9th December 2024 - Gragareth
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.4 miles
Total ascent: 1984 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Masongill Fell Lane-Tow Scar Road-Westgate Lane-Thornton Lane-Tow Scar-Cheese Press Stone-Low Plain-Turbary Road-Turbary Pasture-Gragareth-Three Men of Gragareth-Gragareth-Ireby Fell-Turbary Road-Masongill Fell Lane
Given the weather during the weekend it was fortunate that I'd booked today off work, my last one before finishing for the Christmas/New Year break. I decided to head to the westernmost part of Yorkshire Dales for my walk today. With the wind from the northeast this was where the best of the conditions were forecast to be, in terms of sunshine and the chances of it staying dry. The route that I decided on took in the moorland on the western side of Kingsdale, visiting Tow Scar and Gragareth, and is one that I've done several times before, the last being a couple of years ago. I set off from the top of Masongill Fell Lane above Masongill with a lot of blue skies and sunshine. However, the cloud increased through the morning and into the afternoon, and became thick enough to give a brief shower while I was heading up Gragareth. With the strong wind it was an unpleasant five minutes. Although I didn't get the all-round extensive views that I usually do from Gragareth, the low winter sun shining through the gaps in the clouds made for some dramatic photos.
From where I parked at the top of Masongill Fell Lane I walked down the track of Tow Scar Road to Westgate Lane, then up Westgate Lane to Thornton Lane, where I turned left and then walked along Thornton Lane into Kingsdale. I soon reached a public footpath on the left, which I took, then made my way southwest across the hillside to a track, followed this west, and then left it to visit the trig point on Tow Scar. From the trig point on Tow Scar I then made my way across the limestone pavement of Low Plain to the Cheese Press Stone. That found, I crossed Low Plain to reach the byway of Turbary Road. I followed this clear track north along the hillside above Kingsdale to its end on the hillside of Turbary Pasture above Yordas Wood (the shelter of a wall here provided a good place to stop for lunch). Time to head up. A fairly clear trod in the grass took me uphill by a wall to reach the summit wall on Gragareth, where a stile was crossed to reach the trig point on the other side of the fell. I went straight past the trig point though and down the hillside to visit the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth. After taking in the views I made my way back up to the trig point, took in the view from there, then went south to the summit wall. At the wall corner at the top of Ireby Fell a stile was used to access this fellside so that I could make my way down Ireby Fell by the eastern side of its eastern boundary wall. About half way down I reached and took a path across the hillside past Marble Steps Pot to the track of Turbary Road. I followed this downhill back to where I was parked at the top of Masongill Fell Lane.
Total ascent: 1984 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Masongill Fell Lane-Tow Scar Road-Westgate Lane-Thornton Lane-Tow Scar-Cheese Press Stone-Low Plain-Turbary Road-Turbary Pasture-Gragareth-Three Men of Gragareth-Gragareth-Ireby Fell-Turbary Road-Masongill Fell Lane
Given the weather during the weekend it was fortunate that I'd booked today off work, my last one before finishing for the Christmas/New Year break. I decided to head to the westernmost part of Yorkshire Dales for my walk today. With the wind from the northeast this was where the best of the conditions were forecast to be, in terms of sunshine and the chances of it staying dry. The route that I decided on took in the moorland on the western side of Kingsdale, visiting Tow Scar and Gragareth, and is one that I've done several times before, the last being a couple of years ago. I set off from the top of Masongill Fell Lane above Masongill with a lot of blue skies and sunshine. However, the cloud increased through the morning and into the afternoon, and became thick enough to give a brief shower while I was heading up Gragareth. With the strong wind it was an unpleasant five minutes. Although I didn't get the all-round extensive views that I usually do from Gragareth, the low winter sun shining through the gaps in the clouds made for some dramatic photos.
From where I parked at the top of Masongill Fell Lane I walked down the track of Tow Scar Road to Westgate Lane, then up Westgate Lane to Thornton Lane, where I turned left and then walked along Thornton Lane into Kingsdale. I soon reached a public footpath on the left, which I took, then made my way southwest across the hillside to a track, followed this west, and then left it to visit the trig point on Tow Scar. From the trig point on Tow Scar I then made my way across the limestone pavement of Low Plain to the Cheese Press Stone. That found, I crossed Low Plain to reach the byway of Turbary Road. I followed this clear track north along the hillside above Kingsdale to its end on the hillside of Turbary Pasture above Yordas Wood (the shelter of a wall here provided a good place to stop for lunch). Time to head up. A fairly clear trod in the grass took me uphill by a wall to reach the summit wall on Gragareth, where a stile was crossed to reach the trig point on the other side of the fell. I went straight past the trig point though and down the hillside to visit the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth. After taking in the views I made my way back up to the trig point, took in the view from there, then went south to the summit wall. At the wall corner at the top of Ireby Fell a stile was used to access this fellside so that I could make my way down Ireby Fell by the eastern side of its eastern boundary wall. About half way down I reached and took a path across the hillside past Marble Steps Pot to the track of Turbary Road. I followed this downhill back to where I was parked at the top of Masongill Fell Lane.
Route map
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Setting off along Tow Scar Road
To my right, a view across to the northern half of the Forest of Bowland
Tow Scar above
Looking back along Tow Scar Road
The Forest of Bowland in the distance as Tow Scar Road heads down to meet Westgate Lane
After walking up Westgate Lane I turn left onto Thornton Lane and walk north towards Kingsdale
Kingsdale and Whernside from Thornton Lane
I leave Thornton Lane and take a footpath towards Tow Scar
Ingleborough behind Twisleton Scar End as I head up onto Tow Scar
At the trig point on Tow Scar
The fells of the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Ingleborough from Tow Scar
On the way from Tow Scar to Turbary Road and I had to make a diversion to the Cheese Press Stone, and its view to Ingleborough
Whernside from the limestone pavement of Low Plain..
..and Ingleborough
The southern slopes of Gragareth ahead as I cross the moorland to the north of Tow Scar to Turbary Road
North End Scar to my left
Onto the track of Turbary Road, which gives me views across Kingsdale to Whernside and the southern slopes of Gragareth...
A short diversion to the top of Green Laids Scar gives me a view of Braida Garth Farm down in Kingsdale, with Ingleborough above Ewes Top
and across Kingsdale to Whernside
Next to the big hole in the ground that is Rowten Pot..
Heading north along Turbary Road..
At the gate where the right of way of Turbary Road ends. The wall provided some much needed shelter for my lunch stop.
Break over, I go through the gate and follow the wall up the hillside to Gragareth
A look back across Kingsdale to Ingleborough as I head uphill
and to Whernside from near the top of the climb. I can't help but notice the rainbow, and the weather is coming from that direction.
Looking north along the edge of the moorland ridge to Green Hill
At the top of the climb and a shower passes through. It was pretty light but with a strong wind behind it I had a wild five minutes to put up with..
At the stile that I'll use to cross the wall and visit the trig point on Gragareth, and an extensive view opens up with the moorland ridge heading north to Great Coum
Approaching the trig point on Gragareth. No stop to take in the view, I'm going straight down the hillside to the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth.
At the cairns of the Three Men of Gragareth. It's a great place to take in the view from. Starting with looking down the valley of the River Lune to Morecambe Bay.
Sunshine on neighbouring Barbon Low Fell
Middleton Fell to the northwest behind Barbon High Fell
Dramatic skies behind me as I head back up to the trig point
Taking in the view from the trig point on Gragareth. Morecambe Bay to the west.
Sunshine on neighbouring Barbon Low Fell
Middleton Fell, Crag Hill, and Great Coum..
Ingleborough on the left, and a distant Pendle Hill can just be made out on the right
Across the stile and I'll follow the wall down Gragareth's south ridge
This stone pillar at the top of the slope up from Kingsdale has a great view across to Ingleborough..
..and of Whernside above the head of Kingsdale
As I follow the wall downhill I have a view of the northern fells of the Forest of Bowland and Morecambe Bay in front of me...
Following the path across the moor to Turbary Road
A short walk down the track of Turbary Road and I'll be back to where I parked at the top of Masongill Fell Lane