Walking Britain Yorkshire Dales Walk
Blea Moor & Denthead from Ribblehead
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| Ordnance Survey Landranger 98 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 98 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
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Walk Route Description
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This Yorkshire Dales walk crosses some bleak landscapes, which for part of the way is shared by the Settle and Carlisle Railway. The route is generally easy to follow with a section of the Dales Way and Ribble Way joined for part of the route. The only disadvantage is some roadside walking on the final section. However there is open ground on this section so you can avoid walking on the tarmac.
The start is Ribblehead (grid ref. SD766792) where there are many opportunities for parking. Usually there is also a van serving refreshments. After parking take the often busy path running beneath the eastern side of Ribblehead Viaduct. Continue alongside the railway climbing gently passing Blea Moor signal box on your left. Reaching a junction (grid ref. SD760812) where the path to Whernside and Dent turns left across a railway bridge, keep straight ahead on a clear track.
Down to your left the railway enters Blea Moor Tunnel and the onward route follows the course of this tunnel across the moor passing the tunnel ventilation shafts that were so vital in the days of steam locomotives. The track soon starts to descend with views of Upper Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill opening up ahead of you. Just before you reach the northern portal of Blea Moor Tunnel, bear left where the track divides and drop down to Dent Head Farm. Turn right along their access road to a lane (grid ref. SD777843). Turn right. You are now on the Dales Way and you follow this road, climbing steadily.
Staying with the Dales Way, bear right onto a bridleway (grid ref. SD786836) that leads across Stoops Moss and onto Gayle Moor. The going is almost level before you start to descend into upper Ribbledale. Just before reaching a cross wall, follow the Dales Way as it turns sharp right (grid ref. SD786817). The Dales Way undulates across the hillside with High Gayle Farm below on your left. The path shadows the intake wall and where this turns left, the path follows suit dropping down to pass Winshaw and the B6255. Turn right along the road. You can avoid walking on tarmac as the road is unfenced on its northern side and you can cross the grassy slopes and under Runscar Scar using sheep trods and your own sense of direction back to the start. However do be careful on this section as there are old mine workings and sink holes.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1184 Whernside & Scales Moor from Ribblehead - moderate - 11.0 miles/17.9 km
Walk 1208 Ingleborough & Park Fell from Chapel-le-Dale - moderate - 7.5 miles/12.2 km
Walk 3500 Ingleborough from Chapel-le-Dale - moderate - 9.5 miles/15.4 km
Walk 3032 Gragareth & Great Coum, from Yordas Cave, Ingleton - moderate - 9.0 miles/14.6 km
Walk 3135 Dentdale & Bleamoor - moderate - 12.5 miles/20.3 km
Walk 1121 Pen-y-ghent & Plover Hill from Horton in Ribblesdale - moderate - 9.0 miles/14.6 km
Walk 1013 Pen-y-ghent via Brackenbottom - moderate - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
Walk 1500 Pen-y-ghent via Horton Scar - moderate - 6.8 miles/11 km
Walk 3433 Pen-y-ghent, Whernside & Ingleborough from Horton - very hard - 24.5 miles/39.8 km
Walk 3091 Ingleton Waterfalls Walk from Ingleton - easy - 4.3 miles/7 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: North and East
This guidebook contains 43 circular day walks in the north and east Yorkshire Dales. It explores the dales, hills and moors between Kirkby Stephen and Pateley Bridge. Walking ranges from gentle 3 mile strolls to more strenuous day-long rambles across the Howgills, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Nidderdale, Mallerstang and Coverdale.
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Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: South and West
Part of a two-book set, this guidebook describes 44 walks in the southern and western Yorkshire Dales, including the famous 23 mile Three Peaks circuit over Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. The other, mostly circular routes of 3½ to 13 miles cover the scenic region between Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Settle, Skipton and Grassington.
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Navigation
This pocket handbook to navigation will help you master the necessary map and compass skills for mountain walking. Chapters include map scales, symbols and contours, grid references, map reading, bearings, route planning and night and bad-weather navigation, as well as navigating with a GPS.
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