30th January 2022 - Beamsley Beacon to Lippersley Pike
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.6 miles
Total ascent: 1567 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Bark Lane, Addingham-Dales Way-West Hall Farm-West Hall Lane-Beech House Farm-Hardings Lane-Currer Lane-Lanshaw Bank-Beamsley Beacon-The Old Pike-Round Hill-Gawk Hall Gate-Lippersley Pike-Denton Moor-Low Dearncomb-Bow Shaw-Foldshaw Ridge-Long Ridge-Hardings Lane-Low Moor-Moorcroft Farm-Nesfield-West Hall Lane-West Hall Farm-Dales Way-Bark Lane, Addingham
After last weekend's walk on Ilkley Moor I decided to cross over to the other side of Wharfedale for my walk this weekend, and do a route taking in Beamsley Beacon, Round Hill, and Lippersley Pike. This is familiar territory, and I've walked all the paths and bridleways that I used before, some of them several times, though not in this particular combination. With a forecast of a cold, frosty and sunny start to the day deteriorating to a cloudy and increasingly windy afternoon, I decided to do the higher moorland part of the walk first so that I could enjoy the views of sunlit moors. The weather did change as expected, but it stayed quite bright even through the early afternoon, so not too bad a winter's day for a walk.
From where I parked on Bark Lane in Addingham I briefly followed the Dales Way north, but soon left it for the footpath across the suspension bridge over the River Wharfe to West Hall Farm and West Hall Lane. I then walked north along West Hall Lane to the next left hand bend where I took the bridleway up the hillside to Beech House Farm on Hardings Lane, which I walked up to Currer Lane and then Lanshaw Bank, and past Beacon Hill House to reach the footpath up Beamsley Beacon. After reaching the top of Beamsley Beacon and taking in the view I took the path to The Old Pike and then across the moor to Round Hill, where I took the path southeast down to Gawk Hall Gate, then to Stainforth Gill Head, and up to Lippersley Pike, where I stopped for lunch. From Lippersley Pike I took the path southwest across Denton Moor to its southwestern corner, where I reached a gate and the bridleway down through the plantation on Low Dearncomb. Once through the plantation I went through another gate and took the bridleway west across Bow Shaw and Foldshaw Ridge, then southwest across Long Ridge to reach Hardings Lane at Moor End Farm. After a brief walk south along Hardings Lane to Low Moor I took the track on the right to Moorcroft Farm, where I reached the bridleway that I followed down to the hamlet of Nesfield. I then walked west along West Hall Lane to West Hall Farm, and from there I retraced my steps to Bark Lane in Addingham.
Total ascent: 1567 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Bark Lane, Addingham-Dales Way-West Hall Farm-West Hall Lane-Beech House Farm-Hardings Lane-Currer Lane-Lanshaw Bank-Beamsley Beacon-The Old Pike-Round Hill-Gawk Hall Gate-Lippersley Pike-Denton Moor-Low Dearncomb-Bow Shaw-Foldshaw Ridge-Long Ridge-Hardings Lane-Low Moor-Moorcroft Farm-Nesfield-West Hall Lane-West Hall Farm-Dales Way-Bark Lane, Addingham
After last weekend's walk on Ilkley Moor I decided to cross over to the other side of Wharfedale for my walk this weekend, and do a route taking in Beamsley Beacon, Round Hill, and Lippersley Pike. This is familiar territory, and I've walked all the paths and bridleways that I used before, some of them several times, though not in this particular combination. With a forecast of a cold, frosty and sunny start to the day deteriorating to a cloudy and increasingly windy afternoon, I decided to do the higher moorland part of the walk first so that I could enjoy the views of sunlit moors. The weather did change as expected, but it stayed quite bright even through the early afternoon, so not too bad a winter's day for a walk.
From where I parked on Bark Lane in Addingham I briefly followed the Dales Way north, but soon left it for the footpath across the suspension bridge over the River Wharfe to West Hall Farm and West Hall Lane. I then walked north along West Hall Lane to the next left hand bend where I took the bridleway up the hillside to Beech House Farm on Hardings Lane, which I walked up to Currer Lane and then Lanshaw Bank, and past Beacon Hill House to reach the footpath up Beamsley Beacon. After reaching the top of Beamsley Beacon and taking in the view I took the path to The Old Pike and then across the moor to Round Hill, where I took the path southeast down to Gawk Hall Gate, then to Stainforth Gill Head, and up to Lippersley Pike, where I stopped for lunch. From Lippersley Pike I took the path southwest across Denton Moor to its southwestern corner, where I reached a gate and the bridleway down through the plantation on Low Dearncomb. Once through the plantation I went through another gate and took the bridleway west across Bow Shaw and Foldshaw Ridge, then southwest across Long Ridge to reach Hardings Lane at Moor End Farm. After a brief walk south along Hardings Lane to Low Moor I took the track on the right to Moorcroft Farm, where I reached the bridleway that I followed down to the hamlet of Nesfield. I then walked west along West Hall Lane to West Hall Farm, and from there I retraced my steps to Bark Lane in Addingham.
Route map
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Crossing the suspension bridge over the River Wharfe with Beamsley Beacon up on the right
Following the footpath to West Hall and West Hall Lane
At West Hall and the slopes I'll climb up to Beamsley Beacon rise ahead
Looking back down to Addingham from the bridleway up to Hardings Lane
On the bridleway up to Hardings Lane
Looking back across Wharfedale to Addingham High Moor and Addingham as I reach Beech House Farm on Hardings Lane
After a walk up Hardings Lane, Currer Lane and Lanshaw Bank, I finally leave the tarmac behind and head up Beamsley Beacon
It doesn't take long for me to be able to take in the great view across this part of Wharfedale. To the west and northwest are Skipton Moor, Draughton Moor and Barden Moor.
and to the southwest is Addingham High Moor and Addingham
Approaching the top of Beamsley Beacon
Skipton Moor, Draughton Moor and Barden Moor..
..and looking up Wharfedale, with Barden Moor on the left and Barden Fell on the right
The trig point and very large cairn on the summit of Beamsley Beacon
Addingham High Moor and Addingham on the other side of Wharfedale
Barden Moor and Barden Fell..
The summit boulders provide a foreground for the view across Wharfedale to Skipton Moor, Draughton Moor and Barden Moor
Leaving Beamsley Beacon behind I follow the path to The Old Pike
On The Old Pike. Round Hill is just to the northeast.
Barden Fell to the north
Looking back to Beamsley Beacon with Skipton Moor in the distance
Looking southeast across Langbar Moor to March Ghyll Reservoir with Wharfedale beyond
Heading from The Old Pike to Round Hill. The ground is partially frozen, which makes the going a little easier.
Great moorland colours as I look across to Barden Moor and Barden Fell
Rocking Moor and Blubberhouses Moor to the northeast
A small cairn marks the top of Round Hill. Looking back to Beamsley Beacon.
The view from southwest round to northwest. Addingham High Moor, Beamsley Beacon, Skipton Moor and Barden Moor..
Leaving Round Hill I head southeast towards Gawk Hall Gate and Lippersley Pike
A boundary stone at Gawk Hall Gate. One way to Ripon, and to Ilkley the other way.
Looking down the valley of Gill Beck towards Menwith Hill
Approaching Lippersley Pike, and I can clearly make out the large cairn on its top
On Lippersley Pike and this is a good place to stop for lunch
Break over. Time to take in the view before I move on. Blubberhouses Moor and the moorland around Washburndale to the northeast.
Boundary stone on Lippersley Pike
Looking southeast to Askwith Moor
Ilkley Moor to the south
Langbar Moor, Beamsley Beacon and Round Hill
The shelter cairn and boundary stone on Lippersley Pike
Leaving Lippersley Pike at the western end of Lippersley Ridge..
..and taking the path southwest across Denton Moor
Beamsley Beacon and Round Hill
March Ghyll Reservoir ahead as I approach the plantation on Low Dearncomb
Maybe a last bit of sunshine on the moorland of High Dearncomb
Through the plantation on Low Dearncomb
Following the track west across Langbar Moor towards Foldshaw Ridge
The sun briefly brightens up the moorland above me
At the junction of bridleways at the eastern end of Foldshaw Ridge. Looking south across Middleton Moor.
March Ghyll Reservoir from Foldshaw Ridge, with The Chevin in the distance above Otley
Following the bridleway west across Long Ridge..
Beamsley Beacon to my right
After crossing Hardings Lane I take the bridleway down to Nesfield. Wharfedale and Addingham come into view ahead..
Looking up Wharfedale to Barden Moor..
..and down the dale to Ilkley and Ilkley Moor
The final descent to The Manor House in Nesfield
Nesfield has its own stocks
In the hamlet of Nesfield
Walking west along West Hall Lane towards West Hall Farm, and then it's back across the suspension bridge over the River Wharfe