8:00 start with 17:00 return
12 miles / 19.3 km with 2000 ft / 610 m Total Ascent
Our walk today commences at Conistone Bridge, just south of Kilnsey, in upper Wharfedale.
We cross the River Wharfe and make our way through Conistone village before entering the “Dib”, a dry limestone valley which provides us with a scenic and entertaining 100 metres or so ascent to the Bycliffe Road.
Once on the “Road”, navigation is easy going and we soon enter the Mossdale Valley.
At Mossdale Scar we will pause for a while to look for the memorial plaque and remember the six young students who tragically died in Britain’s worst ever caving accident after becoming caught in a flash flood within the Mossdale Cave system.
From here, the track continues through Mossdale and up onto Conistone Moor. Aiming for Hill End, we have a final steep pull up Sweet Hill before reaching the plateau where the trig pillar and summit cairn of Great Whernside (704m) are just a short distance away.
Depending upon the weather and time at this point, descent to Kettlewell will be either via Black Dike and Cam Head or alternatively a more direct route via Hag Dyke.
9.5 miles /15 km with 1509ft / 460m Total Ascent
Starting at Kettlewell we walk east through the village then head north on Top Mere track. This takes us up Cam Head and over Starbotton Peat Ground to reach our high point of the walk on Starbotton Out Moor at 2060ft/628m.
We continue north to join the Walden Moor bridleway at which point we turn in a southerly direction to descend into the village of Starbotton.
It’s then back to Kettlewell along the River Wharfe on the Dales Way.
9 miles / 14.5 km with 900 ft / 275 m Total Ascent
This is a linear walk and we will get off the coach at Threshfield. We will then cross the main road and take a path down to the river to cross it at the Linton Falls. These are a very impressive site when the river is in full flood and really good at any time. After crossing the river we walk into Grassington and eventually find the Dales Way path which we will follow all the way to Kettlewell. On the way we will look down on Conistone and look across the valley to the very impressive Kilnsey crag.
5 miles / 8 km with 164 ft / 50 m Total Ascent
The pleasant walk from Kettlewell to Starbotton follows a mainly level limestone terrace, slightly elevated above the River Wharfe. There are extensive views across Wharfedale, several sturdy stiles and sheep with unusual faces. The river is crossed at Starbotton which was almost destroyed by flood in 1686!
Having experienced the strenuous route back to Kettlewell via Moor End Fell, we decided the Dales Way path was more appropriate today, following the meandering River Wharfe.
