9th September 2012 - Whelp Stone Crag

Walk Details

Distance walked: 10.2 miles

Total ascent: 1319 ft

OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale

Time taken: 7 hrs

Route description: Giggleswick Station-Paley Green Lane-Storth Gill Lane-Lumb-Cocket Lane-Cocket Moss-Birchshow Rocks-Wham Lane-Lower Wham-Sandford Farm-Big Hill-Resting Stone-Whelp Stone Crag-Whelpstone Lodge-Hesley Cottage-Rathmell Beck-Swainstead Rake-Littlebank-Giggleswick Station

This walk is number 21 from Paul Hannon's book of "Bowland" walks. I was able to follow it but the footpaths are used very little so you have to keep on checking that you're on track. Also the green way of Cocket Lane is completely overgrown and waterlogged. Look for an alternative.

I started from Giggleswick station, leaving by the steps down to the main road and turning right to follow the lane under the railway. Where the lane branched I went left and then when that turns right I took a rough walled lane left. A path reaches Lumb farm and then I followed Cocket Lane, across Cocket Moss and under Birchshow Rocks to Wham Lane. A bit of road walking then past Lower Wham Farm to Sandford Farm. This is where access land is reached. Giggleswick Common is crossed to reach Big Hill. The high point of Resting Stone was next and then the forest boundary was followed more or less down to Whelp Stone Crag. There were several diversions for boggy bits.

My route back was down to the disused farm of Whelpstone Lodge, down the access track and the lane to Hesley. At Hesley Cottage I left the lane to cross farmland back to the start.

Route map

Shortly after leaving Giggleswick station and I have a view of the hills above Settle

Looking back at the worst bit of Cocket Lane. Don't use it. It's badly overgrown and waterlogged. If I'd known beforehand I would have found an alternative.

There's a raised path to cross Cocket Moss. I'm ultimately heading for the high point on the right and then I'll walk along the skyline to the left.

The rocks and trees of Rome Crag

Passing under Birchshow Rocks

From Birchshow Rocks I joined Wham Lane to pass Lower Wham Farm, seen here

I left the road at Sandford Farm onto access land and Giggleswick Common

On Big Hill. A fine view across to Ingleborough and Penyghent.

Penyghent and Fountains Fell

I'm going to head past the little rocky top of Foxholes Crag below on the left and then up to the trees to Resting Stone which is marked on the OS map

Whelp Stone Crag is the high ground in the centre of the picture

Foxholes Crag. In a sea of grass any rocky outcrop gets a name.

At Resting Stone looking across to Penyghent, Fountains Fell and the hills above Settle

Ingleborough

Bowland Knotts are out to the west

Ingleborough from Whelp Stone Crag. From Resting Stone I followed the forest boundary south with diversions for boggy bits to here, the high point of the walk.