Dallowgill and Greygarth Monument

Sunday, 11th Sept
11.7 km (7.2 miles) 2hr 55m
Explorer 26 - Nidderdale.

A wonderful scenic walk with clear views stretching for miles, although the wind was a bit pesky towards the end!  This was another walk from Paul Hannon's "Ripon and Lower Wensleydale" book and covered ground I did in May 2010, although this walk was clockwise !
The walk starts on a stretch of moorland road (GR SE199706) that can easily be missed. Once kitted up the first section follows a moorland path that drops quickly and easily into Dallow itself (GR SE197714). Dallow can hardly be called a village only containing a couple of houses but, once the settlement is left, the scenery changes as you skirt a wood and then drop to cross the River Laver by a footbridge (GR SE190714).  A short climb takes you into woods before crossing fields to a ruined farmhouse and up through a green lane to join the road.  A short stretch along the road, followed by an equally short climb sees you arrive at Greygarth Monument (GR SE 186723).  The monument contained our only cache of the day but the ability to climb up inside the monument to a "viewing platform" afforded long range views - as far as the eye could see and right across to the North Yorkshire moors.
After spending some time at the monument the "official" route is to retrace one's steps and then double back past the monument to cross Swetton Moor.  However, being cheats we went directly from the monument, across the moor dropping down to Swetton and eventually crossing Carlesmoor Beck.

Of point of interest along this route are a number of mosaics.  There are about ten of these (some photographed in the album that accompanies this blog), each depicting some form of wildlife or livestock.
The route from Carlesmoor is a lovely lane which follows the line of the beck before emerging onto the road. A short skip up the road and another lane gives way to the right which drops back down to cross a couple of fords before rising steeply to become Belford Lane.
This joins the main road just by the Drovers Inn before a further lane (Wetshod Lane) heads out towards Skelding Moor.  The final section skirts the edge of the moor before rejoining the road for the last 1/4 mile when the parking place is regained.
A superb walk in almost total isolation.  Dallowgill seems to be one of those places that no-one has ever heard of and we only met one other group of walkers. The weather was breezy but not uncomfortable apart from the last stretch along the road when we had to walk into it.  An enjoyable afternoon where we broke the 250 miles for the year mark !!  Photos available from this link (Note: the album is called Greygarth so it does not clash with a previous Dallowgill album!)

Oxenhope

Sunday, 4th Sept
10k (6mls) - 2hr 40m
OL21 - South Pennines

A delightful Sunday with the weather set fair giving us long distance views for miles on the "head of the valley" walk, right at the top of the Worth Valley.
Oxenhope is most famed as being the last station on the Worth Valley Railway and this walk started from the Station Car Park (GR SE032353). The walk quickly gained height as we strode up Dark Lane eventually emerging onto a back lane and dropping down to the main road before rising again to the Dog & Duck pub.
Here, thankfully, we turned off and up Sawood Lane, again gaining height pretty quickly to Cobling Farm and an amazing array of chickens and ducks (lots of variety of fowl - I need to look them up!).
From Coblilng Farm the scenery changes to moorland as Sawood Lane goes from being a metalled road, into track and, finally, moorland track.  This section was the real high point in more than one sense as the views afforded were truly spectacular.  Sadly, the camera doesn't catch these but we could make out Ingleborough in the far distance quite clearly.

After crossing the moor a road is regained (GR SE033331) and, after following it for a short distance, the route crosses fields to Intake Lane and eventually gives out at the Waggon and Horses.  After crossing the Hebden Bridge Road you descend Hard Nese Clough which was bathed in purple heather before climbing the other side of the clough to Lower Fold Farm (GR SE015345).  From here the route gradually descends along a road and then pathway to bring you back to the car park.
After the trial of strength last week this was an absolutely delightful walk with magnificent views.  The fact it took three hours less than last week and the fact that I can still walk shows that it was less than "challenging".
Link will take you to some photographs.