9th January 2022 - Simon's Seat and Pock Stones Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 6.3 miles
Total ascent: 1256 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 4.5 hrs
Route description: Middle Skyreholme-High Skyreholme-Dalehead Farm-Simon's Seat-Lord's Seat-Great Pock Stones-Little Pock Stones-Forest Road-Skyreholme Bank-High Skyreholme-Middle Skyreholme
I picked the day with the better weather this weekend and decided to head to Wharfedale for a walk up Simon's Seat. With the wind coming from the west I figured that this would be the best place for me to go to see a bit of sunshine and for the cloud to be off the top of the fells, there being a lot of high ground upwind. I had planned on setting off from Barden Bridge but all the spaces were already taken when I arrived, so remembering that I'd used the lane to Parcevall Hall in Middle Skyreholme on a previous such occasion I started my walk from there. It ended up being a cold, grey and windy winter's day with only a little brightness every now and then.
From where I parked at Middle Skyreholme I walked up the lane to High Skyreholme, then took the public footpath on the right down to and across Blands Beck and up to the track of Howgill Lane. I then walked east along Howgill Lane towards Dalehead Farm until I reached the permissive path on the right up to access land, which I took and followed uphill to Simon's Seat. After a brief stop to take in the view I followed the flagged path across the moor to Lord's Seat, where I stopped for lunch. I then followed the wall east across Pock Stones Moor to Great Pock Stones and down to the track of Forest Road, which after a stop at Little Pock Stones took me west back towards Skyreholme. When the track of Forest Road met that of Black Hill Road and Skyreholme Bank I took Skyreholme Bank and followed it downhill to High then to Middle Skyreholme, where I was parked. Before heading back home I paid a visit to Trollers Gill.
Total ascent: 1256 ft
OS map used: 298 - Nidderdale
Time taken: 4.5 hrs
Route description: Middle Skyreholme-High Skyreholme-Dalehead Farm-Simon's Seat-Lord's Seat-Great Pock Stones-Little Pock Stones-Forest Road-Skyreholme Bank-High Skyreholme-Middle Skyreholme
I picked the day with the better weather this weekend and decided to head to Wharfedale for a walk up Simon's Seat. With the wind coming from the west I figured that this would be the best place for me to go to see a bit of sunshine and for the cloud to be off the top of the fells, there being a lot of high ground upwind. I had planned on setting off from Barden Bridge but all the spaces were already taken when I arrived, so remembering that I'd used the lane to Parcevall Hall in Middle Skyreholme on a previous such occasion I started my walk from there. It ended up being a cold, grey and windy winter's day with only a little brightness every now and then.
From where I parked at Middle Skyreholme I walked up the lane to High Skyreholme, then took the public footpath on the right down to and across Blands Beck and up to the track of Howgill Lane. I then walked east along Howgill Lane towards Dalehead Farm until I reached the permissive path on the right up to access land, which I took and followed uphill to Simon's Seat. After a brief stop to take in the view I followed the flagged path across the moor to Lord's Seat, where I stopped for lunch. I then followed the wall east across Pock Stones Moor to Great Pock Stones and down to the track of Forest Road, which after a stop at Little Pock Stones took me west back towards Skyreholme. When the track of Forest Road met that of Black Hill Road and Skyreholme Bank I took Skyreholme Bank and followed it downhill to High then to Middle Skyreholme, where I was parked. Before heading back home I paid a visit to Trollers Gill.
Route map
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Heading up the lane of Skyreholme Bank to High Skyreholme
Simon's Seat ahead of me as I take the path from High Skyreholme down to and across Blands Beck
There's a hint of a rainbow behind me
Looking back to Middle and High Skyreholme as I reach Dalehead Farm
Views across to Burnsall Fell, Appletreewick Pasture and Grimwith Fell as I climb the path up to Simon's Seat...
Almost at the top and I have a wider view to Burnsall Fell and across Wharfedale
Looking south to Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor
At the trig point on Simon's Seat, the high point of Barden Fell
Looking up Wharfedale with Burnsall Fell on the left and Appletreewick Pasture on the right. It's not very pleasant up here with the strong and cold wind that's blowing.
Skipton Moor in the distance behind Carncliff Top on the left, and Lower Barden Reservoir on the right on the southern end of Barden Moor
Leaving Simon's Seat I follow the flagged path to Lord's Seat
Looking back to Simon's Seat
Simon's Seat, Burnsall Fell and Wharfedale from Lord's Seat. It seems to be a bit brighter at the moment with more breaks in the cloud.
Sunshine on Hebden Moor
Looking south across the rest of Barden Fell to Round Hill, Beamsley Beacon and Ilkley Moor
and east to Pock Stones Moor
Pock Stones Moor from the other rocky outcrop at Lord's Seat
Sunshine on Hebden Moor and Appletreewick Pasture. It would be nice to have some of it over here.
Looking north to High Crag and Craven Moor
Heading for Great Pock Stones
On Great Pock Stones. Looking back to Lord's Seat with the moors of Wharfedale in the distance.
Round Hill and Beamsley Beacon in the distance behind Rocking Moor and the rest of Barden Fell
Looking down the Washburn Valley to sunshine on Menwith Hill
Crossing Pock Stones Moor to Little Pock Stones, and the track of Forest Road, which I'll follow back to High Skyreholme
Little Pock Stones
A patch of sunshine on Braithwaite Moor on the other side of the Washburn Valley
Looking down the Washburn Valley. I think the two patches of water are Thruscross Reservoir and Fewston Reservoir.
From Little Pock Stones I follow the track of Forest Road to the west
Lord's Seat, Simon's Seat and Burnsall Fell
Looking back along the track with Great Pock Stones up on the right
A wall makes a good foreground for another photo of Lord's Seat and Simon's Seat
Following the track of Forest Road, and then Skyreholme Bank down to High Skyreholme....
The barn of Ridge Lathe on the hillside to my right. It needs a new roof.
Onto a tarmacked road for the final descent to High Skyreholme
Simon's Seat rises above Dalehead Farm
Back in High Skyreholme
Since I'm here and I finished a bit early I thought I'd take the opportunity to visit Trollers Gill. Following the path by Skyreholme Beck to Trollers Gill.
The ravine of Trollers Gill. After the recent wet weather I'm not surprised to see the beck flowing through it....
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