7.7 miles
Outdoor Leisure Map OL30 - Yorkshire Dales (Northern & Central Areas)
This walk is DEFINITELY not one for a novice, or anyone who isn't
happy using a map and compass.
The walk is also really only enjoyable on a fine day, when the
visibility is good. To undertake this walk in bad weather, with
poor visibility, would just be a total waste of time.
Curiously, the walk was described in the August 2011 edition of
"The Dalesman". We find this curious as "The Dalesman"
is a popular magazine, whereas this walk should really only be
attempted by those with some experience.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory
Map)
Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!
The village of West Scrafton is very small, and parking
is very limited. The parking area used, as suggested by "The
Dalesman" magazine was on High Lane just outside the village.
(SE07481 83783).
Head back to the village and at Bow Bridge a broad track on the left
is signposted as being a footpath to Nidderdale. Follow this broad
track uphill for the next mile or so, going past some spoil heaps
(coal mining) until arriving at a fenced-off area with more mining
activity and further spoil heaps. At this point the broad track effectively
ends.
Now continue Southwards on a footpath until you come to the fence
line.
Do not cross the fence. Instead, follow the fence (on your left) Southwards
until you arrive at a fenced off corner, - the summit of Great Haw.
The footpath followed up to this point goes over some very rough ground,
crossing a number of deelp channels running though the peat bog. Some
care is needed traversing these channels.
From the summit of Great Haw we took an "optional extra"
by following the fence line to Woogill Tarn. This crosses further
rough ground, and isn't very enjoyable.
Retrace your steps from Great Haw, initially following the fence line
again.
After going down hill you will notice an old fence post on your right,
somewhat larger than the others.
At this point, head across the rough moorland on a bearing of about
310 degrees, parallel to Rowan Tree Gill.
There is no footpath, and it is essential that you stick with the
bearing.
You eventually descend to Lead Up Gill, which you cross just upstream
of a ruined circular sheepfold.
Initially continue on a bearing of 310 degrees until you approach
a fence line. Here the faint footpath changes to follow Lead Up Gill
on your right at a bearing of about 30 degrees.
Continue on a faint footpath through rough grassland until you meet
a stone wall.
At this point, keep an eye out for a suitable palce to cross Lead
Up Gill again. This may involve making quite a big jump across the
Gill.
Once across the Gill, continue on a bearing of about 30 degrees, following
a faint footpath over rough grassland, until you come to the broad
track that leads you back to West Scrafton again.