The Forty-third of our “Hubberton Hikers Hikes” is now scheduled for Saturday August 19th 2006. The hike is planned to start at 11am from Swinsty Moor Plantation Car Park, (Fewston). The hike is approximately 11.5 miles long and will take about 4.5 to 5 hours at a gentle pace. It is planned to have a drink in Pool in Wharfedale or Otley when the hike is completed.
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Directions: Keighley. A629 Skipton road to first roundabout. Right onto A6034 through
Silsden to Addingham. Across roundabout; B6160 to Bolton Bridge roundabout. Turn right
onto A59. Proceed about a mile beyond Blubberhouses and take right turn to Fewston.
Take right in Fewston, follow across dam to Swinsty Moor Plantaion car park.
The walk itself begins from the Car Park where we go through the plantation, curving down to approach Swinsty Reservoir. Alongside Swinsty Hall a short way rises to the rear of the house. Swinsty Hall is a stunning revelation in the middle of nowhere. Dating from 1570, its irregular gabled façade includes a three storeyed porch and a criss-cross of mullioned and transomed windows. While a permissive path is directed further up into the trees to double back above the grounds, the map confirms the right of way passing right by the house, despite confusing signs. The way rises between higher buildings to a wall stile back into the trees. A little higher, the permissive path joins it. The broad path rises out of the trees into a field. At once invisible, it rises directly up a succession of fields towards Timble. Grand views back over the valley are joined by the first appearance of the enormous prism like object on the Menwith Hill base. An enclosed footway ushers the path nicely up onto a rough road at the back of the village. Part way on, a rough lane turns between houses to emerge onto Timble’s main street. The road rises out of the village, merging with another to run onto a crossroads at Timble Lane End. Already there are wide views to great sweeps of moorland dissected by the hand of man, with the Prism and the great dam of Thruscross slotting into place amid an archetypal Washburn combination of moorland, woodland and pastures. Opposite, a rough road heads past the dwellings of Sourby towards a plantation. When the main way runs on into the trees, a branch turns off for Ellarcar Pike. The rest of the Walk can be obtained from Leader if desired before the date, otherwise follow “YOUR LEADER” on the day. |
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ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY CAN JOIN THIS BRILLIANT BAND OF PEOPLE ON THE DAY AT THE SAID TIME. PLEASE INFORM LEADER OF ANY INTAKES!
A delightful mix of moorland, pasture, woodland and waterside walking, almost entirely on good paths and tracks. The start will be taken at a leisurely pace so as to make sure that ALL those who wish to complete the hike will do so. PLEASE take note of "ANDYS AMBLING ADVICE" and ensure that warm and waterproof clothing is/are taken in case of any change in the weather.
A MAP of the walk is available HERE.
A Microsoft Word version of this page is available for download here (272K)
This page last updated on 13th August 2006