4th June 2017 - Birks Fell and Littondale
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.5 miles
Total ascent: 1536 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-Litton-Ackerley Moor-Birks Fell-Old Cote Moor Top-Knipe Scar-Hawkswick-Littondale-Arncliffe
The first walk after my holiday in the Lakes and I found it a bit of a struggle trying to think of somewhere to go. In the end I decided on a route that has become a bit of a favourite. In fact I did it the same time last year. I'd planned on seeing the meadows in Littondale full of wildflowers but a lack of sunshine meant that I didn't see them at their best. I had some luck with me this time and despite a brief shower while walking up Littondale in the morning, there were also plenty of sunny spells to see the fields of buttercups and also for enjoying the cotton grass up on the moors. A change to the route from my previous visits was the there and back to the top of Birks Fell. At 610m it's just over the magic 2000ft mark, which makes it a Nuttall if you're interested in bagging them.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked west through the village to the sharp left hand bend on Brootes Lane. Here I took the track that goes straight on past New Barn and then the footpath that makes its way up Littondale, taking the stepping stones across the River Skirfare, to arrive in Litton. A short walk up the road to the Queen's Arms pub later and I was on the bridleway up onto the moor to Buckden. At its top I followed the moor top wall north past Birks Tarn to reach the cairn that marks the top of Birks Fell. I then retraced my steps back to the bridleway and made my way to the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top. A walk southeast down the ridge was next. A clear enough path follows the wall southeast to reach a ladder stile, which I crossed onto the Wharfedale side of the fell to continue walking down the ridge all the way to Knipe Scar. I then took the path down to Hawkswick in Littondale where after turning right and a short walk along the road I took the footbridge over the River Skirfare. The last part of my walk was to follow the footpath up Littondale to arrive in Arncliffe by St. Oswald's church. A short time later and I was back where I'd parked.
Total ascent: 1536 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-Litton-Ackerley Moor-Birks Fell-Old Cote Moor Top-Knipe Scar-Hawkswick-Littondale-Arncliffe
The first walk after my holiday in the Lakes and I found it a bit of a struggle trying to think of somewhere to go. In the end I decided on a route that has become a bit of a favourite. In fact I did it the same time last year. I'd planned on seeing the meadows in Littondale full of wildflowers but a lack of sunshine meant that I didn't see them at their best. I had some luck with me this time and despite a brief shower while walking up Littondale in the morning, there were also plenty of sunny spells to see the fields of buttercups and also for enjoying the cotton grass up on the moors. A change to the route from my previous visits was the there and back to the top of Birks Fell. At 610m it's just over the magic 2000ft mark, which makes it a Nuttall if you're interested in bagging them.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked west through the village to the sharp left hand bend on Brootes Lane. Here I took the track that goes straight on past New Barn and then the footpath that makes its way up Littondale, taking the stepping stones across the River Skirfare, to arrive in Litton. A short walk up the road to the Queen's Arms pub later and I was on the bridleway up onto the moor to Buckden. At its top I followed the moor top wall north past Birks Tarn to reach the cairn that marks the top of Birks Fell. I then retraced my steps back to the bridleway and made my way to the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top. A walk southeast down the ridge was next. A clear enough path follows the wall southeast to reach a ladder stile, which I crossed onto the Wharfedale side of the fell to continue walking down the ridge all the way to Knipe Scar. I then took the path down to Hawkswick in Littondale where after turning right and a short walk along the road I took the footbridge over the River Skirfare. The last part of my walk was to follow the footpath up Littondale to arrive in Arncliffe by St. Oswald's church. A short time later and I was back where I'd parked.
Route map
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It's a beautiful morning as I arrive in Arncliffe
All the following photos were taken as I made my way north up the valley to Litton
Looking back as a brief shower passes through
Looking back down on Littondale and Litton as I take the bridleway up onto the moor that heads for Buckden
Higher up and Penyghent and Plover Hill head the valley
The cotton grass is putting on quite a display at the moment
I'll now follow this wall to the northwest to find the top of Birks Fell
More cotton grass
Buckden Pike behind the cairn that marks the top of Birks Fell
It's a view entirely of moors as I look north to Dodd Fell Hill and Yockenthwaite Moor
Buckden Pike with the village of Buckden nestled below its slopes
Penyghent, Plover Hill, a bit of Ingleborough and Whernside in the distance
Birks Tarn as I head back south
I can make out Pendle Hill in the distance across a sea of cotton grass
Buckden Pike and Great Whernside behind the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top
Penyghent, Plover Hill and a distant Whernside on the right
A broad expanse of moor looking northwest to Birks Fell
Great Whernside
Having left the trig point I'm approaching the stile for crossing onto the Wharfedale side of the fell
A long gradual descent down the ridge between Wharfedale and Littondale
At the trig point on Middlesmoor Pasture
The end of the ridge is in sight
and there's a great view from it of where Wharfedale and Littondale meet
Heading down to Hawkswick in Littondale
In the hamlet of Hawkswick
Crossing the River Skirfare
By the River Skirfare as I start the walk up Littondale back to Arncliffe
Littondale is a quiet and beautiful valley. The perfect place to be on a fine summers afternoon.
Back in Arncliffe