30th November 2024 - Thrope Edge and Fountains Earth Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.2 miles
Total ascent: 1769 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Ramsgill-Nidderdale Way-Studfold Farm-Lofthouse-Nidderdale Way-Dale Edge-Thrope Edge-Pot Moor High Road-Ouster Bank-Fountains Earth Moor-Bouthwaite-Ramsgill
I decided to head to Nidderdale for my walk this weekend, the thought being that going east and having shelter from the westerly wind would give me the best of the weather. The route that I went for was already familiar to me from previous walks, although this exact combination of footpaths and bridleways was new to me. The forecast was for a dry and windy day but with low cloud shrouding the moors that should lift and break a bit to the east of high ground. Setting off from Ramsgill there were hints of breaks in the low cloud, and it improved to give a little sunshine late in the morning before becoming dull and overcast into the afternoon. Fortunately, there was still some better weather to come as the cloud broke up while I was on Fountains Earth Moor to give some lovely autumnal sunshine.
From where I parked in Ramsgill I followed the Nidderdale Way north by walking along a track across fields and up to West House Farm, down to and across Blayshaw Gill, then down to Studfold Farm. I briefly left the trail here to make my way across to Lofthouse, where I picked it up again and followed it north along Thrope Lane to Thrope Farm, then to Limley Farm and up to Thwaite House, and north to Bracken Ridge, where I left it for the bridleway up to Dale Edge. I then made my way south along the bridleway on Dale Edge, and after a break for lunch, along the one on Thrope Edge to the Shooting House. Just past here I didn't go through a gate on the right but kept on the bridleway to reach Pot Moor High Road. After a brief walk up the road I reached a byway on the right, and followed this east until I reached a convenient place to make the short ascent to the trig point on Ouster Bank. Once back down from the trig point I resumed my journey east along the byway across Fountains Earth Moor, taking the left fork at the first junction then turning right at the next. I then followed another byway south down to the hamlet of Bouthwaite, then walked along the road to Nidd Bridge and back into Ramsgill.
Total ascent: 1769 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Ramsgill-Nidderdale Way-Studfold Farm-Lofthouse-Nidderdale Way-Dale Edge-Thrope Edge-Pot Moor High Road-Ouster Bank-Fountains Earth Moor-Bouthwaite-Ramsgill
I decided to head to Nidderdale for my walk this weekend, the thought being that going east and having shelter from the westerly wind would give me the best of the weather. The route that I went for was already familiar to me from previous walks, although this exact combination of footpaths and bridleways was new to me. The forecast was for a dry and windy day but with low cloud shrouding the moors that should lift and break a bit to the east of high ground. Setting off from Ramsgill there were hints of breaks in the low cloud, and it improved to give a little sunshine late in the morning before becoming dull and overcast into the afternoon. Fortunately, there was still some better weather to come as the cloud broke up while I was on Fountains Earth Moor to give some lovely autumnal sunshine.
From where I parked in Ramsgill I followed the Nidderdale Way north by walking along a track across fields and up to West House Farm, down to and across Blayshaw Gill, then down to Studfold Farm. I briefly left the trail here to make my way across to Lofthouse, where I picked it up again and followed it north along Thrope Lane to Thrope Farm, then to Limley Farm and up to Thwaite House, and north to Bracken Ridge, where I left it for the bridleway up to Dale Edge. I then made my way south along the bridleway on Dale Edge, and after a break for lunch, along the one on Thrope Edge to the Shooting House. Just past here I didn't go through a gate on the right but kept on the bridleway to reach Pot Moor High Road. After a brief walk up the road I reached a byway on the right, and followed this east until I reached a convenient place to make the short ascent to the trig point on Ouster Bank. Once back down from the trig point I resumed my journey east along the byway across Fountains Earth Moor, taking the left fork at the first junction then turning right at the next. I then followed another byway south down to the hamlet of Bouthwaite, then walked along the road to Nidd Bridge and back into Ramsgill.
Route map
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I leave Ramsgill by taking the Nidderdale Way. It goes along the track to the left of the house on the right.
Following the Nidderdale Way north along a clear track...
Approaching West House Farm
Looking back down Nidderdale. It looks like brighter skies aren't too far away.
From West House Farm I stay on the Nidderdale Way and follow it north and down to Studfold Caravan Park...
Crossing How Stean Beck at Studfold
Looking down Nidderdale as I head for Lofthouse
Crossing the River Nidd
Lofthouse below as I walk up the road of Trapping Hill, and back onto the Nidderdale Way
Leaving the road I follow the Nidderdale Way north on the bridleway of Thrope Lane to Thrope Farm...
North of Thrope Farm and the Nidderdale Way approaches the ford of Dry Wath
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The boulder choked, and at the moment dry bed of the River Nidd at Dry Wath...
Following the Nidderdale Way through Limley Farm
Limley Farm below from the Nidderdale Way up to Thwaite House
and looking across the shoulder of In Moor to Carle Fell and North Moor
Beyond Thwaite House and I stay on the Nidderdale Way and follow it north across the hillside
Looking up Nidderdale to Carle Fell and North Moor
A view of the fells around the head of Nidderdale as I leave the Nidderdale Way and take the bridleway up to Dale Edge
Heading up to Dale Edge
Looking back to the fells around the head of Nidderdale
At the gate at the junction of bridleways at the southern end of Dale Edge. The walls will provide some much needed shelter from the wind for my lunch stop.
Looking south to Thrope Edge
Break over, I head south along Thrope Edge
The Shooting House on Thrope Edge
At the southern end of Thrope Edge and looking across Nidderdale to Middlesmoor
Heading along the bridleway to Pott Moor High Road with the moorland of Ouster Bank in the distance
and having crossed the road, on the byway across Fountains Earth Moor. I'll leave it shortly and head up to the trig point on Ouster Bank on the left.
Looking back to Lofthouse Moor
A short time later and I'm at the trig point on Ouster Bank. The view west to In Moor, Carle Fell, and Great Haw beyond Lofthouse Moor.
To the east the moorland gives way to lower Wensleydale
Brighter skies on the other side of Nidderdale
Looking south across Fountains Earth Moor to Kettlestang Hill and Sigsworth Moor
Heading back down to the byway
The byway down across the moorland of Sype Land. However, I'm not going that way.
Looking across Nidderdale
Making my way east along the byway across Fountains Earth Moor
Worth waiting for. Autumnal sunshine on Fountains Earth Moor......
I leave the byway that heads east to Arnagill Moor, and follow this one south across Fountains Earth Moor down to Bouthwaite..
Lower down and I have a view of Sypeland Crags above me to the right
On the byway down to Bouthwaite..
Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Moor and Raygill House Moor on the other side of Nidderdale
From Bouthwaite I walk along the road back to Ramsgill