3rd October 2021 - Newsholme Dean and Wolf Stones
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.1 miles
Total ascent: 1419 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Harehill Lane-Harehill House-Tewitt Hall Farm-Turnshaw Road-White Lane-Green Lane-Gill Lane-Newsholme-Newsholme Dean-Clough Bank Farm-Clough Bank Lane-Todley Hall Road-Pole Road-Greystones Lane-Coppy Lane-Slippery Ford Lane-Morkin Bridge-Keighley Moor Reservoir-Oakworth Moor-Pennine Way-Wolf Stones-Pennine Way-Oakworth Moor-Keighley Moor Reservoir-Millennium Way-Harehill House-Harehill Lane
With a weekend of changeable weather forecast I ended up staying local for today's walk, making the short drive across the moors to the Worth Valley and Bronte Country. The route that I worked out stuck mostly to paths that I'd walked before, though never in this particular combination, and if the conditions were favourable then I'd visit the trig point on Wolf Stones. It certainly was a day of changeable weather. A bright and blustery autumn day, with some sunny spells to enjoy the colours of the moors, and a few showers to liven things up. The worst of these passed through in the early afternoon while I was walking up the track to Keighley Moor Reservoir from Slippery Ford Lane, it had me taking shelter until it cleared, the rain was that heavy. Once it did I took the chance to visit the trig point on Wolf Stones, hoping that the weather would hold as I made my way to it and back from Keighley Moor Reservoir. It didn't stay completely dry but it was worth it for the views that I enjoyed.
From where I parked in the layby on Harehill Lane I took the track up to Harehill House, then the footpath onto the moor towards Moorcock Farm. I soon reached a footpath on the right at a gate, which I took and followed across fields to a bridleway where I turned right and followed it east and south past Tewitt Hall Farm to reach the track of Turnshaw Road. I turned left and took Turnshaw Road east and then the track and road of White Lane to its junction with Green Lane. After a brief walk east along Green Lane I took Gill Lane north to the hamlet of Newsholme, then from there the bridleway north down into Newsholme Dean, across the packhorse bridge over Dean Beck and up to the end of a track at some cottages. I then walked up this track (a bridleway) to Clough Bank Farm, then up the track of Clough Bank Lane to Todley Hall Road, where I turned left and walked up the road until I reached a bridleway on the right. I followed this bridleway north across fields to Pole Road, where I turned left and after a brief walk west along the road I took the bridleway south to Greystones Lane, which I walked west along to Coppy Lane, and then south along Slippery Ford Lane to Morkin Bridge. I left the road behind here and made my way up the track to Keighley Moor Reservoir, then from the southern end of the dam I took the path west up the moor to reach the Pennine Way, which I followed west towards Wolf Stones, leaving it for the final climb to the trig point. After taking in the view I returned to the Pennine Way, and retraced my steps back to Keighley Moor Reservoir, where I picked up the Millennium Way and followed it east across Oakworth Moor to the moorland just north of Harehill House. From here I took the footpath to Harehill House, and then the track back down to Harehill Lane and where I was parked.
Total ascent: 1419 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Harehill Lane-Harehill House-Tewitt Hall Farm-Turnshaw Road-White Lane-Green Lane-Gill Lane-Newsholme-Newsholme Dean-Clough Bank Farm-Clough Bank Lane-Todley Hall Road-Pole Road-Greystones Lane-Coppy Lane-Slippery Ford Lane-Morkin Bridge-Keighley Moor Reservoir-Oakworth Moor-Pennine Way-Wolf Stones-Pennine Way-Oakworth Moor-Keighley Moor Reservoir-Millennium Way-Harehill House-Harehill Lane
With a weekend of changeable weather forecast I ended up staying local for today's walk, making the short drive across the moors to the Worth Valley and Bronte Country. The route that I worked out stuck mostly to paths that I'd walked before, though never in this particular combination, and if the conditions were favourable then I'd visit the trig point on Wolf Stones. It certainly was a day of changeable weather. A bright and blustery autumn day, with some sunny spells to enjoy the colours of the moors, and a few showers to liven things up. The worst of these passed through in the early afternoon while I was walking up the track to Keighley Moor Reservoir from Slippery Ford Lane, it had me taking shelter until it cleared, the rain was that heavy. Once it did I took the chance to visit the trig point on Wolf Stones, hoping that the weather would hold as I made my way to it and back from Keighley Moor Reservoir. It didn't stay completely dry but it was worth it for the views that I enjoyed.
From where I parked in the layby on Harehill Lane I took the track up to Harehill House, then the footpath onto the moor towards Moorcock Farm. I soon reached a footpath on the right at a gate, which I took and followed across fields to a bridleway where I turned right and followed it east and south past Tewitt Hall Farm to reach the track of Turnshaw Road. I turned left and took Turnshaw Road east and then the track and road of White Lane to its junction with Green Lane. After a brief walk east along Green Lane I took Gill Lane north to the hamlet of Newsholme, then from there the bridleway north down into Newsholme Dean, across the packhorse bridge over Dean Beck and up to the end of a track at some cottages. I then walked up this track (a bridleway) to Clough Bank Farm, then up the track of Clough Bank Lane to Todley Hall Road, where I turned left and walked up the road until I reached a bridleway on the right. I followed this bridleway north across fields to Pole Road, where I turned left and after a brief walk west along the road I took the bridleway south to Greystones Lane, which I walked west along to Coppy Lane, and then south along Slippery Ford Lane to Morkin Bridge. I left the road behind here and made my way up the track to Keighley Moor Reservoir, then from the southern end of the dam I took the path west up the moor to reach the Pennine Way, which I followed west towards Wolf Stones, leaving it for the final climb to the trig point. After taking in the view I returned to the Pennine Way, and retraced my steps back to Keighley Moor Reservoir, where I picked up the Millennium Way and followed it east across Oakworth Moor to the moorland just north of Harehill House. From here I took the footpath to Harehill House, and then the track back down to Harehill Lane and where I was parked.
Route map
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Looking across the Worth Valley to Penistone Hill from Hare Hill Edge
and to Stanbury Moor and Ponden Clough
Morning sunshine on the moorland of Park Allotment
Following a footpath east across fields, and then a bridleway towards Tewitt Hall Farm..
If I hadn't turned around I wouldn't have noticed the rainbow behind me. It probably won't be the last I see today.
On the bridleway of White Lane. Looking south across the Worth Valley to Penistone Hill and Haworth Moor, with Nab Hill and Oxenhope Moor in the distance.
Sunshine with a shower as I take in the view towards Haworth
Heading north along White Lane towards Newsholme..
Approaching the hamlet of Newsholme along Gill Lane
On the bridleway from Newsholme to Newsholme Dean
Looking east towards Keighley
A steep descent into Newsholme Dean
The packhorse bridge and the clapper bridge over Dean Beck
After crossing Dean Beck I follow a bridleway up a track to Clough Bank Farm
I get a pretty good view across Newsholme Dean
When I reach Clough Bank Farm I follow Clough Bank Lane up to Todley Hall Road
Looking east towards the hamlet of Goose Eye
On Todley Hall Road above Newsholme Dean as I leave it for the bridleway across to Pole Road
Following the bridleway north across fields
To my left, Keighley Moor in the distance. I'll be heading that way soon.
and ahead and to my right, the top of Steeton Moor
Looking back with Nab Hill in the distance
At the top of Pole Road looking west to the moorland behind Earl Crag
I've left Pole Road for a bridleway south to Greystones Lane
Newsholme Dean from Greystones Lane
Heading west down Greystones Lane to Coppy Lane
and looking back as I reach the top of Coppy Lane
Heading south down Slippery Ford Lane to Morkin Bridge
I got off the road and stopped for lunch by this track up onto Keighley Moor. I liked the contrast between the sunlit moor and the dark clouds.
Looking back north to Middle Slippery Ford Barn from Slippery Ford Lane
The heavens opened as I made my way up the track to Keighley Moor Reservoir. I found shelter under a tree and now in the lee of the house that's next to the track.
On the move again. Looking back down the track towards Newsholme Dean.
By Keighley Moor Reservoir
Looking back from the path up to the Pennine Way to Newsholme Dean and the moorland around Airedale. The weather seems to be improving and hopefully it will last for my there and back visit to Wolf Stones.
Sunshine on Oakworth Moor
On the Pennine Way and the gritstone edge of Wolf Stones appears ahead
Crow Hill and Boulsworth Hill to my left..
..as well as Stanbury Moor
Pendle Hill in the distance from the gritstone edge of Wolf Stones. It's pretty windy up here.
Watersheddles Reservoir, Crow Hill and Boulsworth Hill
The trig point is just above me
Back up by the trig point and a shower passes by..
Looking east across Oakworth Moor
There's a full rainbow above me now
Heading back down on the Pennine Way
A last look back up Oakworth Moor towards Wolf Stones
Late afternoon autumnal sunshine on Oakworth Moor..
Back at Keighley Moor Reservoir
Looking south to Stanbury Moor
Following the path back to Hare Hill Edge
Looking back across Oakworth Moor
A couple more shots from Oakworth Moor. It's a fine end to an autumn afternoon..
Looking across the Worth Valley to Stanbury Moor as I arrive back at Hare Hill Edge