Updated December 2023
Location: Road parking on Shortbank Road, BD23 2TX
Distance: 4.5km
A local one for us is up onto the moors above Skipton. We do a circular walk to bag the trig point which is well worth the climb.
The route follows the Dales High Way from the top of Shortbank Road. The path winds its way up on to the old Roman Road with various amazing viewpoints along the way including out over Whinney Gill reservoir.
The Roman Road runs all the way across the moors to Addingham so you can make this walk as long or as short as you like.
As per the red line on the map above you can do this circular walk clockwise or anti-clockwise. If you are going anti-clockwise you are looking for a stile on your right as you emerge out of the first clump of trees just at the start of the Roman Road. If you are doing it clockwise then you need to walk along the Roman Road a while until you are out of the trees then take the gate on the right. This way is steeper initially but you do get the the trig quicker.
The paths are well trodden so it’s pretty obvious where to walk. Either route, as long as you keep heading up you can’t go too wrong. The views on the way up are dreamy too!
If you can get up at sunset this is the most amazing time to go. Just make sure you descend before it actually sets or you will be walking in the dark.
Once on the top of the moor you are greeted by a trig point, and lots of cairns. There are a few dotted along the ridge looking out in every direction. At the end of the ridge is the main one which looks right down the Aire Valley.
There can be cows in the field where the trig point is but they are usually on the lower parts and generally tend to stay away from the main paths. However, stay well away and they shouldn’t bother you.
My other piece of advice for this walk is to wear waterproof footwear. It can be boggy in places and it usually catches you unaware! With little ones too they are guaranteed to seek these out so spare socks may be worth packing too!
Definitely an adventure walk.
From the top of the moor you can see across to Crookrise Crag, Embsay and down the valley to Beamsley Beacon, check out these hill climb walks too.
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