4th April 2025 - New Pasture Edge and Capplestone Gate
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.7 miles
Total ascent: 1787 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Grassington-High Lane-Edge Lane-Tinkers' Lane-Grassington Moor Lead Mines-Yarnbury-New Pasture Edge-Downs Pasture-Kelber-Bycliffe Road-Mossdale-Conistone Moor-Capplestone Gate-Dales Way-Grassington
Today is my Friday off work and there's a day of great spring weather forecast. In fact the weekend is looking pretty good too, so I'm sure that I'll be heading out walking on at least one of those days as well. The route that I decided to do today started from Grassington in Wharfedale and took in the moorland to its north and east. It's all very familiar territory as I've done many walks across it over the years, evidence of the fact being that none of the footpaths and bridleways used were new to me. I set off from Grassington with blue skies and sunshine, and that was the way it stayed for the whole day.
From the car park in Grassington I walked up to the top of Main Street and right onto Low Lane. I soon reached the track of High Lane on the left, which I took and followed briefly east across the hillside until I reached a footpath on the left, which I took and followed up through fields to Edge Lane. I then made my way east along Edge Lane to above Garnshaw House, and then north along Tinkers' Lane and down into the valley of Hebden Beck. The track by Hebden Beck took me up through the disused mine workings to the hamlet of Yarnbury at the top of Moor Lane (I took a break for lunch on a bench a short distance up the track of Old Moor Lane). From Yarnbury I took the footpath along the track beneath New Pasture Edge (a short detour was done to visit the trig point), and followed it north across Downs Pasture and then the moorland of Kelber to the bridleway of Bycliffe Road. When I reached Bycliffe Road I turned right and followed the track northeast into Mossdale and past Mossdale Scar to a footbridge over Mossdale Beck. I didn't cross the bridge but took a track uphill and then a path west across Conistone Moor to its western edge and the trig point at Capplestone Gate. Once I'd taken in the view I returned to the path on the western edge of Conistone Moor and followed it north for a short distance before taking a footpath down across limestone moorland to reach the Dales Way. Following this trail south took me all the way back to Grassington.
Total ascent: 1787 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Grassington-High Lane-Edge Lane-Tinkers' Lane-Grassington Moor Lead Mines-Yarnbury-New Pasture Edge-Downs Pasture-Kelber-Bycliffe Road-Mossdale-Conistone Moor-Capplestone Gate-Dales Way-Grassington
Today is my Friday off work and there's a day of great spring weather forecast. In fact the weekend is looking pretty good too, so I'm sure that I'll be heading out walking on at least one of those days as well. The route that I decided to do today started from Grassington in Wharfedale and took in the moorland to its north and east. It's all very familiar territory as I've done many walks across it over the years, evidence of the fact being that none of the footpaths and bridleways used were new to me. I set off from Grassington with blue skies and sunshine, and that was the way it stayed for the whole day.
From the car park in Grassington I walked up to the top of Main Street and right onto Low Lane. I soon reached the track of High Lane on the left, which I took and followed briefly east across the hillside until I reached a footpath on the left, which I took and followed up through fields to Edge Lane. I then made my way east along Edge Lane to above Garnshaw House, and then north along Tinkers' Lane and down into the valley of Hebden Beck. The track by Hebden Beck took me up through the disused mine workings to the hamlet of Yarnbury at the top of Moor Lane (I took a break for lunch on a bench a short distance up the track of Old Moor Lane). From Yarnbury I took the footpath along the track beneath New Pasture Edge (a short detour was done to visit the trig point), and followed it north across Downs Pasture and then the moorland of Kelber to the bridleway of Bycliffe Road. When I reached Bycliffe Road I turned right and followed the track northeast into Mossdale and past Mossdale Scar to a footbridge over Mossdale Beck. I didn't cross the bridge but took a track uphill and then a path west across Conistone Moor to its western edge and the trig point at Capplestone Gate. Once I'd taken in the view I returned to the path on the western edge of Conistone Moor and followed it north for a short distance before taking a footpath down across limestone moorland to reach the Dales Way. Following this trail south took me all the way back to Grassington.
Route map
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Leaving Grassington on High Lane
From High Lane I take a footpath up through fields to Edge Lane
Looking back to Grassington and across Wharfedale to Threshfield Moor
and north up Wharfedale as I reach Edge Lane
Burnsall Fell on the other side of Wharfedale
Making my way south along Edge Lane
and then north along Tinkers' Lane
To my right, a view down Wharfedale to Simon's Seat
Looking back along Tinkers' Lane
Heading down into the valley of Hebden Beck..
Following the track up through the disused mines to Yarnbury..
Approaching the hamlet of Yarnbury
From Yarnbury I take the footpath along the track beneath New Pasture Edge
Looking back to Yarnbury
and across Wharfedale to Threshfield Moor and Kilnsey Moor
At the trig point on New Pasture Edge. Looking across Wharfedale to Malham Moor and Kilnsey Moor.
The southern end of Great Whernside rises in the distance
Back onto the track and looking down Wharfedale to Simon's Seat
Following the track north across Downs Pasture with views across Wharfedale.....
Across the stile over the wall and onto the moorland of Kelber
Black Edge and Conistone Moor to my right..
Approaching the track and bridleway of Bycliffe Road
Following the track east to Mossdale..
Mossdale Beck disappears at the foot of Mossdale Scar into Mossdale Caverns. It resurfaces as Black Keld by the River Wharfe just south of Kettlewell..
Approaching the shooting hut in Mossdale
I leave the track to the shooting hut for one that heads up through disused mine workings on Conistone Moor
Looking back to the shooting hut in Mossdale as I head up onto Conistone Moor
Following the path west across Conistone Moor
Looking back across to the moorland that separates Wharfedale and Nidderdale
There are lots of disused tips and shafts from the former mines as I reach the western edge of Conistone Moor
At the trig point at Capplestone Gate
Taking in the view. Starting with looking south down Wharfedale to Barden Fell..
..and to Barden Moor
and across Wharfedale to Malham Moor, Kilnsey Moor, and Parson's Pulpit
Finally, the fells round Littondale and upper Wharfedale
Back on the other side of the wall from the trig point. Looking across to the moorland of Black Edge.
The southern end of Great Whernside
Views across the moorland around Wharfedale as I head north along the edge of the moor..
Leaving the footpath along the edge of the moor I take one down across the limestone moorland of New Close Allotments...
Onto the Dales Way as it leaves the track of Highgate Leys Lane
Looking up Wharfedale to Yockenthwaite Moor from Swineber Scar
Following the Dales Way south to Conistone Pie
Looking back to upper Wharfedale
It's a beautiful afternoon for walking across the moors
Where Littondale and Wharfedale meet
Passing Conistone Pie..
Limestone scars as I approach the top of Conistone Dib
Passing Conistone Dib
Views of the surrounding moors as I follow the Dales Way south.....
Grassington in sight with Barden Moor behind
Making my way down through Grassington and back to the car park