31st August 2024 - Around Coverdale
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.3 miles
Total ascent: 2030 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Carlton in Coverdale-Melmerby Moor-Penhill-Height of Hazely-Harland Hill-Fleensop Moor-Braidley-Arkleside-Hindlethwaite Hall-Swineside-West Scrafton-River Cover-Carlton in Coverdale
My walk for this weekend has taken me to the valley of Coverdale in the Yorkshire Dales, one of the many side valleys of Wensleydale. I decided to walk a route that I did in June 2022 that took in the middle part of the dale from Carlton, with a couple of small alterations. The first was taking a byway up onto Melmerby Moor from Carlton instead of a footpath up through fields, and the second was using field paths to get from Arkleside to Swineside instead of the bridleway across Swineside Moor. On the previous occasion I had problems keeping to it (I'm guessing it doesn't get much use), and I lost it for while until I reached Swineside, but since I was on access land it didn't matter. I enjoyed a fine summer's day for my walk with blue skies, warm sunshine, and just some fair weather clouds from start to finish. With the heather in bloom on the moors I had some great views across carpets of purple to take in.
After parking in Carlton-in-Coverdale I made my way west through the village until I reached a phone-box and track on the right. I took the byway up this track, and then across fields and Melmerby Moor to West Witton Road. On reaching the road I had a short walk north along it to take the bridleway on the left up to Penhill Beacon. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way west along the northern edge of Penhill, past Penhill Scar and Black Scar, then southwest round the edge of the moor until I reached a wall, which I crossed and followed up to the top of Height of Hazely. I then made my way south from Height of Hazely to Harland Hill, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way south from Harland Hill down to the bridleway from Waldendale across Fleensop Moor to Braidley in Coverdale, which I took and followed south across Fleensop Moor and down to the hamlet of Braidley. I then crossed the road through Braidley and took the footpath opposite down to the River Cover, followed the path east by the river to a footbridge, crossed it, and took the path east through fields and then a track down into the hamlet of Arkleside. From Arkleside I took a footpath north through fields to Hindlethwaite Hall, then a footpath northeast up through fields to the hamlet of Swineside, from where I walked down the road to West Scrafton. I made my way through the village to the Methodist Chapel where I took a footpath from the village green by Great Gill to a lane, crossed this and took the footpath opposite up a track between two houses, then a footpath down through fields to the River Cover. Once across the footbridge over the river a footpath took me up through fields and onto a track back to Carlton-in-Coverdale.
Total ascent: 2030 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Carlton in Coverdale-Melmerby Moor-Penhill-Height of Hazely-Harland Hill-Fleensop Moor-Braidley-Arkleside-Hindlethwaite Hall-Swineside-West Scrafton-River Cover-Carlton in Coverdale
My walk for this weekend has taken me to the valley of Coverdale in the Yorkshire Dales, one of the many side valleys of Wensleydale. I decided to walk a route that I did in June 2022 that took in the middle part of the dale from Carlton, with a couple of small alterations. The first was taking a byway up onto Melmerby Moor from Carlton instead of a footpath up through fields, and the second was using field paths to get from Arkleside to Swineside instead of the bridleway across Swineside Moor. On the previous occasion I had problems keeping to it (I'm guessing it doesn't get much use), and I lost it for while until I reached Swineside, but since I was on access land it didn't matter. I enjoyed a fine summer's day for my walk with blue skies, warm sunshine, and just some fair weather clouds from start to finish. With the heather in bloom on the moors I had some great views across carpets of purple to take in.
After parking in Carlton-in-Coverdale I made my way west through the village until I reached a phone-box and track on the right. I took the byway up this track, and then across fields and Melmerby Moor to West Witton Road. On reaching the road I had a short walk north along it to take the bridleway on the left up to Penhill Beacon. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way west along the northern edge of Penhill, past Penhill Scar and Black Scar, then southwest round the edge of the moor until I reached a wall, which I crossed and followed up to the top of Height of Hazely. I then made my way south from Height of Hazely to Harland Hill, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way south from Harland Hill down to the bridleway from Waldendale across Fleensop Moor to Braidley in Coverdale, which I took and followed south across Fleensop Moor and down to the hamlet of Braidley. I then crossed the road through Braidley and took the footpath opposite down to the River Cover, followed the path east by the river to a footbridge, crossed it, and took the path east through fields and then a track down into the hamlet of Arkleside. From Arkleside I took a footpath north through fields to Hindlethwaite Hall, then a footpath northeast up through fields to the hamlet of Swineside, from where I walked down the road to West Scrafton. I made my way through the village to the Methodist Chapel where I took a footpath from the village green by Great Gill to a lane, crossed this and took the footpath opposite up a track between two houses, then a footpath down through fields to the River Cover. Once across the footbridge over the river a footpath took me up through fields and onto a track back to Carlton-in-Coverdale.
Route map
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It's a lovely late summer's morning in Carlton-in-Coverdale
I leave Carlton by taking the byway up onto Melmerby Moor
Looking back across Coverdale to Great Roova Crags and West Scrafton Moor
and up Coverdale to Arkleside Moor and Little Whernside
The byway goes through a red gate to the left of a barn, through fields, then up into the heather on Melmerby Moor...
The heather on Melmerby Moor is putting on a great display..
Looking back up Coverdale to Arkleside Moor and Little Whernside
and across Coverdale to Braithwaite Moor
and across Wensleydale to Redmire Moor
Onto the bridleway up Penhill
Looking back to Middleham High Moor below
There's a steep climb ahead to reach Penhill Beacon
At Penhill Beacon and there's a great view to the east, with Coverdale joining Wensleydale beyond Middleham Low Moor
Looking across Coverdale to Braithwaite Moor
Melmerby Moor below, with Great Roova Crags and West Scrafton Moor on the other side of Coverdale
Finally, looking southwest across Coverdale to Arkleside Moor and Little Whernside
I make my way west along Penhill Scar, from where I take in views of Wensleydale..
At the trig point on Penhill..
Having visited the trig point, I cross back over to the other side of the wall and head west to Black Scar
Looking down Wensleydale from Black Scar..
..and across Wensleydale to Carperby Moor, Redmire, Redmire Moor, and Bellerby Moor
As the path contours to the southwest along the edge of the moor the fells around Waldendale and Bishopdale come into view
Looking west across the foot of Bishopdale and up Wensleydale to Addlebrough, Abbotside Common, Askrigg Common and Carperby Moor
A short time later and I'm at the rather uninspiring summit of Height of Hazely
Heading south for Harland Hill with Great Whernside in the distance..
Descending to the dip that carries the bridleway between Waldendale and Coverdale
Looking back to Height of Hazely as I make my way up Harland Hill
At the small collection of stones that mark the top of Harland Hill. Buckden Pike in the distance at the head of Waldendale.
Height of Hazely to the north
Heading south from Harland Hill to pick up the bridleway across Fleensop Moor. I have a great view of Buckden Pike at the head of Waldendale..
Buckden Pike, Waldendale, Naughtberry Hill, and Wasset Fell
The broad expanse of Fleensop Moor ahead
and more of it as I turn left and look across Coverdale to West Scrafton Moor and Arkleside Moor
Looking back to Harland Hill
The final descent from Harland Hill to pick up the bridleway across Fleensop Moor to Coverdale
Heading south on the bridleway across Fleensop Moor
Looking back to Harland Hill
Heather in bloom on Fleensop Moor
Following the bridleway south to cross the top of Elm Gill
Looking down Fleemis Gill to Coverdale
Having crossed the top of Elm Gill the bridleway continues south across Fleensop Moor
Looking back north across Fleensop Moor
Reaching this gate means that the bridleway will start to descend into Coverdale
Blue skies above Fleensop Moor
One last look back across Fleensop Moor to Harland Hill
Following the bridleway down to Braidley in Coverdale....
I've crossed the road from the bridleway and taken a footpath down to the River Cover
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Across the River Cover and then onto the footpath towards Arkleside..
Following the footpath to Arkleside
A track takes me to the end of the road at the hamlet of Arkleside
Freshly mown fields at Arkleside
From Arkleside I take a footpath through fields on the hillside above the River Cover
Looking across Coverdale to Horsehouse
The footpath heads down a track to Hindlethwaite Hall
From Hindlethwaite Hall I take a footpath northeast across fields to Swineside. Looking across Coverdale to Carlton Moor and Melmerby Moor..
..and back to Hindlethwaite Hall, with Horsehouse on the hillside behind
As I approach Swineside there are a number of narrow stiles in walls to negotiate. Looking across Coverdale to Carlton Moor and Melmerby Moor..
..and there's a great view of Little Whernside and Coverdale from here
Following the footpath into the hamlet of Swineside..
Arkleside Moor and Little Whernside from the end of the road at Swineside
From the hamlet of Swineside I have a walk down the road to West Scrafton
Great Roova Crags to my right
Walking down the road into West Scrafton..
Great Roova Crags from Bow Bridge in West Scrafton
Leaving West Scrafton I take a footpath north through fields and down to the River Cover
Crossing the River Cover
A last look across Coverdale to Great Roova Crags, West Scrafton, and West Scrafton Moor as I make it back to Carlton