Middleton Moor

5th April 2010 - 6 Miles

Map : OS Pathfinder 662 (Bolton Abbey & Blubberhouses) or OS Explorer 297 (Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley)

With Gill away visiting Hannah in Florida it's a couple of weeks of solo walking for me. Easter Monday and it was what my mother would call "wild and woolly". A strong wind, dark clouds and a hint of rain, although it didn't! This is another Paul Hannon walk taken from his book "Ilkley Moor", although technically I was on on the other side of the valley.



The walk starts from Ling Park Plantation (GR SE 107504). Take the Middleton road out of Ilkley and just keep going up ! You're already some 240 metres at this point but don't worry - the high point of the walk is at 409 metres.

The route describes a figure of eight climbing, eventually, to Round Hill. The first part of the walk is on tracks and, although it was wet underfoot, is quite easy going. Eventually you arrive at the bottom of Loftshaw Gill which was extremely wet and, at this point head away up a line of shooting butts towards the summit of the walk. This is a long and steady uphill drag taking you from about 240 metres to the eventual summit at 409 metres. As with all walks of this nature the uphill might be long and strenuous, but the reward was some fantastic views far and wide when you get there !

I did make the cairn at the top of Round Hill and then set off almost due East for Gawk Hall Gate. This was into the teeth of a gale with pretty slippy underfoot conditions.

At Gawk Hall Gate I encountered a marker post reading Ripon - 13, Ilkley -3 and the guide book points out that this was a crossroads on an old "badger" route. This is not the furry animal but a nickname given to corn dealers who, presumably, used it to criss cross the County. Again, the views were spectacular, looking across to Menwith Hill and it's famous "golf balls" and beyond to Harrogate.

The walk back across Gawk Hall Ridge was extremely boggy and the path seems to be ever widening as walkers and mountain bikers seek out a dry route ! Eventually the route leads back to the foot of Loftshaw Gill and this time heads out over Long Ridge to Moor End Farm. Although the map mentions Cup and Ring marked rocks sadly I did not encounter any of them. Anyway, the pathway across the ridge eventually meets the Langbar to Beamsley road and the route back to the parking space is easily achieved.

Another fairly strenuous six miles. Very, very muddy in places (I actually slipped and fell at one point), but that's due to the amount of rain that has fallen over the past few weeks. It's great to know that you can get a real "wilderness" feel on a walk that is only about seven miles from where I live.

Usual attempts at pictures are available here