The Fifty-first of our “Hubberton Hikers Hikes” is now scheduled for Saturday June 23rd 2007. The hike is planned to start at 11am from Pateley Bridge Central Car Park. The hike is approximately 10.5 miles long and will take about 4.5 to 5 hours at a gentle pace. It is planned to have a drink in Pateley Bridge when the hike is completed. This is the hike that was postponed from July 2006.
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Directions: Pately Bridge is on the Grassington - Ripon road (B6265). Plenty of
options; suggested route is Keighley - Silsden - Addingham - B6160 to Bolton Abbey
Roundabout, right on A59 through Blubberhouses, then left onto B6451, through
Summerbridge to Pateley Bridge. Other possible routes include via Skipton and
Grassington or via Shipley and Otley. OS Landranger maps 104 and 99 recommended
(+ pack 103 and 98).
The walk itself begins by crossing the bridge at the foot of the High Street and enters the grounds of Bewerley Park, where the prestigious Nidderdale Show is held each September. A branch turns off to Bewerley from this side of the town, more properly known as Bridgehouse Gate. Bewerley is an attractive village with carefully tended gardens leading to cosy cottages. At the far end is Bewerley Grange Chapel, built as a grange of Fountains Abbey by Abbot Marmaduke Huby. At the first junction, however, a minor road doubles back out of the village. After a couple of minutes a stile sends a faint path up the fields, over a brow and down to enter Fishpond Wood. A tiny stream is shadowed before crossing it to reach the shore of the eponymous pond. Though somewhat overgrown, this ornamental lake is not unattractive. On leaving its bank the path meets a wider track that runs to join Peat Lane. The road runs in to cross Fosse Gill, where a path enters Skrikes Wood. Turning briefly downstream, it quickly starts a mercurial climb through this beautiful woodland nature reserve. At a level section halfway up, intrigue is provided by a prostrate tree supporting a thriving array of vertical branches. After climbing along the wood edge, the path doubles back out of the trees, rising through colourful moorland vegetation to join the moor road at the top of Nought bank. Across the road, a popular path rises to the waiting towers of Yorke’s Folly. Prominent in many a Nidderdale scene, it was built 200 years ago by the Yorke family to provide some local employment. 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!
Mostly good paths and tracks on a gentle switchback on both sides of the valley. Caution is urged at Guise cliff, where crevices lurk just off the path. 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 12th November 2006