Walks in Starbotton

Walk: Buckden Pike

One of the best of the mountains in the Dales and one of the 'Dales 30'. Buckden Pike sits at the head of Wharfedale with splendid views in all directions. The Route what3words for start point: ///skirting.bids.success Start Point: Buckden Car Park, BD23 5JA Finish Point: Buckden Car Park, BD23 5JA Distance: 5.5 Miles GPX Route Map buckdenpikeDownload Walk Description Start in the village of Buckden and head up the steep but obvious path towards this lovely Dales hill. It is worth walking along the 1 mile summit ridge to the Polish War Memorial before returning to the summit. On the descent take in the lead mines on the slopes above the village of Buckden. Here the remains of an industry which dominated the valley 150 years ago.

Walk: Buckden, Hubberholme and Cray

A walk along the ancient roads and paths between Buckden, Hubberholme, Yockenthwaite, Cray and Buckden Rake. The Route what3words for start point: ///shielding.position.hunt Start Point: Buckden, Wharfedale Finish Point: Buckden, Wharfedale Distance: 7 Miles GPX Route Map buckden-hubberholme-crayDownload Walk Description A pleasant riverside path leads from Buckden to Hubberholme, famed from its wonderful old pub and ancient church, which was founded in the 12th Century as a chapel in the Norman hunting forest of Langstrothdale Chase, as the upper reaches of Wharfedale are known. Buckden began life as a village within this Norman hunting forest where the forest officials lived; this was the game preserve of the Earls of Northumberland. Hubberholme’s church, dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, boasts a wealth of interesting features in particular a very rare Rood Loft which was brought here from Coverham Abbey in 1558, one of only two in Yorkshire that escaped the Reformation and possibly the oldest in England.  From Hubberholme, a riverside path leads to Yockenthwaite, a name that stirs the imagination that is derived from the Old Norse ‘Eogan’s clearing’.   From Yockenthwaite a path climbs up above the valley through limestone meadows to reach Scar House, an old farmhouse that dates from 1698 although extensively restored in 1876. The present building stands on the site of a much older farmhouse. In 1652 George Fox, founder of the Quakers, visited Scar House and converted the farmer, after which the house was used as a Friends Meeting House by locals. It is now in the care of the National Trust. From Scar House, a wonderful path contours around the hillside, with magnificent views across Langstrothdale and upper Wharfedale, to reach the hamlet of Cray. Along the way, the path passes beneath a conspicuous knoll that is crowned by a large cairn. This is Cray Barrow, a Bronze Age burial mound for a local chieftain that dates back some 4,000 years. The hamlet of Cray is famed for its waterfalls as well as Wharfedale’s highest pub. The name of the hamlet is derived from the Celtic word meaning “fresh stream”, which is very apt for there is tumbling water all around.  The final section of this walk follows Buckden Rake, a superb track that heads across the lower flanks of Buckden Pike before dropping back down to Buckden. This track follows the course of the Roman road between the forts at Ilkley and Bainbridge via the lonely moorland of Stake Moss.  

Walk: Wharfedale and Littondale

This is a delightful exposed and dramatic walk with stunning views into Wharfedale and Littondale both at the beginning and end of the day. The Route what3words for start point: ///premises.spaceship.bins Start Point: Arncliffe Finish Point: Kettlewell Distance: 8.45 Miles GPX Route Map wharfedalelittondale2Download Walk Description Starbotton has been a village since the Iron Age times and still has only 75 residents! The village is criss crossed with a web of ancient routes from the times of the great monasteries of Fountains Abbey, Jervaulx and Rievaulx. The River Wharfe means ‘winding river’ and flows from Beckermonds into the Humber Estuary. As a result Wharfedale is a beautiful valley with steep hills rising on both sides making it one of the most stunning Dales in Yorkshire. The path ascending from Starbotton is an old packhorse track and drovers’ lane with crumbling walls on each side and trees lining the way – it is atmospheric and historic. It climbs steeply to the top of the moor used for grouse shooting in season. Arncliffe, now a conservation area, was used for filming Emmerdale. The fictional village of Beckindale was Arncliffe and The Falcon Inn, the Woolpack. The pub has no pumps for its beer but pours pints straight from the barrel into pot jugs and to the glass! From behind the pub, Malham Tarn can be reached just 4 miles away on the Monks Road. The scars above the village were once home to eagles hence the Old English name Earn meaning Eagle has evolved into Arn Cliffe. Hawkswick is a tiny hamlet with 70 residents. It was named after the first settlement, Hauk’s Dairy. The hamlet later had a Ballroom which still exists but is now a house. The climb over Hawkswick Moor passes Knipe Wood above Knipe Scar and is popular with ornithologists as there are peregrine falcons, redshanks and curlews here as well as dippers, oystercatchers and wagtails.

Walk: Kettlewell and Conistone

This walk explores the fantastic variety of landscapes that Wharfedale has to offer, as well as visiting two lovely villages. The Route what3words for start point: ///wriggled.smile.squeezed Start Point: Kettlewell Finish Point: Kettlewell Distance: 10 Miles GPX Route Map kettlewellconistone-v2Download Walk Description Kettlewell is one of the finest villages in the Yorkshire Dales, set in the magnificent glaciated U-shaped valley of Upper Wharfedale, cradled by moorland heights and rolling fells. With its history stretching back to the Saxons (this was 'Ketel's spring'), Kettlewell prospered in the 18th & 19th Centuries with the development of lead mining on the surrounding hills as well as regular markets and fairs, not to mention the many traders and travellers who came this way on the numerous packhorse routes that still criss-cross the hills. Today, the village is well known for its annual Scarecrow Festival and was used as the location for ‘Knapely’ in the 2003 film Calendar Girls.  From Kettlewell, this route follows the old 'peat road' (peat was once cut a dried on the moorland and used as fuel in people’s homes) up to the wonderful viewpoint of Capplestone Gate with its many old lead mine workings; note the change in rock from limestone to gritstone. The OS Trig Point lies just off the path, and is the perfect spot for a break to admire the view. We then drop down Conistone Turf Road, another old peat road, to reach Conistone Dib, a magnificent limestone gorge, only a few feet wide in places, that was scoured out 12,000 years ago by glacial meltwaters. This gorge leads to the attractive village of Conistone and St Mary's Church, the oldest church in Craven that dates back to pre-Conquest times.  The return leg of this walk follows the Dales Way back to Kettlewell, a wonderful high-level route with far-reaching views. Of particular note is Conistone Pie, a prominent outcrop of limestone that affords wonderful views towards the confluence of the rivers Skirfare (Littondale) and Wharfe (Wharfedale), known as Amerdale Dub. Indeed, the old name for Littondale was Amerdale. A close look at the map will reveal numerous ancient settlements in this area, many dating back to the Iron Age; their rough stone walls clearly visible and well worth seeking out.   Watch Baroness Sayeeda Warsi walk this route on the BBC iPlayer

Walk: The Inn Way - Kettlewell to Grassington

This walk takes in Kettlewell, Capplestone Gate, Bare House, Yarnbury, Hebden, Thorpe and Linton Falls - highlights of the Yorkshire Dales. The Route What3Words for start point: ///discussed.villager.flotation Start Point: Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales Finish Point: Grassington, Yorkshire Dales Distance: 13 Miles GPX Route Map the-inn-way-day-6Download Walk Description This route follows a fascinating linear route through Wharfedale from Kettlewell to Grassington, from where you can catch a bus back to Kettlewell. It is day 6 on 'The Inn Way to the Yorkshire Dales’ - which totals 76 miles. There is so much to see and experience along this walk, from the breezy heights of Capplestone Gate that affords wonderful views across the Wharfedale uplands to the limestone pavements around Lea Green and the lead mines of Yarnbury. There are also some cracking pubs and cafes along the way too, notably at Hebden, Linton and Grassington. Pretty villages, waterfalls, riversides and rolling hills make this a special day’s walk in Wharfedale.

The Lady Anne Way Walk

Lady Anne’s Way is a long distance path from Skipton Castle in North Yorkshire to Broughham Castle at Penrith in Cumbria. The Route Start Point: Skipton Finish Point: Penrith Distance: 96 miles GPX Route Map ladyanneswayDownload Walk Description what3words for start point: ///elders.bars.somewhere Lady Anne’s Way is a long distance path from Skipton Castle in North Yorkshire to Broughham Castle at Penrith in Cumbria. The route takes in locations associated with landowner Lady Anne Clifford who owned vast estates including a number of castles. This walk follows in her footsteps, re-tracing routes that she may well have used as she travelled between her homes. Making its way through the Yorkshire Dales and the Upper Eden Valley the walk is one of beauty and historical interest. This iconic walk passes through some of the finest areas of Yorkshire including Wensleydale and Wharfedale before continuing on through the remote fells of Mallerstang to enter the historic county of Westmorland and Eden Valley.

Dales Way Walk

Starting in Ilkley and finishing on the shores of Lake Windermere, the Dales Way is a 78 mile walk through the Yorkshire Dales and into the Lake District. The Route Start Point: Ilkley Finish Point: Windermere Distance: 78 Miles Getting there Ilkley is easily accessed by bus, train, car and is only a short taxi ride from Leeds-Bradford Airport. GPX Route Map DalesWayDownload Walk Description This walk was initially devised by the West Riding Ramblers' Association with the 'leading lights' being Colin Speakman and Tom Wilcock (Footpath Secretary). The route was announced to the public in 1968 and the first recorded crossing was by a group of Bradford Grammar School Venture Scouts in 1969. The first half of the walk follows the River Wharfe upstream to the main watershed of Northern England at Ribblehead. The second half follows several river valleys (Dentdale, River Mint, River Kent) to descend to the shores of Windermere. Most walkers tackling this route take about a week, in sections of 10 to 15 miles per day and taking a rest day or two. Accommodation Staying the night near the Buckden to Gearstones section is possible at: Oughtershaw Hall The George Inn, Hubberholme Nethergill Farm Luggage help If you would like help with planning or transporting luggage on this route, the Dales Way Association has a list here: http://www.dalesway.org/services.htm

Buckden Pike Circular Walk