7th May 2018 - Horse Head Moor and Birks Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.2 miles
Total ascent: 2753 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Buckden-Dales Way-Hubberholme-Dales Way-Yockenthwaite-Raisgill Farm-Horse Head Moor-Halton Gill-Halton Gill Bridge-Nether Hesleden-Litton-Birks Fell-Buckden
After the busyness of the Vale of Edale yesterday, today it was solitude on the moors between Littondale and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. This route is pretty long and one that I've done before, back in August 2013. Then it was a cool, grey and overcast day, disappointing for August. Despite it being just the first week of May today couldn't have been more different. Clear skies, wall-to-wall sunshine and very warm. A beautiful day for being on the fells. It was so warm by the middle of the afternoon that the final climb of the day from Litton was really hard work as I struggled to cool down.
From the car park in Buckden I walked down the road to the bridge over the River Wharfe to take the trail of the Dales Way to Hubberholme. I then followed the trail through Hubberholme and on to Yockenthwaite. Here I left the trail, crossed the bridge over the Wharfe and walked up the road to Raisgill Farm to take the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor. At its top at Horse Head Gate I left it for a there and back visit to the trig point a short distance to the north, where I stopped for lunch. Once back on the bridleway I followed it down into Littondale and to Halton Gill. After walking through Halton Gill and crossing Halton Gill Bridge I took the footpath by the south bank of the River Skirfare that heads down the valley to Nether Hesleden, across Hesleden Beck and on to Litton. A final stop of the day was taken on a bench in Litton before taking the bridleway up and over the moor back to Buckden.
Total ascent: 2753 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Buckden-Dales Way-Hubberholme-Dales Way-Yockenthwaite-Raisgill Farm-Horse Head Moor-Halton Gill-Halton Gill Bridge-Nether Hesleden-Litton-Birks Fell-Buckden
After the busyness of the Vale of Edale yesterday, today it was solitude on the moors between Littondale and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. This route is pretty long and one that I've done before, back in August 2013. Then it was a cool, grey and overcast day, disappointing for August. Despite it being just the first week of May today couldn't have been more different. Clear skies, wall-to-wall sunshine and very warm. A beautiful day for being on the fells. It was so warm by the middle of the afternoon that the final climb of the day from Litton was really hard work as I struggled to cool down.
From the car park in Buckden I walked down the road to the bridge over the River Wharfe to take the trail of the Dales Way to Hubberholme. I then followed the trail through Hubberholme and on to Yockenthwaite. Here I left the trail, crossed the bridge over the Wharfe and walked up the road to Raisgill Farm to take the bridleway up onto Horse Head Moor. At its top at Horse Head Gate I left it for a there and back visit to the trig point a short distance to the north, where I stopped for lunch. Once back on the bridleway I followed it down into Littondale and to Halton Gill. After walking through Halton Gill and crossing Halton Gill Bridge I took the footpath by the south bank of the River Skirfare that heads down the valley to Nether Hesleden, across Hesleden Beck and on to Litton. A final stop of the day was taken on a bench in Litton before taking the bridleway up and over the moor back to Buckden.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
It's a glorious morning as I set off from Buckden
Spring in Wharfedale as I follow the Dales Way
The bridge over the Wharfe in Hubberholme, which I'll cross
The church of St. Michael and All Angels in Hubberholme
The Dales Way now follows the north bank of the Wharfe west. The river is running pretty low with the recent warm and dry weather.
|
|
The bridge over the river at Yockenthwaite. It's time to cross over again.
The river has gone to ground here with just pools left behind
Looking back to Yockenthwaite as I walk up the road to Raisgill Farm
Langstrothdale and Buckden Pike as I climb..
..the bridleway across Horse Head Moor
A last look back before I lose this view
Penyghent, Plover Hill, Ingleborough and a distant Whernside behind the nearby moor on the right
Fountains Fell, Penyghent and Plover Hill from the trig point on Horse Head Moor
Leaving the trig point behind I'm going to head west a little bit to get a different view
Dodd Fell Hill and Woldside on the other side of Langstrothdale
Penyghent, Plover Hill, Ingleborough and Whernside
Yockenthwaite Moor
Buckden Pike and Birks Fell
Back on the other side of the trig point as I reach Horse Head Gate and the bridleway to Littondale
Following the bridleway down into Littondale and to Halton Gill..
The hamlet of Foxup at the top of Littondale
Halton Gill from Halton Gill Bridge over the River Skirfare
The River Skirfare
Looking back past Heber Side Barns towards Halton Gill from the path down Littondale to Nether Hesleden
Heading for Litton
A dry River Skirfare from New Bridge. I didn't cross it.
Approaching Litton
Looking up Littondale from the footbridge over the River Skirfare at Litton
A lovely afternoon in Litton
Looking back to Litton and Littondale from the bridleway to Buckden
Higher up and Penyghent and Plover Hill head the valley
Buckden Pike and Great Whernside from the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top
Penyghent and Plover Hill
The moors north of Malham and Fountains Fell
Broad moorland heads northwest to Horse Head Moor
Onto the bridleway to Buckden with Buckden Pike ahead
Great Whernside with the village of Starbotton in the valley below
The final descent of the day back to Buckden...
