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.
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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Looking back down to Skyreholme and the valley of Blands Beck as I walk up the road and then byway of Skyreholme Bank...
Ahead I'll go right onto the byway of Forest Road. Left would take me along Black Hill Road to the B6265.
Heading up Forest Road
Looking back with Barden Moor in the distance
Heading east along Forest Road to cross Larnshaw Beck
Colourful moorland of Tarn Moss to my left
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.
There's a great view across the surrounding moorland when I look to my left
Looking north across the moorland around Washburn Head to Greenhow Hill Top
The view across Wharfedale definitely seems to be mistier when I look back now
As I finally near the top of Forest Road I can see Little Pock Stones just to the left
Little Pock Stones. A good place to stop for a break.
Looking down the Washburn Valley towards Thruscross Reservoir from Little Pock Stones
Pock Stones Moor, and the moorland between the Washburn Valley and Nidderdale
The moorland around Washburn Head with Appletreewick Moor in the distance
Looking back to Little Pock Stones as I follow the wall up to Great Pock Stones
Looking down the Washburn Valley to Menwith Hill and Thruscross Reservoir from Great Pock Stones
Lord's Seat on Barden Fell to the west, with Barden Moor behind to the right
Onwards to Lord's Seat
Looking back to Great Pock Stones
Simon's Seat, Barden Moor and Wharfedale from the first of the rocky outcrops of Lord's Seat
Looking south across Barden Moor
Simon's Seat, Barden Moor and Wharfedale from the bigger of the two outcrops of Lord's Seat
The smaller outcrop and the ridge back to Great Pock Stones
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.
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.
The view from the top of Simon's Seat. Barden Moor, Kail Hill, Langerton Hill and Appletreewick Pasture.
There's still some bright sunshine to the south beyond the rest of Barden Fell
Looking across Wharfedale to Halton Height and Lower Barden Reservoir at the southern end of Barden Moor
The trig point on Simon's Seat
The cloud continues to descend over Wharfedale
I wonder if someone will come and take the decorations down on twelfth night?
The rocky outcrops of Truckle Crags and Carncliff Top
Gloomy skies over Wharfedale as I head down to Howgill..
On the track of Howgill Lane
I leave Howgill Lane for the footpath to Skyreholme
A murky view of Wharfedale
Heading for Skyreholme..
Crossing Fir Beck
Looking back down the lane to Skyreholme as I head back to Middle Skyreholme