10.0 miles.
Explorer Map OL30, - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central
Areas.
Experience tells one that this walk is best undertaken
when the weather forecast is good, with plenty of sunshine and high
visibility. The real value of the walk is in the views, and for these
you need good weather.
Notwithstanding, even in dull weather the walk has its compensations
and there is plenty of wild and rugged country to provide interest.
A couple of sections of the walk require good map reading and navigational
skills. Between Cubeck and Carpley Green, there is a section where the
footpath is extremely faint. Over Stake Fell, it is quite easy to find
yourself on an animal track, rather than the correct footpath, unless
you pay attention to the map and your compass. If you do take the wrong
track, you will find the ground very rough and uneven as you trudge
through tussock grass.
The descent to Thornton Rust proved to be moderately taxing, with more
uneven ground which was steep in parts.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 5
of Memory Map)
Park in the designated parking area in Thorton Rust (by
a ford over a stream), - SD97208 88797.
Take the road West out of Thorton Rust and follow it for about a mile
to the hamlet of Cubeck.
At Cubeck, turn left up the walled lane and climb uphill to Worton Pasture.
Where the lane enters Worton Pasture (gate in a wall) the track then
becomes quite faint.
Set a course Westerly, and then South Westerly, to Carpley Green Road.
A couple of hundred yards before reaching the road, the path becomes
fairly distinct and you should have no trouble leaving the pasture by
the designated footpath sign at a gate.
Head South along Carpley Green Road to Carpley Green Farm, and then
continue uphill along Busk Lane.
About 1 3/4 miles past Carpley Green Farm, a footpath sign at SD937
847 indicates the way to Thoralby using the Stake Road Track.
Initially the footpath is very faint, but then opens out to a broad
green track. Later, this track becomes somewhat obscure and you need
to consult both your map and compass to make sure you stay on it.
Continue along the track for about 2 miles.
On your left you will pass what appears to be an ancient earthworks,
or ditch. Along this ditch, at SD970 859, a footpath heads North West
and then North East to a gate in a wall. THis footpath is fairly easy
to follow.
Beyond the fate in the wall, the footpath drops steeply to the Gayle
Ing Beck. The beck is crossed by a footbridge, and then the path climbs
steeply again out of the valley.
AT the stile in the wall at the top, the footpath back to Thornton Rust
is signposted. From the buildings at Gayle Ing, head Northwards along
the reasonably distinct footpath to Thornton Rust.
In parts, this footpath is quite uneven underfoot,as well as being steep
in places.