Greenhow

Saturday, 25th September

13.9 km (8.9 miles) - Time 2.51 hours

Map :OS Explorer 26 - Nidderdale

With the start of the U18 Inter-County matches and my duties as a selector imminent Gill and I decided to have a Saturday off rugby and get some walking in instead. 

We parked just off the B6265 Grassington to Pateley Bridge Road at Toft Gate (GR SE128644) and our route took us downhill to Coldstonesfold Farm before climbing back up to the road and dropped us into Greenhow (GR  SE113642).

From Greenhow you enter an area that is scarred with the remains of old Lead Mines. The spoil heaps dominate the gill as do the remains of old smelting mills before we escaped onto the Nidderdale Way and tracked Ashfold Side Beck all the way down to Corn Close (GR SE148665).  The walk down the beck side was accompanied by large numbers of Grouse and Pheasant who seem to have escaped the shooters who dominate these parts during August at least.  The bottom of the valley took us through an extensive caravan park, shrouded in trees which hugs the beck side until we emerged at Corn Close and its impressive water wheel.

The final stretch of the walk took us back along the other side of the beck to Mosscar Bottom (GR SE138661) before a long uphill stretch back to Coldstonesfold Farm and a final climb back to the car park.

The weather stayed glorious throughout the walk, although there was a stiff wind, particularly at the start and finish which was some 330 metres above sea level.  The end of the walk with its almost relentless uphill trudge was strenuous but we were only about 15 miles from home so the journey (which actually went via the rugby club) allowed us time to recover.  
Another wonderful day in the country which left us thanking the fact that we have such spectacular scenery and walks just a stone's throw from out front door

Some pictures available from this link - although some of the photos are a bit "washed out" due to the brightness of the September sun!