Yorkshire Walks

The dam at Grimwith Reservoir

Pete was leading our walk this month but he was delayed by a closure of the A19 due to a bad traffic accident on his way out of York. However we still managed to set off by 10.45 leaving the car park on a track (just below the toilet block) heading south to cross the B6265 at map ref. SE060630.

This morning we met a group of friends for our regular monthly walk together. This time we met at the public car park at Grimwith Reservoir (map ref. SE064641) between Pateley Bridge and Grassington. The weather forecast was for another bright sunny day but with the ever-present risk of a thundery shower.

Crossing the B6265 1km south of the car park

Stile from the road to the path to the disused mine

Path down to the old mine

Wild thyme growing in large patches by the path

We followed a winding path down the hillside to an old abandoned mine at map ref. SE066620. From the mine we continued along the path down to the Skyreholme Beck at the bottom end of Trollers Gill.

From the road we continued along the track for almost a kilometer to a bend in a minor road at map ref. SE062621. At the road we turned left for about 100m and then turned right off the road over a stile.

Path down to the old mine

Path down to the old mine

The old mine entrance - very unstable and dangerous

Old breached dam on Skyreholme Beck

At the road we turned left into the drive to Parcevall Hall and called at the tea shop.

We followed the path above the beck down the valley to the road at Parcevall Hall.

Path by the beck down to Parcevall Hall

Just a thistle by the path

We made our way across the fields to the road at Skyreholme, map ref. SE069607.

The weather was still fine and sunny so we sat outside for a welcome drink. After our break we climbed the stile opposite the tea shop.

Tea shop at Parcevall Hall

Path across the fields to Skyreholme

Field above High Skyreholme

He complained that the fleeces are only worth about 50p each and would cost more than that to get his sheep sheared by a commercial shearer.

At the road we turned left to begin the long steady climb along the road up through High Skyreholme to the moor top. Near the top of the climb we passed a farmer and his wife shearing their flock of Swaledale sheep.

Road up through High Skyreholme

Looking down the valley towards Wharfedale

Track up to the Moor top

Sheep shearing in progress

When we reached the top we sat by the track for our lunch with a lovely view back over Wharfedale. There was more cloud about now and an occasional spot of rain, but nothing to warrant any extra clothing.

After about a kilometer along the road which had now become a rough track, we came to a junction in the track at map ref. SE078615. We kept to the left hand fork at the junction and continued to climb for another 350m.

Sheep shearing in progress

Track down to the main road near Stump Cross cavern

Grooved boulder by the path

Crossing Grimwith Moor back to the reservoir

This is clearly what the farmer though we should have done as he came past at that moment in his tractor towing a trailer and shouted something at us as we began the climb. Not a good day for farmer/walker relations - Oh well, we do try to build bridges where we can and have some very pleasant conversations with farmers when we are out and about. We followed the path over the hill to drop down to the edge of Grimwith reservoir at map ref. SE072645.

After our lunch we followed the track for about 1.7km down to the B6265 a few hundred metres below Stump Cross cavern at map ref. SE083634. Here we crossed the road to a pedestrian gate into the field opposite. The field is open access land under the CRoW Act and the is a path up the steep hillside to join a public footpath at map ref. SE082637. To avoid the steep climb you can walk along the road for about 250m and take the public footpath on the left hand side of the road.

Crossing Grimwith Moor back to the reservoir

Crossing Grimwith Moor back to the reservoir

An orchid by the reservoir path

Reservoir path back to the car park

Sailing on the reservoir

Those at present unaffected by old age deterioration turned right and followed the path for about 6km around the edge of the reservoir and across the dam back to the car park. This route was about 16km and would take about 5 hours to walk.

Here our little group split into two. All of us with dodgy knee joints and other ailments turned left and walked about 1km back to the car park around the edge of the reservoir. This route was about 11km and took us about three and a half hours to walk including our stops.

Reservoir path back to the car park

Sailing on the reservoir

Sailing on the reservoir