31st March 2024 - Aye Gill Pike
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.2 miles
Total ascent: 1724 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Dent-Dales Way-Barth Bridge-Lunds Farm-Dales High Way-Long Moor-Aye Gill Pike-Snaizwold Fell-Dockra Bridge-Cowgill-Ewegales Bridge-Dales Way-Church Bridge-Dent
For my second walk of the weekend I've travelled to Dent in Dentdale, in the Yorkshire Dales, just a week after my previous visit. Last time I went up Whernside, on this occasion it's Aye Gill Pike, the hill that rises on the north side of the dale. Coincidentally, the last time I did this walk back in March 2022, I did Whernside from Dent two weeks later. Perhaps visiting Dent to do a walk makes me think of returning soon afterwards to do another one, Dentdale is a beautiful valley. Just as I did two years ago I had a fine spring day for this walk, with sunny spells, fair weather clouds, and great visibility for appreciating the fantastic all-round views from the top of Aye Gill Pike.
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 take the lane on the right uphill to Lunds Farm, and from there the bridleway 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 a bridleway on the right opposite Sike Fold House, which I took down to the River Dee to join the Dales Way. I took the trail and kept on it to Church Bridge just outside Dent, where I left it for a short walk back up into the village.
Total ascent: 1724 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Dent-Dales Way-Barth Bridge-Lunds Farm-Dales High Way-Long Moor-Aye Gill Pike-Snaizwold Fell-Dockra Bridge-Cowgill-Ewegales Bridge-Dales Way-Church Bridge-Dent
For my second walk of the weekend I've travelled to Dent in Dentdale, in the Yorkshire Dales, just a week after my previous visit. Last time I went up Whernside, on this occasion it's Aye Gill Pike, the hill that rises on the north side of the dale. Coincidentally, the last time I did this walk back in March 2022, I did Whernside from Dent two weeks later. Perhaps visiting Dent to do a walk makes me think of returning soon afterwards to do another one, Dentdale is a beautiful valley. Just as I did two years ago I had a fine spring day for this walk, with sunny spells, fair weather clouds, and great visibility for appreciating the fantastic all-round views from the top of Aye Gill Pike.
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 take the lane on the right uphill to Lunds Farm, and from there the bridleway 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 a bridleway on the right opposite Sike Fold House, which I took down to the River Dee to join the Dales Way. I took the trail and kept on it to Church Bridge just outside Dent, where I left it for a short walk back up into the village.
Route map
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It's a beautiful spring morning as I set off from Dent
Following the trail of the Dales Way by the River Dee to Barth Bridge..
On the lane up to Lunds Farm
Looking back down into Dentdale and to Dent, with Whernside in the distance and Great Coum on the right
At Lunds Farm. Currently unoccupied.
From Lunds Farm I take the bridleway north up onto Long Moor..
Turning round to see Whernside and Great Coum behind me
Approaching the top of the bridleway across Long Moor
To the west is the hill of Helms Knott. It's a shame that there's no access to it, I think it probably has a great view up Dentdale.
At the top of the bridleway across Long Moor. Looking across Dentdale to Whernside and Great Coum.
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 to the distant Lake District fells....
Calders, Yarlside, and the eastern Howgills, and the western slopes of Baugh Fell
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
As I gain height I can see more of the Lake District in the distance beyond the nearby Howgills
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. To the east is Great Knoutberry Hill.
Going round clockwise, Penyghent and Whernside
Whernside and Great Coum
Great Coum and Middleton Fell
The Howgills, with the Lake District fells in the distance on the left
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
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, Great Knoutberry Hill, Wold Fell, and the head of Dentdale
On Snaizwold Fell. Looking northeast across Garsdale Head to Lunds Fell and Great Shunner Fell in the distance.
Great Knoutberry Hill, Wold Fell, the head of Dentdale, Penyghent, and Blea Moor
Aye Gill Pike, a bit of the Lake District in the distance, and the southern Howgills
Leaving Snaizwold Fell my route follows the edge of a plantation down to the Garsdale to Dentdale bridleway
I get a great view of the head of Dentdale
and across to Garsdale Head
On the bridleway down to Cowgill in Dentdale..
The bridleway finally makes it down to Cowgill in Dentdale...
A quiet Sunday afternoon in Cowgill
St. John the Evangelist's Church in Cowgill
The River Dee from Ewegales Bridge
From Ewegales Bridge I walk west along the road on the south side of the dale
Looking back along the road to Cowgill
Views of Dentdale as I walk west along the road...
Following the bridleway down to the River Dee
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The River Dee from the footbridge of Tommy Bridge
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On the Dales Way to Mill Bridge
The view down Dentdale as I approach Mill Bridge
On the Dales Way by Deepdale Beck
The Dales Way joins the south bank of the River Dee
The roofs of Dent are in sight
Looking back up Dentdale to the northern slopes of Whernside
The southern slopes of Aye Gill Pike as I walk up the road into Dent