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| The Heart of Wharfedale |
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Date : 14th February 2010
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Leader : James Jolly |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| Linton that-a-way!! | |
The village of Linton was the start point for Hyndburn Ramblers 10 mile walk around the Yorkshire Dales and, having been brought in at the last minute due to illness, James Jolly was in the unenviable position of devising a route on the spot.
Leaving the bridge next to the village green the thirteen walkers had a short amount of road walking before taking a field path down towards Linton Falls. After going past the small packhorse bridge we crossed the River Wharfe by means of a substantial footbridge which offered great views of the falls and the weirs. Turning onto the river bank path we were to follow the River Wharfe for the next few miles and the well used paths took us towards the next notable point of Ghaistrill’s Strid. The channel, under six foot wide, generates rapids which are popular with canoeists and indeed the word ‘strid’ is derived from the Old Norse for rapid. As walkers it is also worth knowing the same can be said for the origin of the word stride which could mean ‘at a rapid pace’.
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left:
Waterfalls |
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right: Ghaistrill's Strid |
We continued on along the riverbank and eventually arrived at Lower Grass Wood where, quite unexpectedly, we started to climb a small hill at the woodlands edge before heading back down to the river level. The sun was shining quite strongly and the ambient temperature coupled with having just done the climb meant people stopped to remove their coats and fleeces. At the end of the wooded area we joined the road for a short while before taking a field path off to the right to cut the corner before re-joining the road. This quiet country lane was then followed all the way into Conistone where lunch was taken at the road junction in the village centre. It was during this feast that one of our walkers came across a heart shaped scone in his lunch box which reminded everyone that it was St. Valentine’s Day.
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left:
Along the River Wharfe |
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right: The Heart of Wharfedale |
Leaving Conistone in a westerly direction we followed the road over Conistone Bridge towards the B6160 we were afforded a great view of Kilnsey Crag with a snow covered Buckden Pike in the distance. After crossing the road we took a track which led onto a gentle uphill grass path which in turn joined up with a good track which originated at Kilnsey. At a clear junction of walled green lanes we took the left hand one which soon opened out onto moorland which, as we climbed up, gave some great views not only back towards Conistone but also of Whernside (still snow-capped) to the North West.
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left:
Kilnsey Crag and Buckden Pike |
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right: The walled lane junction |
Snow was also evident on the moor and we came across various drifts as we made our way over the high point of Malham Moor. It was a good path and a steady pace was maintained as we arrived at another enclosed lane which led us to a nice place for a break spot at the corner of Threshfield Moor. This spot also gave us a view back to our own locality, namely Pendle Hill.
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left:
Snow way through... |
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right: Over the moor |
With less than three miles to go back to Linton gathering clouds could not subdue the bright mood of the group. As we made our way over the moor, past loads of old mine workings, we soon arrived at the head of the appropriately named Moor Lane and dropped down the lane to cross the B6265 back into green fields. The fields looked down on the village of Threshfield and over the valley towards the town of Grassington, a walking mecca of the Dales. We crossed the disused railway to Threshfield via an unusual bridge and then a wall path took us back into the village of Linton by way of Linton Beck. After washing our boots off in the water it was but a few steps back to the cars. Everyone thanked James for the walk which had been very good indeed before a few of the group took a few more steps into The Fountaine Inn.
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| Stepping stones over Linton Beck | |
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES IN THE GALLERY
| OS LEISURE 2 |
YORKSHIRE DALES |
START POINT |
SD 997 628 |
| WALK LENGTH |
10.83 mls / 17.4 km |
TIME |
4 hrs 15 mins |
| MAX HEIGHT |
375.96 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
157.91 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
399.56 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
399.56 mtrs |
This map is for reference only and MUST NOT be used to do the walk.
Please use the correct OS map for all these walks.
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