Walk 3233 - printer friendly version

Dent & Gawthrop Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km

Ascent - 990 feet / 300 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SD703871
Lat 54.278672 + Long -2.4576338
Postcode LA10 5QJ (approx. location only)

This Yorkshire Dales walk explores the southern side of Dentdale starting from the picturesque village of Dent. The route is generally easy to follow and offers a variety of scenery. Apart from the first section of the walk, the going is relatively easy with very little ascent.

The start is the main car park in Dent (Grid ref. SD703871). Exit the car park, cross over the main road through the village and take the street opposite. Keep straight on passing the green on your left. The road eventually becomes a rough track and starts to climb steadily. On your left is Flinter Gill with its pretty cascades and waterfalls. Leaving the light woodland the track enters open country. A worthwhile diversion is to visit the viewing point on the right (Grid ref. SD700862), which offers a grandstand view of beautiful Dentdale.

The gradient starts to ease and you soon reach a t-junction. Turn right and follow the Occupation Road as it meanders and undulates across the hillside. Reaching the Barbondale Road, turn right and, keeping an eye out for traffic, walk along the lane to reach a footpath sign on your left (Grid ref SD683864). Follow this path across a meadow and past some limestone outcrops to reach a stile. Cross this, and with the wall on your left, continue across the field to pick up the track heading north towards Combe House.

Pass this house and outbuildings and continue down the recently improved access road. The newly aligned access avoids Tofts Farm, which is on your left. Staying on the track descend past Bower Bank to reach a lane (Grid ref. SD688877). Go east along this lane past a cottage to the small village of Gawthrop. Keep straight on through the village looking out for the signed path on your left (Grid ref. SD694873). Follow this path, with Oliver gill, on your right to reach the road near Barth Bridge. Continue to Barth Bridge, taking the signed footpath (The Dales Way) on the right before crossing the river. The path crosses meadows, roughly following the river. Reaching the road continue upstream and take the footpath on your left, which regains the river bank. Continue ahead to the next bridge, Church Bridge (Grid ref. SD707871). Turn right up the road into the village bearing right in the centre to return to the start.

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