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Grassington, Mastilles Lane & Conistone Dib

Yorkshire Dales Walk

Nat Park - Yorkshire Dales - Upper Wharfedale

County/Area - North Yorkshire

Author - Peter Schofield

Length - 12.0 miles / 19.5 km    Ascent - 1950 feet / 591 metres

Time - 8 hours 0 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Grassington, Mastilles Lane & Conistone Dib
Click image to see photo description.

Grassington is the main village in the lower reaches of Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Retaining much character, despite the gift shops, the village almost has the feel of a town. This is a long walk but there is so much to see and enjoy that the miles pass quickly. The ascent is easy and especially in Consitone Dib passes almost unnoticed.

This route is based on walk 1145 but avoids the section of road walking at the start. This adds just under a mile of extra walking a little more ascent but does avoid the majority of the road section.

The easiest place to park for this Yorkshire Dales walk is on the large car park adjacent to the National Park information centre (grid ref. SE 002637). Leave the car park by the south entrance and follow Sedber Lane down to Linton Falls. Cross the bridge and follow the path around the houses to reach a lane.

Turn right and follow the lane for 200m to a junction. Turn right again and after a further 200m, Threshfield School is reached where you turn left on to a footpath. The school was established in 1674 and its 300th anniversary is commemorated on a stone over the door. Follow the path for about 600m over fields and an old railway bridge to reach the B6160 at a stile.

Turn right and after 100m, turn left into a lane which leads to the delightful village green at Threshfield where the old village stocks can still be seen. Cross the B6265 and take a waymarked path to the right of the Old Hall pub which crosses a number of fields and stiles, finally reaching Skirethorns Lane at the bridge over Spiredale Beck.

Turn left and follow this lane, turning right into Wood Lane. The end of the road walking is now in sight. Turn left up the main drive into the Caravan site at Wood Nook continuing through the site to emerge alongside Rowley Beck.

The true nature of the countryside is now evident with outcrops of limestone becoming more frequent. Climbing slowly Height House, an abandoned farm, is soon reached and the path continues westwards to Height Laithe Farm which nestles in the valley.

Care is needed in this area as there are a number of paths near the farm although the next objective, Bordley, is signed. The path loses height quite quickly as it approaches Bordley. Reaching the farm access road turn right along it regaining lost height as you head north. Dropping slightly you reach a hollow. Here you leave the road and follow the wall north to Mastilles Lane to Mastilles Gate.

Turn east along the well graded walled lane. You cross wild country - limestone uplands as you cross Kilnsey Moor. Quite suddenly the view ahead opens up across Wharfedale to Great Whernside. You can also clearly see the defile of Conistone Dib immediately behind the village.

With an easy downhill walk you can admire the views staying on the lane until you are under Cool Scar. On the right is a well disguised stile (grid ref. 968673) which leads onto a path down to Bow Bridge Farm. Left on to the main road and right over the Wharfe into Conistone. It is worth looking north from here to the impressive outcrop known as Kilnsey Crag - apparently well favoured by climbers.

A pleasant unspoilt village (no refreshments were found) with cottages grouped together around the small village "green". Leave the road and take the path heading east. This follows the floor of Conistone Dib, a classic limestone gorge, climbing slowly to reach the limestone plateau above. The last section is an easy scramble but should not cause any problems. On reaching the plateau turn immediately right. Do not go through the gate, and follow this path south, ignoring paths descending right.

You are now on the Dales Way (poorly signed in this area) which needs to be followed all the way back to Grassington. To your right and left are excellent examples of limestone pavements. They are very extensive in this area and are certainly equal to those found above Malham. The path splits roughly half way to Grassington (grid ref. SD 996663). The best route is to stay with the wall on your left which eventually leads into a walled lane. Soon you are back in Grassington.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1292 Linton & Thorpe Fell & Cracoemoderate9.0 miles
Walk 1407 Thorpe & Burnsall from Lintoneasy/mod6.2 miles
Walk 2610 Hebden Gill & Cupola Cornereasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 2611 Hebden Gill from Hebdeneasy4.0 miles
Walk 1280 Trollers Gillmoderate9.0 miles
Walk 2000 Wharfedale Circularmoderate13.5 miles
Walk 1576 Embsay Reservoireasy1.0 miles
Walk 3301 Conistone to Grassington via the Dibeasy5.0 miles
Walk 3262 Copplestone Gate and Conistone Pie from Conistoneeasy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 2423 Capplestone Gate & Conistone Pieeasy/mod6.8 miles

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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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