7th February 2025 - Moughton
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.8 miles
Total ascent: 1096 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Helwith Bridge-Ribble Way-Horton in Ribblesdale-Sulber Nick-Pennine Bridleway-Sulber Gate-Moughton Scars-Moughton-Moughton Scar-Moughton Nab-Helwith Bridge
My search for the best of the weather for my walk this weekend saw me head for Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales. With the wind coming from the east I thought that it should be relatively sheltered, giving the cloud a chance to break up and give some sunny spells. The route that I worked out was new but it was just the combination of footpaths and bridleways that was, it was all familiar to me from previous walks, and it took in part of the Ribble Way and the limestone moorland of Sulber and Moughton. It turned out to a nice winter's day for this walk with a mixture of cloud and sunny spells, which gave me some great views across the limestone pavement of Moughton Scars and Moughton.
From where I parked at Helwith Bridge I joined the trail of the Ribble Way and followed it north to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. I then made my way through the village and up the lane to the railway station on the Settle to Carlisle line. After crossing the footbridge over the railway line I took the footpath on the other side and followed it west to and through Sulber Nick to its junction with the Pennine Bridleway, where I turned left and took the Pennine Bridleway south to Sulber Gate. After a stop for lunch here I took the footpath across Thieves Moss to Beggar's Stile, then a path along the top of Moughton Scars and across limestone pavement to the trig point on Moughton. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way southeast across the moor to Long Scar and to Moughton Scar. I made my way down from Moughton Scar via Moughton Nab and followed the footpath along the edge of Dry Rigg Quarry and down to the Austwick to Helwith Bridge road. A walk along this road took me back to Helwith Bridge and where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 1096 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Helwith Bridge-Ribble Way-Horton in Ribblesdale-Sulber Nick-Pennine Bridleway-Sulber Gate-Moughton Scars-Moughton-Moughton Scar-Moughton Nab-Helwith Bridge
My search for the best of the weather for my walk this weekend saw me head for Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales. With the wind coming from the east I thought that it should be relatively sheltered, giving the cloud a chance to break up and give some sunny spells. The route that I worked out was new but it was just the combination of footpaths and bridleways that was, it was all familiar to me from previous walks, and it took in part of the Ribble Way and the limestone moorland of Sulber and Moughton. It turned out to a nice winter's day for this walk with a mixture of cloud and sunny spells, which gave me some great views across the limestone pavement of Moughton Scars and Moughton.
From where I parked at Helwith Bridge I joined the trail of the Ribble Way and followed it north to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. I then made my way through the village and up the lane to the railway station on the Settle to Carlisle line. After crossing the footbridge over the railway line I took the footpath on the other side and followed it west to and through Sulber Nick to its junction with the Pennine Bridleway, where I turned left and took the Pennine Bridleway south to Sulber Gate. After a stop for lunch here I took the footpath across Thieves Moss to Beggar's Stile, then a path along the top of Moughton Scars and across limestone pavement to the trig point on Moughton. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way southeast across the moor to Long Scar and to Moughton Scar. I made my way down from Moughton Scar via Moughton Nab and followed the footpath along the edge of Dry Rigg Quarry and down to the Austwick to Helwith Bridge road. A walk along this road took me back to Helwith Bridge and where I'd parked my car.
Route map
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The River Ribble as I set off from Helwith Bridge
Great views of Ribblesdale, Penyghent and the River Ribble as I follow the Ribble Way north to Horton.....
The bridge over the River Ribble at Horton, with The Crown pub on the other side
Horton-in-Ribblesdale station on the Settle to Carlisle railway
After crossing the railway line via the footbridge I take a footpath northwest across fields towards Sulber Nick..
Looking back across Ribblesdale to Penyghent
Ingleborough comes into view ahead
Park Fell to the north..
..and Blea Moor, Cam Fell, and Birkwith Moor to the north and northeast
Views ahead to Ingleborough and back to Penyghent as I follow the footpath through Sulber Nick..
At the junction of the Pennine Bridleway and the Three Peaks path. I'm going to take the Pennine Bridleway and follow it a short distance south to Sulber Gate.
Following the Pennine Bridleway to Sulber Gate
Looking back north along the Pennine Bridleway
Crummack Dale from Sulber Gate
and looking across Thieves Moss to Penyghent and Fountains Fell in the distance
From Sulber Gate I follow a path through the limestone pavement towards Moughton Scars
The footpath down into Crummack Dale crosses the ladder stile below. I'm not going that way though, as I'll head up onto Moughton Scars on the left.
Sunshine on Moughton
Ingleborough, the head of Crummack Dale, and Simon Fell..
..and Penyghent and Fountains Fell from Moughton Scars
Approaching the cairn at the southern end of Moughton Scars
Looking back to Ingleborough and Simon Fell
Crummack Dale below
Great views across the limestone pavement around Crummack Dale, and across Crummack Dale to Ingleborough and Moughton Scars..
Heading up to the trig point on Moughton
Penyghent and Fountains Fell from the trig point on Moughton
Ingleborough and Simon Fell to the northwest
Looking across Ribblesdale to the hills above Settle in the distance
The Forest of Bowland in the distance. The nearby hill behind the trig point is Thwaite.
Leaving the trig point I follow a path through the limestone pavement towards Long Scar
Passing this cairn means that I'm heading in the right direction
Looking back and I have a great view across the limestone pavement to Ingleborough in the distance
and in front of me, across Ribblesdale to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
On the top of the appropriately named Long Scar
From Long Scar I'll head east across the moorland below to Moughton Scar
Looking along Long Scar..
and looking back to Long Scar
and again from Moughton Scar, with Ingleborough in the distance
Looking across Ribblesdale to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
Oxenber Wood and Austwick, with the Forest of Bowland in the distance
I can just make out Pendle Hill in the distance behind the Smearsett Scar to Pot Scar ridge
Heading down to Moughton Nab
The River Ribble as I arrive back at Helwith Bridge