8th June 2024 - Horse Head Moor and Birks Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.0 miles
Total ascent: 1765 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Buckden-Dales Way-Hubberholme-Dales Way-Yockenthwaite-Dales Way-Deepdale-Dales Way-Beckermonds-Horse Head Moor-Sugar Loaf-Birks Fell-Birks Tarn-Old Cote Moor Top-Dubb's Lane-Buckden
After last week's trip to the Lake District it's back to the Yorkshire Dales for my walk this weekend, as I went to Buckden in Wharfedale. The route that I decided on took in Langstrothdale and the moorland ridge between it and Littondale, from Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top. None of it was new to me, though I hadn't done this exact route before. The forecast was for a fine summer's day with a mixture of fair weather clouds, sunny spells, and a brisk breeze up on the moors. Which is what I got, a near perfect day for hillwalking. It may be June and into the start of summer but the moors have still got some drying out to do, there was lots of squelchiness underfoot.
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, onwards to Yockenthwaite, then to Deepdale, and finally Beckermonds. I left the trail here to take the footpath that heads south across the moor to Halton Gill. When it reached the top of the moor I went through a gate in the wall, and turned left to follow the wall uphill to the trig point on Horse Head Moor. After a break for lunch and to take in the view I made my way to Horse Head Gate (where the Halton Gill to Yockenthwaite bridleway crosses the moor), went through it, then set off following the wall south along the moorland ridge. I kept to the northern 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, and after visiting that I returned to the bridleway to follow it down towards Buckden. When I reached Dubb's Lane I turned right and walked along it back to Buckden.
Total ascent: 1765 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Buckden-Dales Way-Hubberholme-Dales Way-Yockenthwaite-Dales Way-Deepdale-Dales Way-Beckermonds-Horse Head Moor-Sugar Loaf-Birks Fell-Birks Tarn-Old Cote Moor Top-Dubb's Lane-Buckden
After last week's trip to the Lake District it's back to the Yorkshire Dales for my walk this weekend, as I went to Buckden in Wharfedale. The route that I decided on took in Langstrothdale and the moorland ridge between it and Littondale, from Horse Head Moor to Old Cote Moor Top. None of it was new to me, though I hadn't done this exact route before. The forecast was for a fine summer's day with a mixture of fair weather clouds, sunny spells, and a brisk breeze up on the moors. Which is what I got, a near perfect day for hillwalking. It may be June and into the start of summer but the moors have still got some drying out to do, there was lots of squelchiness underfoot.
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, onwards to Yockenthwaite, then to Deepdale, and finally Beckermonds. I left the trail here to take the footpath that heads south across the moor to Halton Gill. When it reached the top of the moor I went through a gate in the wall, and turned left to follow the wall uphill to the trig point on Horse Head Moor. After a break for lunch and to take in the view I made my way to Horse Head Gate (where the Halton Gill to Yockenthwaite bridleway crosses the moor), went through it, then set off following the wall south along the moorland ridge. I kept to the northern 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, and after visiting that I returned to the bridleway to follow it down towards Buckden. When I reached Dubb's Lane I turned right and walked along it back to Buckden.
Route map
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Leaving Buckden behind I take the Dales Way towards Hubberholme
The buttercups are putting on a good display in the surrounding fields
I follow the Dales Way by the western bank of the River Wharfe, and then along the road to Hubberholme..
The George Inn by the bridge over the River Wharfe
The church of St. Michael and All Angels in Hubberholme
The Dales Way now follows the north bank of the Wharfe west to Yockenthwaite....
Into the hamlet of Yockenthwaite. The Dales Way heads up and through the trees before continuing west up Langstrothdale.
I'll continue by following the Dales Way west by the north bank of the Wharfe to Deepdale..
Looking back down Langstrothdale
In the hamlet of Deepdale
At Deepdale the trail crosses Deepdale Bridge and continues west by the south bank of the Wharfe to Beckermonds. Fantastic scenery on a beautiful morning.........
At Beckermonds Greenfield Beck and Oughtershaw Beck meet and the River Wharfe begins
Looking back down Langstrothdale
Leaving Beckermonds and Langstrothdale behind as I take the footpath that crosses the shoulder of Horse Head Moor to Halton Gill...
As the footpath reaches the top of the moor it goes through a gate to begin its descent to Halton Gill. I'm going through the gate, then it's left to follow the wall up Horse Head Moor.
Looking back across to Ingleborough, High Green Field Knott and Whernside
I can make out the trig point on Horse Head Moor on the rise ahead
At the trig point on Horse Head Moor. Fountains Fell, Penyghent and Plover Hill to the southwest.
Looking west to Penyghent, Plover Hill, Ingleborough, High Green Field Knott, and Whernside
To the southeast the moorland that I'll soon be walking across stretches into the distance
Whernside and Dodd Fell Hill to the northwest
Buckden Pike on the other side of Langstrothdale
At Horse Head Gate. I'll go through it and then follow the wall across the moor to the right to Sugar Loaf.
Looking back along the wall to Horse Head Moor
The cairn on Sugar Loaf is ahead on the other side of the wall
At the cairn on Sugar Loaf. Looking back along the moorland ridge to Horse Head Moor.
and southeast across the moorland around Littondale
Buckden Pike to the left of the moorland of Birks Fell
A long moorland walk to come to reach the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top
A pause to take in the view across to Penyghent, Plover Hill, and Ingleborough
and to the Kidstones Pass that carries the road from Wharfedale to Bishopdale
There are gates and stiles on the northern side of the moortop wall to aid onward progress
A moorland pool and Yockenthwaite Moor on the other side of a hidden Langstrothdale
Passing another pool beneath fair weather clouds and summer skies
Buckden Pike and Great Whernside from the cairn that marks the top of Birks Fell
Penyghent, Plover Hill, Horse Head Moor, and Whernside
Looking northwest along the moorland ridge to Dodd Fell Hill in the distance
and southeast along the wall I'll follow to Old Cote Moor Top
Finally, looking northeast across the Kidstones Pass to the moorland around Wensleydale in the distance
Back to following the wall towards Old Cote Moor Top
A look over it gives me a view across Littondale to Fountains Fell, Penyghent, and Plover Hill
Great Whernside in the distance as I pass Birks Tarn
Looking back to Birks Fell as I reach the Buckden to Litton bridleway
The bridleway to Litton goes through that gate
Buckden Pike from the trig point on Old Cote Moor Top
and Great Whernside
Penyghent and Plover Hill to the west
Leaving Old Cote Moor Top I follow the bridleway down to Buckden..
Looking down Wharfedale towards Starbotton
Wooden posts painted blue on top help keep me on track
Sunshine on Wharfedale and Buckden
The bridleway meets Dubb's Lane, which will take me back to Buckden
Fields full of buttercups next to the road
Before I cross it and head up into Buckden, Buckden Bridge over the River Wharfe