30th March 2025 - Aye Gill Pike
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.5 miles
Total ascent: 1780 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Dent-Dales Way-Barth Bridge-Low Mire House-Helmside-Dales High Way-Long Moor-Aye Gill Pike-Snaizwold Fell-Dockra Bridge-Cowgill-Ewegales Bridge-Dales Way-Scotchergill Bridge-Church Bridge-Dent
For my walk this weekend I've travelled to Dent in Dentdale in the Yorkshire Dales for a walk up Aye Gill Pike, the hill that rises on the north side of the dale. That makes it three times in the last four years that I've done this walk in March. Perhaps the arrival of spring makes me think of doing this walk again. I decided to change the route a little from what I've done before by taking in some new footpaths on the outbound leg between Dent and Long Moor. Instead of taking the lane up to Lunds Farm from Barth Bridge, then the bridleway up onto Long Moor; I took a footpath by the north bank of the River Dee to Low Mire House on the road to the west of Dent for a walk along the road to Helmside. A footpath from Helmside then took me up onto Long Moor. Also, for the first time in many years I used the Dales Way from Ewegales Bridge instead of one of the roads that runs along the dale. Just as I did last year I had a fine spring day for this walk, with sunny spells, a few fair weather clouds, and good visibility for appreciating the fantastic all-round views from the top of Aye Gill Pike. Something I spotted for future reference was a permissive footpath sign for Aye Gill Pike at Hall Bank on the road from Scotchergill Bridge to Church Bridge.
From the car park in Dent I walked west along the road out of the village to pick up the trail of the Dales Way which I then followed to Barth Bridge. I left the trail here to cross the bridge and walk west along the road on its other side. When I reached a footpath on the left at a right hand bend I took it and followed it by the north bank of the River Dee and back to the road at Low Mire House. After walking east along the road to Helmside I took a footpath at The Old Croft Barn signposted for Long Moor, and followed it north up onto the moors to join a bridleway and the trail of the Dales High Way up onto Long Moor. The moorland crossing of Aye Gill Pike, Rise Hill and Snaizwold Fell came next, keeping to the north side of the wall that runs across the top except when I visited the trig point on Aye Gill Pike (lunch was taken here). From Snaizwold Fell I continued to follow the summit wall east until I reached the Garsdale to Dentdale bridleway. I turned right here and walked down the bridleway to reach the hamlet of Cowgill in Dentdale. After crossing Ewegales Bridge I walked west along the road on the south side of the dale until I reached the trail of the Dales Way on the left. I took it and followed it west across the hillside, back down to the road, then down to and across the River Dee. I kept on the trail a little longer to Tommy Bridge, then left it to stay with a footpath by the north bank of the river and up to Scotchergill Bridge. From here I walked west along the road to Church Bridge, and back up into Dent.
Total ascent: 1780 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Dent-Dales Way-Barth Bridge-Low Mire House-Helmside-Dales High Way-Long Moor-Aye Gill Pike-Snaizwold Fell-Dockra Bridge-Cowgill-Ewegales Bridge-Dales Way-Scotchergill Bridge-Church Bridge-Dent
For my walk this weekend I've travelled to Dent in Dentdale in the Yorkshire Dales for a walk up Aye Gill Pike, the hill that rises on the north side of the dale. That makes it three times in the last four years that I've done this walk in March. Perhaps the arrival of spring makes me think of doing this walk again. I decided to change the route a little from what I've done before by taking in some new footpaths on the outbound leg between Dent and Long Moor. Instead of taking the lane up to Lunds Farm from Barth Bridge, then the bridleway up onto Long Moor; I took a footpath by the north bank of the River Dee to Low Mire House on the road to the west of Dent for a walk along the road to Helmside. A footpath from Helmside then took me up onto Long Moor. Also, for the first time in many years I used the Dales Way from Ewegales Bridge instead of one of the roads that runs along the dale. Just as I did last year I had a fine spring day for this walk, with sunny spells, a few fair weather clouds, and good visibility for appreciating the fantastic all-round views from the top of Aye Gill Pike. Something I spotted for future reference was a permissive footpath sign for Aye Gill Pike at Hall Bank on the road from Scotchergill Bridge to Church Bridge.
From the car park in Dent I walked west along the road out of the village to pick up the trail of the Dales Way which I then followed to Barth Bridge. I left the trail here to cross the bridge and walk west along the road on its other side. When I reached a footpath on the left at a right hand bend I took it and followed it by the north bank of the River Dee and back to the road at Low Mire House. After walking east along the road to Helmside I took a footpath at The Old Croft Barn signposted for Long Moor, and followed it north up onto the moors to join a bridleway and the trail of the Dales High Way up onto Long Moor. The moorland crossing of Aye Gill Pike, Rise Hill and Snaizwold Fell came next, keeping to the north side of the wall that runs across the top except when I visited the trig point on Aye Gill Pike (lunch was taken here). From Snaizwold Fell I continued to follow the summit wall east until I reached the Garsdale to Dentdale bridleway. I turned right here and walked down the bridleway to reach the hamlet of Cowgill in Dentdale. After crossing Ewegales Bridge I walked west along the road on the south side of the dale until I reached the trail of the Dales Way on the left. I took it and followed it west across the hillside, back down to the road, then down to and across the River Dee. I kept on the trail a little longer to Tommy Bridge, then left it to stay with a footpath by the north bank of the river and up to Scotchergill Bridge. From here I walked west along the road to Church Bridge, and back up into Dent.
Route map
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It's a beautiful spring morning as I set off from Dent
I have a view of Middleton Fell to my left as I follow the trail of the Dales Way to Barth Bridge...
After a short along the road from Barth Bridge towards Helmside I take a footpath by the north bank of the River Dee
Passing the footbridge at Ellers
Not long after passing the footbridge the path leaves the riverbank and heads for Low Mire House on the main road up Dentdale
Walking along the road to Helmside
Helmside below and Middleton Fell on the other side of Dentdale as I take the footpath up towards Long Moor
Helms Knott above Helm's Gill Wood
It's a beautiful morning for being up on the moors
The tops of the Howgills above Helms Moss
Helms Knott and Helms Moss
Onto familiar territory as I join the bridleway from Lunds Farm up onto Long Moor
The Howgills in view as I reach the top of the bridleway
Great Coum and Middleton Fell
The broad slopes of Aye Gill Pike await. They may be dull and featureless but the views of the surrounding fells aren't. Behind me are increasingly expansive views to the Howgills and towards the distant Lake District fells....
The northern side of the wall that runs across the top of Aye Gill Pike has stiles in place for crossing the walls that meet it
It's difficult to resist turning round to take in this view
Baugh Fell to the north
One last shot of that view to the west before I reach the top
The trig point on the summit of Aye Gill Pike is finally in sight
At the trig point on Aye Gill Pike. The wall will provide me with some shelter from the wind for my lunch break.
Although it's surrounded by higher fells, Aye Gill Pike has a great all-round view. Baugh Fell to the north on the other side of Garsdale, with Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat in the distance on the right through the gap of Garsdale Head.
To the east is Great Knoutberry Hill
Going round clockwise, Penyghent and Whernside
Whernside and Great Coum
Great Coum and Middleton Fell
Finally, the Howgills, with hints of the Lake District fells in the distance on the left
Leaving the trig point behind I follow the wall east across the top of the fell
This handsomely built cairn just a short distance east from the summit and on the northern edge of the fell provides a fantastic view of Garsdale...
Approaching Snaizwold Fell
Over the wall to my right, the head of Dentdale, and the broad northern slopes of Whernside leading up to its summit
On Snaizwold Fell. Looking southeast to Great Knoutberry Hill, Wold Fell, the head of Dentdale, Penyghent, and Blea Moor.
Aye Gill Pike, and the southern Howgills
Leaving Snaizwold Fell my route follows the edge of a plantation down to the Garsdale to Dentdale bridleway..
I join the bridleway where it crosses the top of the moor
On the bridleway down to Cowgill in Dentdale..
Taking in the view across to Great Knoutberry Hill and towards the head of Dentdale
The bridleway finally makes it down to Cowgill in Dentdale..
The River Dee from Ewegales Bridge
From Ewegales Bridge I walk west along the road on the south side of the dale
Looking back to Cowgill
I leave the road and take the trail of the Dales Way west across the hillside above it..
Looking back along the trail to the moorland that rises above Cowgill
Crossing Hacker Gill
Following the Dales Way west. Passing Clint..
..and then reaching Swarthwaite, where the trail heads down to the road below
After a brief walk west along the road..
..I keep on the Dales Way and follow it down to cross the River Dee
Crossing the River Dee
Following the footpath west by the north bank of the River Dee, with views of the sunlit southern slopes of Aye Gill Pike....
The footpath reaches the road on the north side of Dentdale at Scotchergill Bridge, and I walk west along it towards Church Bridge..
Looking back east along the road
Blue skies above Hall Bank. It was here that I discovered a permissive path for going up Aye Gill Pike.
The southern slopes of Aye Gill Pike as I walk up the road into Dent
Making my way back through Dent to the car park