5th June 2021 - Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.3 miles
Total ascent: 1639 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-Litton-Nether Hesleden-Halton Gill Bridge-Halton Gill-Horse Head Moor-Sugar Loaf-Birks Fell-Birks Tarn-Old Cote Moor Top-Arncliffe
During the past few years I've managed to walk the whole of the moorland ridge that separates Littondale and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. Not in one go though, but during the course of following several different routes. The part of the ridge that I did today was the one that completed my exploration of it back in 2019, from Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top. I had perfect summer weather today for tackling that long moorland walk again, long sunny spells and great visibility for taking in the long distance views, and having wildflower filled fields to walk through in Littondale made the other part of the walk most enjoyable.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked along the road to the western end of the village to the sharp left hand bend and went straight on, taking the footpath up Littondale. I followed this up the valley, crossing the River Skirfare at the stepping stones to eventually arrive in Litton. I then took the bridleway opposite the Queens Arms in Litton down to and across the ford over the River Skirfare, then turned right and followed the footpath up the valley, crossing Hesleden Beck to Nether Hesleden, then across fields past Heber Side Barns to reach Halton Gill Bridge, where I walked up into Halton Gill to stop for lunch. After taking my break, I left Halton Gill by taking the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor. When I reached its top at Horse Head Gate I left it and made my way up to the trig point on Horse Head Moor just to the north. After taking in the view I returned to Horse Head Gate, went through it, then set off following the wall south along the moorland ridge. I kept to the eastern side of the wall all the way to where the Buckden to Litton bridleway crosses the moor, except for visiting the cairn on Sugar Loaf. Once that bridleway was reached the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top was just a short walk away. I then continued my way down the ridge, crossing a ladder stile to keep to the eastern side of the wall, until I reached the Kettlewell to Arncliffe footpath. Here I turned right and took the footpath down to Arncliffe, taking advantage of a footpath as a short-cut between the road below and the one into Arncliffe. I then had a short walk back into Arncliffe to where I was parked.
Total ascent: 1639 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Arncliffe-Litton-Nether Hesleden-Halton Gill Bridge-Halton Gill-Horse Head Moor-Sugar Loaf-Birks Fell-Birks Tarn-Old Cote Moor Top-Arncliffe
During the past few years I've managed to walk the whole of the moorland ridge that separates Littondale and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. Not in one go though, but during the course of following several different routes. The part of the ridge that I did today was the one that completed my exploration of it back in 2019, from Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top. I had perfect summer weather today for tackling that long moorland walk again, long sunny spells and great visibility for taking in the long distance views, and having wildflower filled fields to walk through in Littondale made the other part of the walk most enjoyable.
After parking in Arncliffe I walked along the road to the western end of the village to the sharp left hand bend and went straight on, taking the footpath up Littondale. I followed this up the valley, crossing the River Skirfare at the stepping stones to eventually arrive in Litton. I then took the bridleway opposite the Queens Arms in Litton down to and across the ford over the River Skirfare, then turned right and followed the footpath up the valley, crossing Hesleden Beck to Nether Hesleden, then across fields past Heber Side Barns to reach Halton Gill Bridge, where I walked up into Halton Gill to stop for lunch. After taking my break, I left Halton Gill by taking the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor. When I reached its top at Horse Head Gate I left it and made my way up to the trig point on Horse Head Moor just to the north. After taking in the view I returned to Horse Head Gate, went through it, then set off following the wall south along the moorland ridge. I kept to the eastern side of the wall all the way to where the Buckden to Litton bridleway crosses the moor, except for visiting the cairn on Sugar Loaf. Once that bridleway was reached the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top was just a short walk away. I then continued my way down the ridge, crossing a ladder stile to keep to the eastern side of the wall, until I reached the Kettlewell to Arncliffe footpath. Here I turned right and took the footpath down to Arncliffe, taking advantage of a footpath as a short-cut between the road below and the one into Arncliffe. I then had a short walk back into Arncliffe to where I was parked.
Route map
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It's a beautiful morning as I leave Arncliffe on the footpath to Litton
Yew Cogar Scar beyond the buttercup filled fields to my left
Heading up Littondale
Looking back down Littondale
Crossing the dry River Skirfare
The slopes of Middle Moor that rise above Litton
As I follow the footpath north to Litton I pass through lots of wildflower filled fields.........
In the village of Litton with the pub of the Queens Arms ahead on the right
Crossing the ford over a dry River Skirfare
Onto the footpath from Litton to Nether Hesleden
Looking back to Litton
The dry bed of the River Skirfare from New Bridge
Lots more wildflower filled fields as I follow the footpath to Nether Hesleden, and then on to Halton Gill........
Looking across to Halton Gill on the other side of the River Skirfare
Another buttercup filled field
On the road up to Halton Gill
A beautiful early summer's day
The hamlet of Foxup as I leave Halton Gill on the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor
Looking back to Halton Gill and Littondale
As I gain height the view opens up to include Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough
I can make out the trig point on Horse Head Moor on the skyline
Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough as I head for the trig point
At the trig point on Horse Head Moor. The moorland that I'll soon be walking across stretches into the distance.
Dodd Fell Hill, Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat to the north
Whernside and Dodd Fell Hill to the northwest
Buckden Pike on the other side of a hidden Langstrothdale
Leaving the trig point behind as I head back to Horse Head Gate
Passing through a patch of moorland limestone on the way to Sugar Loaf
Dodd Fell Hill, Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat in the distance from the cairn on Sugar Loaf
Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough
A long moorland walk to come to reach the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top
Yockenthwaite Moor on the other side of a hidden Langstrothdale
Looking back to Sugar Loaf with Penyghent, Plover Hill and Ingleborough on the left
There are gates and stiles on the northern side of the moor top wall to aid onward progress
Past a couple of moorland pools..
Fountains Fell, Penyghent and Plover Hill from the top of Birks Fell
Looking back to the northwest along the broad moorland ridge
A short walk to the east from the cairn and I have a view of Buckden below Buckden Pike
Buckden Pike and Great Whernside as I pass Birks Tarn
A bit more moorland walking to go. It's a lovely afternoon for being up here.
Finally at the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top, with Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill and Whernside in the distance
Buckden Pike and Great Whernside
A look back along the moorland ridge that I've just walked across from Horse Head Moor
Looking north to the broad swell of Yockenthwaite Moor
Having taken in the view, it's back to more moorland walking as I follow the ridge south
As I cross to the Wharfedale side of the ridge I get a great view of Buckden Pike..
..and the head of Wharfedale
The moorland ridge narrows as I make my way south giving great views of the fells lower down Wharfedale..
Great Whernside to my left
The moors above Conistone and Grassington in the distance, along with Barden Fell and Barden Moor
Having a look back up the moorland ridge
It's finally time to head down as I take the footpath to Arncliffe
A great display of cotton grass
Arncliffe and the valley of Littondale below..
The final descent into the woodland on Park Scar
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Crossing the River Skirfare on the lane back into Arncliffe
Back in Arncliffe after a great day on the fells