaw Beck
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Colourful moorland of Tarn Moss to my left
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There's a rather hazy and misty view of Wharfedale when I turn round. I can still make out the top of Great Whernside in the distance on the right though.
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There's a great view across the surrounding moorland when I look to my left
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Looking north across the moorland around Washburn Head to Greenhow Hill Top
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The view across Wharfedale definitely seems to be mistier when I look back now
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As I finally near the top of Forest Road I can see Little Pock Stones just to the left
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Little Pock Stones. A good place to stop for a break.
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Looking down the Washburn Valley towards Thruscross Reservoir from Little Pock Stones
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Pock Stones Moor, and the moorland between the Washburn Valley and Nidderdale
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The moorland around Washburn Head with Appletreewick Moor in the distance
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Looking back to Little Pock Stones as I follow the wall up to Great Pock Stones
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Looking down the Washburn Valley to Menwith Hill and Thruscross Reservoir from Great Pock Stones
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Lord's Seat on Barden Fell to the west, with Barden Moor behind to the right
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Onwards to Lord's Seat
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Looking back to Great Pock Stones
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Simon's Seat, Barden Moor and Wharfedale from the first of the rocky outcrops of Lord's Seat
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Looking south across Barden Moor
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Simon's Seat, Barden Moor and Wharfedale from the bigger of the two outcrops of Lord's Seat
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The smaller outcrop and the ridge back to Great Pock Stones
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On my way to Simon's Seat and I'm not wasting any time. The cloud is increasing rapidly and it won't be long before I lose the sunshine.
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and it proved to be the case. I haven't even made it to the top of Simon's Seat yet and the sun is fast disappearing. There still some sunshine around Burnsall in Wharfedale.
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The view from the top of Simon's Seat. Barden Moor, Kail Hill, Langerton Hill and Appletreewick Pasture.
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There's still some bright sunshine to the south beyond the rest of Barden Fell
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Looking across Wharfedale to Halton Height and Lower Barden Reservoir at the southern end of Barden Moor
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The trig point on Simon's Seat
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The cloud continues to descend over Wharfedale
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I wonder if someone will come and take the decorations down on twelfth night?
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The rocky outcrops of Truckle Crags and Carncliff Top
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Gloomy skies over Wharfedale as I head down to Howgill..
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On the track of Howgill Lane
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I leave Howgill Lane for the footpath to Skyreholme
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A murky view of Wharfedale
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Heading for Skyreholme..
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Crossing Fir Beck
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Looking back down the lane to Skyreholme as I head back to Middle Skyreholme

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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