Walk Summary
Start and finish at the beautiful Linton Falls. Easy flat path along the Dales Way towards Kettlewell with good views along the Wharfedale valley. Ascend to Conistone Moor and easy walking along lanes and through fields back to Grassington.
Date: 22/12/2021
Length: 12.53 miles
Height Gain: 435 m
Terrain: Boggy paths. grassy paths, stony paths, National Trail, lightly used roads.
Navigation: Good. Reasonable signage. Field hopping requires map.
Start: Linton Falls Car Park
Route: Linton Falls, Grassington, Dales Way, Highgate Leys Lane, Conistone Moor, Conistone Turf Road, Bare House, Grassington
Map: OL2 Yorkshire Dales Southern And Western Areas
Weather: Grey, cold and drizzle to finish
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Dales Way Luxury Path
Captain's Log
Grassington Near Miss
I parked near the Linton Falls just outside Grassington. I had intended visiting the falls before starting the walk, but it was still half an hour before sunrise and it was quite gloomy. I'd visit them when I got back.
I crossed the road bridge over the River Wharfe and then followed footpaths on the outskirts of Grassington to get to the Dales Way.
On a narrow lane bounded by high stone walls, a maniac skip driver accelerated towards me. Fortunately I was able to get into a pedestrian safe area before it reached me. The driver smiled and waved at me.
There is a large dairy factory on the edge of Grassington. I was surprised how much noise it made. Due to the still morning I was able to hear it for quite a while after I'd past it. The nice residential properties, next door to it, are in a great location, but I couldn't live with that noise.
Dales Way Looking Along Wharfedale
Dales Way
The morning involved following the Dales Way towards Kettlewell. The path is halfway up the hillside and so there were good views across the valley and down to the River Wharfe. The path was easy to follow in that it had very short grass. It was almost as if somebody had preceded me on the route with a lawnmower ten minutes earlier.
A few runners jogged past me and a couple of hikers that looked like they were doing the full Dales Way.
The OS map is littered with tantalising descriptions such as: 'medieval village (site of)', 'field system', 'hut circle and field system' and 'settlements'. In reality there is nothing much to see as evidence. Ironically, a large lime kiln that is reasonably intact, isn't marked on the map.
Throughout the morning I could hear gunfire. The source seemed to be somewhere across the valley along Littondale. It was so persistent and loud I wondered if it was some military exercise although I'm not aware of any MoD areas nearby. It must have been the tweed trousers brigade.
As I got nearer to Kettlewell the hills appeared higher with a white frost visible on the highest ones.
Dales Way Lime Kiln
Janets Foss
Conistone Moor
I turned off up to Conistone Moor before reaching Kettlewell. There were plenty of sink holes around. I noticed a few had, in their bottom, the plastic feed containers used for the sheep. I'm not sure whether the boxes were blown in or just dumped there.
Warning signs indicated that I should look out for mine shafts when I reached the top edge of Conistone Moor. It was a short walk over to the trig point and then I headed back downhill again along Conistone Turf Road. I could see a group of people coming up the path. A couple of minutes before I reached them I nearly took a flyer on some slippery grass. I presume it was some water that had iced up in the grass. It was fortunate that I had my trekking poles to steady the ship. When I reached the group of people I saw one of the adults had a young kid on his shoulders. I just hoped he didn't stand on the same ice rink as me.
Conistone Moor Trig
Conistone Horses
The path started going back up the hillside again through a field full of horses. I was surprised to see them so high up, although they all had coats on. Two of them started approaching me. I'm a bit wary of horses and fortunately I was able to get on the other side of a gate before they reached me. They were just curious though and wandered away when they realised I had no food for them.
Conistone Moor Horse
Linton Falls
Linton Falls
The path was all downhill now to Grassington. It went past the derelict Bare House. An old enamel bath was placed in the doorway to the privvy and had grass growing out of it. It started to rain which had arrived ahead of time projected by the BBC weather forecasters.
The dairy was still clanking away as I returned through Grassington along ths same route I'd used this morning. There was no skip driver to mow be down this time, but I still had to make use of the pedestrian safe area to keep out the way of a more considerate car driver.
I fulfilled my promise to visit Linton Falls on the way back. They really are quite impressive. The Wharfe produces plenty of white water and noise. There is a footbridge over the top of the falls and is a great vantage point to view them. It was still spotting with rain and was very murky and so my photos don't really do the waterfall justice. The water was flowing too fast for a game of Pooh Sticks.
Just as I approached my car, the sun appeared for the first time of the day and cast a golden glow on the hillsides. I did think of going back to Linton Falls to catch them in this golden glow, but no sooner had I thought it, the sun went in again.
I'd enjoyed the walk. It had been a fairly easy with good paths and some great views into the Wharfedale valley. It would be a nice summer walk although I could see Linton Falls being a bit of a honey spot for tourists.