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Trollers Gill from Burnsall

Yorkshire Dales Walk

Nat Park - Yorkshire Dales - Lower Wharfedale

County/Area - North Yorkshire

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 9.0 miles / 14.6 km    Ascent - 1150 feet / 348 metres

Time - 5 hours 40 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Trollers Gill
Click image to visit gallery of 6 images.

This Yorkshire Dales walk combines a variety of landscapes and starts from the village of Burnsall on the River Wharfe. Nowhere is the going hard although the traverse of Trollers Gill does require some nimble footwork and the occasional use of hands if it is to be safely negotiated.

There are a number of parking options in Burnsall (Grid ref. SE031610) although for the purposes of this description it is assumed you park in the large car park on the west side of the river. After parking cross the bridge over the River Wharfe and fork right following the Dales Way footpath sign to follow the Wharfe downstream.

The path stays close to the river except where it takes a short cuts and should be followed past Appletreewick (which is across the fields to your left) as far as the minor road (Grid ref. SE 060592). Go straight across and up the lane to Howgill (Grid ref. SE 063591). Turn left here and continue past the caravan site on your left to reach a signed path on your left (Grid ref. SE 065594). Fork left here and cross fields to reach the road in Skyreholme (Grid ref. SE 065603). Turn right along this quiet lane as far as the road junction at Middle Skyreholme.

Turn right at the junction and continue for a short way before taking the footpath on your left. This takes you across pastures to Ridge End Cottage (refreshments in season). Exit onto the lane and turn left. A short way down the lane take the footpath signed on your right. Stay on the valley floor following the course of Skyreholme Beck. Ignore the path forking left and stay with the beck as it enters Trollers Gill. Some care is needed as you make your way through this narrow cleft. Under normal circumstances the gill is dry or the water very shallow. After heavy or prolonged rain the stream may flow through Trollers Gill and this may make the walk through the narrow cleft a lot more difficult. You may find you will have to seek an alternative route.

Exiting Trollers Gill stay in the valley for approximately 400 metres. Cross the stile on your left and follow the path uphill towards the road (Grid ref. SE 063622). Turn left along the road. Turn right along the bridleway that crosses Appletreewick Pasture in a southwesterly direction. The going is good and excellent progress is made downhill to enter Kail Lane for the final descent into the valley. Reaching a road (Grid ref. SE 040607) go straight across to reach the Dales Way. Turn right and follow the path used on the outward route back to Burnsall village.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2610 Hebden Gill & Cupola Cornereasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 2611 Hebden Gill from Hebdeneasy4.0 miles
Walk 1576 Embsay Reservoireasy1.0 miles
Walk 1292 Linton & Thorpe Fell & Cracoemoderate9.0 miles
Walk 1407 Thorpe & Burnsall from Lintoneasy/mod6.2 miles
Walk 1145 Grassington, Mastilles Lane & Conistone Dibmoderate11.3 miles
Walk 1645 Grassington, Mastilles Lane & Conistone Dibmoderate12.0 miles
Walk 1846 Garnshaw House & Linton Falls from Grassingtoneasy3.0 miles
Walk 1946 Valley of Desolation & Simon's Seatmoderate8.4 miles
Walk 1573 Grimwith Reservoireasy4.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

The Dales Way

The Dales WayAn essential guidebook to walking the Dales Way. This picturesque 78 mile long distance route through the Yorkshire Dales between Ilkley and Bowness on Windermere is one of the gentlest multi-day walks in Britain. The route is described in both directions, visiting Grassington, Kettlewell, Buckden, Dent, Sedbergh and Staveley en route to Bowness.
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Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales

Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire DalesGuidebook to 40 of the best trail and fell runs in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ranging from 5 to 24 miles, the graded runs start from bases such as Ribblehead, Dent, Sedbergh, Malham and Grassington and take in the region's diverse delights, from castles and waterfalls to iconic mountains such as Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen Y Ghent.
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