Beamsley Beacon and Bolton Abbey from Addingham - Yorkshire Dales Bradford - Walk 1905

Nat Park	Yorkshire Dales
County/Area	Bradford & North Yorkshire
Author	Peter Schofield
Length	10.0 miles / 16.3 km
Ascent	1600 feet / 485 metres
Grade	moderate
Start	OS grid reference SE083499 Lat 53.9449246489063 + Long -1.87339469924352 Postcode LS29 0QZ (approx. location only)

This walk on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales has a bit of everything. Rolling pastureland, wild moorland, riverscapes and historic buildings can all be found within a relatively short distance.

The walk starts in Addingham at the suspension footbridge over the River Wharfe (grid ref. SE083499). Cross the bridge and follow the path to West Hall Lane. Continue up the lane for 100m and go through a gate as the lane turns left. Continue uphill across the fields to arrive at a narrow and occasionally wet walled path which gently climbs towards a farm (grid ref. SE093513). Go around the front of the farmhouse on to a quiet lane.

Turn left on to the lane and as it turns right after 150m, bear slightly left down a track towards a finger post. Take the upper path indicated on the finger post over a stile and through a copse as the path crosses a number of fields, entering the Dales National Park at the second field boundary. To the right Beamsley Beacon is prominent while views open out to the left towards Airedale and Flasby Fell.

The path finally reaches a very narrow stile to arrive at the access road to Howber Hill Farm. Keep straight on across both the track and a minor road as views open out to the left towards Bolton Bridge and Wharfedale. The occasionally damp path joins a vehicle track, continuing to a junction where a finger post directs you to along a track to the right towards Howgill Side and Howgill Farm. Stay on this track until 100m beyond Howgill Farm where a path bears left to follow a wall down to a footbridge over Kex Beck. Beyond the bridge, the route climbs steeply up a walled lane to arrive at the A59 road at Hill End (grid ref. SE095540).

Take care to cross this very busy road and continue down the lane opposite to a fork in the road near some houses. Take the right fork up the hill and after 120m, double back on to a walled lane which climbs to reach the access track to Witchey (grid ref. SE091541). Note the change in the terrain. The pastures seen earlier have been left behind and the open moorland is more reminiscent of the Dark Peak. Follow the clear route past Witchey as it winds over the moor to reach a finger post at a track junction (grid ref. SE093551). It’s worth having a break here to enjoy the expansive views towards Barden Fell, Simons Seat and across Wharfedale.

Turn left and as the track descends gently, the Cavendish Pavilion and River Wharfe can be seen down below on the right. The track continues descending to arrive at a road at the hamlet of Storiths. Go right along the road and after 200m, go left down a quiet lane to a finger post (grid ref. SE080542). Turn right and then left past a farmhouse to join a walled path descending steeply as the ruins of Bolton Abbey come into view ahead. Where the path meets another path at a gate, turn left and follow the path as it descends towards the river bank and crosses several fields to arrive at a quiet road just east of Bolton Bridge. Turn right and cross the now practically disused bridge as the traffic thunders across a more modern bridge a short distance downstream.

At this point the walk can be shortened by turning left on to the Dales Way just beyond the bridge and following it back to the start at Addingham. However our route continues straight ahead to the B6160. Turn left and after 70m, go right at a finger post through a field to another gate on the A59. Cross the road and continue up the tarmac road opposite as it climbs up to Hawpike Farm. Follow the track through the farm buildings as it bears left through a gate. Continue to follow the track for 150m to just beyond a gully and then go left to follow a faint path along the top side of Lob Wood on a bearing of 135 degrees.

The route continues on roughly the same bearing over a couple of stiles as views open out towards Beamsley Beacon and other points seen earlier the walk. Descending gently the route arrives at a gate next to a disused railway line at SE072517. After 80m turn left on a track which passes through extensive riding stables to arrive at the B6160. The Friends Meeting House here dates back to 1669 and is well worth a look. Cross the road and go down the steps on to the Dales Way, following this well walked route back to the start in Addingham.

This walk is suitable for those without their own transport as Addingham is well served by buses. Frequent services link the village centre with Ilkley, Skipton, Leeds, Keighley and Grassington and timetable details can be found on www.wymetro.com. The start and finish point is in Bark Lane about five minutes walk from the main bus stop.

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.