Conistone Dib and Pie.
Start. Grassington.
Route. Grassington - Main Street - Chapel Street - Bank Lane - Cove Scar - Lea Green - White Nook Dib - Conistone - Conistone Dib - Hill Castles Scar - Conistone Dib - Hill Castles Scar - Old Pasture - Lea Green - Bank lane - Chapel Street - Main Street - Grassington.
Notes. I'm not making these names up you know, I'm taking a wander through Mid Wharfedale a place that's able to boast a plethora of limestone features, Conistone Dib and Pie being but two. Come for a wander we'll be visiting Lee Green, the remains of a rather large prehistoric settlement north of Grassington, we'll experience the awesome ascent between the limestone buttresses of a long extinct water course, Conistone Dib, lunch on Conistone Pie giving us ample time to drink in views over Wharfedale and Littondale, we'll end the day striding out the Dales Way under foot back to Grassington. I can promise limestone exhibits ancient and modern what I'm unable to promise is the weather, a sudden rise in temperature's caused a thick haze to descend over most of Yorkshire, Wharfedale included.
Grassington was quiet as I ascended Main Street, I was hunting for the Dales Way my guide to the delights of Mid Wharfedale, on reaching a cross roads I turned left along Chapel Street, a few hundred yards north a large finger-post invited me to a number of destinations, Kettlewell by the Dales Way was but one of them. I ascended between dry stone walls to be met by another finger-post, an invitation to leave the lane and wander the Dales Way, I obliged crossing fields guided by way-marked paths, stiles eased my crossing of field boundaries. I soon reached Lea Green an archaeological hot spot, this vast expanse of pastures are the site of a prehistoric field system, also burial mounds and evidence of hut circles have been unearthed, Medieval man has also tilled these pastures, the remains of his village is also in evidence, excavations in the 1960 uncovered a midden full of 14th century pottery.
My route continued, north, keeping the dry stone wall to my left, on reaching a ladder stile I crossed said wall to enter a narrow valley, this in turn guided me into White Nook Dib which I crossed to start the long easy descent to Conistone. From this delectable dales village the path ushered me into Conistone Dib, a dry water course, I ascended between steep buttreses of limestone, up long extinct waterfalls, an awe-inspiring experience. The lower section over the dib opened out into green pastures interspersed by rivers of limestone scree, before narrowing again near it's head, I popped out like a cork from a bottle to be welcomed by a cooling breeze and the Dales Way. Right to Grassington, left they serve Conistone Pie, it's a short walk above Hill Castles Scar to the limestone promontory that uncannily resembles a pork pie, don't ignore it, it's a wonderful viewing platform, unfortunately the only pie to eat will be the one in your lunch box, I sat a while, drank coffee and soaked up hazy views over Littondale and Wharfedale. Lunch over I re-traced my steps to the head of Conistone Dib, Ignoring the dib I continued the Dales Way under foot, through vast sheep pastures split by dry stone walls and limestone scars, I passed a restored lime kiln before crossing Lea Green for the second time, I entered Bank Lane at it's head for the final half mile into Grassington.
Main Street, Grassington, quiet at this time of morning.
In Chapel Street with hazy views over Wharfedale for company.
Looking to Bastow and Grass Woods with Lea Green to the right.
Hazy views back to Grassington.
Bastow Wood seen from near Cove Scar.
Threshfield through the haze.
I believe I'm looking at one of the burial mounds on Lea Green.
Viewing Grassington Moor from Lea Green.
The valley of Nook Dib.
A quintessential part of the Yorkshire Dales, the field barn.
About to enter Conistone Dib.
Gurling Trough, it's narrow, the walls are high, it's cold and quit foreboding, and I can honestly say this is the first time ever I've ascended Conistone Dib with not another soul in sight, it's awe-inspiring.
I've escaped the confines of the lower dib to be greeted with views to a hazy Kilnsey Moor.
The head of Conistone Dib, a small gate, an easy scramble and your back on level ground.
Conistone Pie as seen from the Dales Way above Hill Castles Scar.
Looking down on Kilnsey Crag.
From Conistone Pie views to Old Cote Moor.
Wassa Hill and Davy Dimple with the large cairn guard the entrance to Conistone Dib.
Views down Conistone Dib, there's a few fellow walkers making the ascent now.
What can I say about a Lime Kiln built over 150 years ago, locally quarried limestone and coal were loaded through the top, kindling (wood) went in the bottom, it was allowed to burn for three days, the lime residue would be scraped up and used to freshen the pastures.
Wonderful limestone scenery near Old Pasture.
I've been alone for most of the day, this large group of noisy walkers were looking for a good lunch stop, do you think I recommended Conistone Pie? let that be our secret.
Lone tree on Lea Green.
About to descend back to Grassington, viewing Barden Moor across Wharfedale.