Semer Water and Cam High Road from Bainbridge
Yorkshire Dales Walk
Nat Park - Yorkshire Dales - Wensleydale
County/Area - North Yorkshire
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 5.7 miles / 9.3 km Ascent - 750 feet / 227 metres
Time - 3 hours 40 minutes Grade - easy/mod
Maps
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL30 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Anquet OS Explorer OL30 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
Wensleydale is well known for its scenic beauty and this Yorkshire Dales walk is full of wonderful landscapes. Starting from Bainbridge in Wensleydale, the route heads south into Raydale to Semer Water and the nearby village of Countersett. The route then climbs onto the former Roman Road (the Cam High Road) for a gradual descent back to the start. This walk can be combined with Walk 3524 from Semer Water.
Roadside parking is available around the village green in Bainbridge (grid ref. SD933901), which lies about 4 miles east of the Hawes on the A684. After parking follow the A684 east and Cross the River Bain. Bear right onto the signed footpath just past the last building and continue across fields following the Pennine Journey long distance footpath. The path climbs gently with the River Bain down to your left to reach a footpath junction just before the summit of Bracken Hill (grid ref. SD932891). Here go half right staying on the Pennine Journey path descending slightly to walk alongside the River Bain.
Reaching a lane (grid ref. SD921877) at Semer Water Bridge, turn right and climb steeply towards the village of Countersett. Follow the lane round to the right and almost immediately take the signed footpath on your left. This leads up a driveway past cottages on your right and then continues climbing across fields to reach a lane at Hawes End (grid ref. SD912883). Turn right (west) along the lane and descend to Four Lane Ends (grid ref. SD905883) enjoying a wonderful view up Wensleydale towards Hawes.
At Four Lane Ends, bear sharp right and follow the walled Cam High Road between walls towards Bainbridge. After just under 1.5 miles you reach a lane (grid ref. SD925894). Turn left through a gate and follow the path to Greensley Bank (grid ref. 922896). Turn right here just before the building following the signed path to Bainbridge. The route ahead passes through fields, crosses a footbridge a leads you to a path junction at grid ref. SD927900 just before a barn. Turn right here and return to Bainbridge.
Other walks nearby
Walk 2822 | Aysgarth & Castle Bolton | mod/hard | 14.5 miles |
Walk 1694 | Nappa Hall & Whitfield Gill Force | easy/mod | 6.0 miles |
Walk 2265 | Semer Water, Stalling Busk & Marsett | easy | 4.0 miles |
Walk 2363 | Drumaldrace (Wether Fell) from Burtersett | easy/mod | 5.2 miles |
Walk 2273 | Dodd Fell Hill & Drumaldrace | moderate | 11.5 miles |
Walk 2286 | Gayle & Aysgill Force from Hawes | easy | 3.5 miles |
Walk 3624 | Great Shunner Fell from Hardraw | mod/hard | 9.2 miles |
Walk 3621 | Great Shunner Fell & Lovely Seat | mod/hard | 11.4 miles |
Walk 1680 | Haw Lane & Aysgarth Moor | easy/mod | 6.3 miles |
Walk 2155 | Mossdale & Cotterdale | easy/mod | 7.9 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales
Guidebook 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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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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Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.