Layby on B6480 opposite Blackriggs Plantation (SD 7897 6610)
Summits Achieved
No summits were reached on this walk
Preface
Southey was staring out of the window looking rather mournful.
"What's the matter pal?", asked Tetley, looking up from the book he was reading.
"Only that it's a while since we went for a walk, and I am missing it."
Allen said, "Dad's been very busy with other commitments. This has happened many times in the past, so we have learnt to be patient."
Just then Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived with the tea and cakes, which brought a smile to Southey's face, as he went to get the mugs and plates.
What's the cake?", asked Allen.
Little Eric responded, "Grizzly had made mincemeat slice, while I have done chocolate coated flapjack."
The plates passed round we all helped ourselves.
"Mmm, the flapjack is scrumptious", said Tetley.
"And so is the mincemeat slice", went on Shaun, taking another slice.
Turning our thoughts back to walking, Allen said, "Southey's a bit down in the paw, because we have not been for a walk lately."
"Well!", exclaimed Shaun. "I can cheer him up as Dad has said we are to walk on Saturday. We have been charged with coming up with the route too."
"I fancy going to Yorkshire", said Little Eric. "If we can find some new routes nearby, Dad can take us to Elaine's afterwards."
"You took the words right out of my mouth", replied Tetley.
"I'll get the map", said Shaun. "OL41 with cover the area we have in mind."
Soon spread out, Grizzly said, "there is a lay-by on Buck Haw Brow by the road into Settle, for a start point."
"Good idea pal", replied Tetley.
"So then, there are paths via Lawkland Green and then round via Howith." Then tracing with his paw, "in a circle to Eldroth."
Taking up the idea, Allen went on, "then paths via Middlesber to Lawkland and finally out to the A65 by the now closed falconry centre and so to the start."
"So we have a plan" cheered Little Eric. "We may have walked some of the paths before, but mostly it is new, as far as I can recall."
Peering closely at the map, Southey said, "there's a trig point, near New House, but there is no hill."
"That's because they were not all on summits, as other locations were needed for use by the Ordnance Survey to produce accurate maps."
"Oh I see", said Southey. "If it's accessible I hope we can have our picture taken at it, even if it's not a summit."
"Right", said Allen, draining his mug, "I'll go and see what Dad thinks."
Not many minutes later he was back with a smile on his face that told us Dad had approved our idea. "Thanks pal", he said to Shaun, as a freshly filled mug of tea was handed to him. "Dad says it's a go, and especially as we will be going to Elaine's afterwards."
"Yippee", cheered Southey now all smiles.
About 2 weeks later there was a day down to walk with Uncle Eric. Now in the past he has been kind enough to repeat walks he has done. When he and Dad spoke, Uncle Eric had not had time to think of a suggestion. Knowing that Uncle Eric had not walked extensively in Yorkshire, Dad suggested this walk, which we were all happy to repeat. You might have noticed that the distance was shorter the second time, the reason for this being explained below.
The main narrative and photographs are from the 22nd April, Dad taking the opportunity to leave the camera at home on the day with Uncle Eric.
The Walk
We were eager to be off today, so made sure not to delay Dad. The day was sunny and calm, perfect conditions for walking.
Dad could almost do the drive blindfolded, being the route taken every Monday when he and Uncle Brian go to Elaine's for lunch.
To get to the start, we ignored the lane to Feizor, rather continuing on the A65, to soon take the B6480 to Settle, and shortly park in the first lay-by on the left opposite Blackriggs Plantation.
As Dad got ready we looked about, spotting some cattle coming down the hill just on the left. "They are Uncle Jonathan's", said Grizzly.
"Elaine's husband", added Tetley.
Dad ready, we settled in his rucksack.
Looking at the map, Shaun said, "the path should be through that gate on the opposite side of the road."
There was no signpost and the gate was securely tied up causing Southey say, "are you sure pal."
"Yes", replied Shaun. "the path is definitely from this top end of Blackriggs Plantation."
The debate over, Dad quickly climbed the gate and then headed right above the wood with a slight hill to the left, where this ewe and lambs watched us pass by.
"Flippin' heck", cried Allen. "Sheep picture free story gone again?"
Beyond the rise the path descended rounding a wall corner to bear left to a ladderstile onto the A65. Close by these lambs posed, Southey saying, "picture time again."
Tetley laughed, "not your day, Allen."
"No pal", he huffed. "I can only hope that is all for this walk, but I am not confident."
Taking care Dad crossed the A65, where our route onwards was clear. Over the ladderstile and then to the wall corner and along to the left of it crossing a tiny stream.
"It's over that stone step stile", said Shaun, "then straight across the field to another similar stile, and across the next field."
This brought us to a track running parallel with the wall ahead.
"Where now?", asked Little Eric.
"Left along the track", instructed Shaun.
This led through gates to a road, where Shaun, issued instructions. "Turn right", and pointing, "then left along that track."
This led through Lawkland Green Farm, where beyond a gate the route continued along a walled way
Coming to a ford, Tetley pointed, "there's a slab bridge to avoid it."
The track then climbed on, with primroses on the bank. "Uncle Brian loves primroses. Take a picture for him, please", said Grizzly.
Climbing to cross the railway, the track was once again walled to either side. "That gorse is a real splash of colour", called out Allen.
Hardly had Dad strode on, when Tetley called out, "wow, what a super view to Ingleborough."
Expanding on this, Tetley went on, "the ridge right leads to Simon Fell and Lord's Seat. In front, in shadow is Norber with it's highest point on Thwaite Scar."
"That last was one you kindly repeated on my way to complete the Limestone challenge, " said Southey.
Minutes later the track reached Eldroth Road, this blackthorn hedge in blossom making a lovely sight.
"Turn right", advised Shaun.
Shortly reaching Four Lane Ends, Shaun said, "we go ahead on the lane signed Black Bank and then when the road swings right, keep ahead along the access to Accerhill Hall."
This finally swung right to a gate, to then pass in front of the buildings. Just beyond a gate to the right took us on to the track leading to Howith Farm.
"That view to Pen-y-ghent is stunning", called out Little Eric. "Definitely one for the story."
Through the farmyard a stony track took us past a dwelling called Howith.
"Our way is right", said Shaun,
The wide open stony track led on and on through the lovely countryside.
There were ewes and lambs in the fields to the left. Looking inquisitively through the fence, Dad could not resist snapping a shot or two. "Oh noooooo", called out Allen.
"Just not your day", laughed Southey.
"No pal", growled Allen.
Looking at the map, Tetley said, "the trig point seems to be where the track becomes walled."
Just before we looked about, there being no sign of it. Then as we entered the walled section, Allen called out, "it's there, over the wall on the right."
"On private land", mused Grizzly. "Not really and option to climb the wall either."
"Oh darn", said Southey disappointedly.
Not wanting our hopes to be dashed, Dad said, "there's sure to be a gate into the field further along the track. There is no one about, so it will only take a few minutes to walk back."
Sure enough Dad was right, and before we knew it, there we were, at New House Pasture trig point.
Quickly we scrambled out of the rucksack, and being a calm day, settled on top for our picture.
Returning now to the track, this was followed to the road, Dad going left signed Kettlesbeck. After a little way Shaun said, "I'm sorry Dad, but we should have gone right"
Looking at the map Dad said, "well, we can do a circle via Lingthwaite so not a problem lad."
On the repeat with Uncle Eric we correctly went right, accounting for the difference in distance on that day.
A lady and gentleman on horse and trap came past. "How lovely", commented Grizzly.
They turned right into Lingthwaite, our route too. A footpath went left, Tetley saying, "we have been here before, coming the opposite way through Lingthwaite and taking that path left."
Walking up the drive Dad stopped to check the map, so the lady asked, "are you lost."
Dad I replied, "no, the path is on through the buildings."
The gentleman commented, "there are few waymarks around here, so map reading skills are essential."
Then two labrador dogs came bounding down, from the direction we had to go. The lady owner said, "sorry."
"It's OK, they are only being friendly."
We walked on with her to the yard at the rear of the house, Dad commenting "what a magnificent view."
"Yes", she said, "all the Three Peaks," She then went on to helpfully describe our onwards route.
This was through the gate to the right, and then left by the wall and through another gate. Here we followed the ewes and lambs across the footbridge to a stone step stile in the facing wall.
"Not again", called out Allen. "There are nearly more sheep pictures than anything else!"
Besides sheep, we also saw lapwings and saw and heard the haunting cry of a curlew.
Beyond the stile, Shaun said, "it's diagonally across the field."
This led to a gate onto the road opposite a beautiful barn conversion, and so back on the planned route.
"We go left, then need to look for the second footpath on the right", instructed Shaun.
This was further than in looked on the map, but eventually Grizzly called out, "here it is."
Through the gap stile the path ran by the fence of a felled plantation, crossing a tiny footbridge and following the waymarks to a wood step stile. Now in open pasture we drifted right to take the cattle creep under railway, and so to the road at Eldroth.
"It's right as far as Eldroth House and there take the footpath left", advised Shaun.
"There's the signpost", called out Little Eric, after a while.
Up past the building, a stone step stile led into a field, climbing to a further stone step stile. After another field and stile our route can be seen in the picture below.
This fine view of Ingleborough and Norber caused us to pause. "Wonderful", breathed Southey. "How lucky we all are to be able to see such glorious views on our many and varied adventures."
So, over the ladderstile and on to a stile and footbridge over Fen Beck. Then immediately over the stile in fence on the left, to walk by the wood to a gate. Now drifted left and on across muddy ground to a facing gate and up to Middlesber Farm.
"Where now?", queried Little Eric.
"Through gate ahead, then right by the hedge", said Shaun.
Beyond a gate it was towards the wood, following a narrow path through long grass to a stile over a wire fence. Access to this was by way of a narrow sod bridge to keep dry feet.
"We should head to that gate", pointed Shaun.
Reaching this over more boggy ground, we entered open pasture. There had once been an old sunken trackway, but now overgrown, Dad just walked up the field beside it.
This took us to a house called Bark Head, after which we followed the access to the road.
"Those bluebells make a pretty sight", commented Allen, as we walked along.
"It's across the road on that waymarked path", instructed Shaun.
This was initially through a garden then a hedged path by the wall to a stone step stile in the wall ahead.
Crossing the pasture our way was barred by a ravine with a small beck. "I think it would be best to go a left above the ravine", said Shaun.
Doing this brought us to a wall and slab bridge over the beck by a waterfall. This shot was taken after we had crossed. On the day with Uncle Eric, we were followed by young inquisitive cows, making us glad to get to this side.
Seeing a blank wall Southey said, "where do we go now."
"The wall has partly fallen away, but that was once the stile", Tetley said.
Carefully Dad climbed over trying not to damage the wall any further. Looking left we could see the next stile after which it was diagonally left to the road by Wardsgarth.
"OK we go right to come to the A65." said Shaun.
This passed the buildings that had once been a falconry centre, which are in the process of being converted to a cheese shop and cafe.
At the A65 Dad went right along the verge, to take the B6480 left and walk up to the car.
"That had been a lovely walk", said Allen, "despite all the sheep pictures."
"Yes", agreed Southey, "and what beautiful views."
"Refreshment time", said Tetley.
"Sure thing lad. Elaine's here we come."
Dad took us in. Sue was mopping the floor, saying, "you have just missed the rush."
He sat a the usual table he and Uncle Brian have on Mondays. We had the honour of sitting in Uncle Brian's chair!
Sausages eggs and chips followed by blackcurrant pie and custard, and of course a large pot of tea, was his fare today. Elaine came for a brief chat but had to get back to clearing up. It had been a very very busy day and unsurprisingly she was tired.
So Dad all refreshed and revived, he drove us home.
