Conistone Pie and Dib from Grassington.

Start. Grassington.

Route. Grassington - Main Street - Chapel Street - Bank Lane - Cove Scar - Lea Green - Old Pasture - Scot Gate Lane - Conistone Pie - Scot Gate Lane - Conistone Dib - Conistone - Grass Wood Lane - Grass Wood - Grass Wood Lane - Bull Ing Lane - Grassington (Garrs End Lane) - Main Street.

Notes. Grassington a small market town that feels like a village, old world charm in abundance oozes from independent shops, ancient inns and cobbled market square. Narrow cobbled ginnels lead to secret corners the tourists don’t often see, all with a backdrop of the stunning Yorkshire Dales. To the north of the town Lea Green a large prehistoric settlement, one of the richest archaeological sites in the north of England. Bronze Age burial mounds, Celtic village and field systems and a Romano-British settlement. All to explore on this pleasant walk through a plethora of limestone scenery.

After parking in the main car park we headed up Main Street, at the top of the street we turned left into Chapel Street, Chapel Street in turn guided us to the foot of Bank Lane, a finger-post promised passage to a number of places, it was the Dales Way and Lea Green for us. Between limestone walls we wandered into stunning views over Wharfedale, ignoring a path across fields and another to the right we continued until Bank Lane spat us out onto Lea Green.

Between various humps and bumps we wandered, passed a large burial mound, to the right Celtic field systems, to the left woodland hiding more prehistoric remains. The path soon guided us to a stile, we crossed letting the Dales Way guide us north. Through wonderful limestone scenery we wandered, stiles allowed for safe crossing of dry stone walls, we passed a tastefully restored lime kiln and the head of Conistone Dib. Possibly one of the most interesting ascent or descent routes in the Dales, it was our descent route but not just yet, we had a date with Conistone Pie, the best view point in the Dales.

We continued north above Hill Castle Scar, after a few minutes the obvious stump of Conistone Pie tilted into view, we scrambled to the flat top, had lunch and spent ages soaking up the views. Full stomachs drunk on stunning views we headed back along the Dales Way to the head of Conistone Dib. This is a classic example of a dry valley, once not so dry, cut by glacial melt water it’s one of the most atmospheric places in Yorkshire’s limestone country.

The start of the descent was steep and stoney, hands on in places, further down the valley opened out before forcing us between limestone walls. This was Gurling Trough, it’s sublime descending this miniature gorge, all too soon we emerged into sunlight in Conistone. Our route then headed south back to Grassington, with tarmac to guide us we wandered south ignoring a path on the left, our intended route was through Grass Wood, it didn’t quite work out like that.

After traversing a large sheep pasture we entered Grass Wood, it had been a hot walk. The climb facing us looked rather daunting, so we opted to follow woodland paths south parallel to the lane we’d just left. Exiting the woods at a small parking area we had a choice, descend through Lower Grass Wood then follow the River Wharfe back, this meant ending with a steep climb back into town, or follow tarmac back, tarmac it was, and a pleasant final mile it turned out to be.

view route map.

home.

A quiet corner of Grassington.

Seen from the confines of Bank Lane Grass Wood.

Sue strides out guided by the dry stone walls of Bank Lane.

Malham Moor seen across the green fields of Wharfedale.

The vast bulk of Barden Moor seen from Lea Green.

Wandering through Lea Green into an impressive limestone landscape.

Walking through a landscape laid down in a warm tropical ocean 350 million years ago.

Viewing Yorkshire's broad acres, the rolling uplands above Lea Green.

Erratic boulders litter the fields above Lea Green.

Striding out along the Dales Way looking back to Bardon Moor.

The best view point in the Yorkshire Dales, Conistone Pie.

Above the valley of Wharfedale, Old Cote Moor seen from Conistone Pie.

Rising sheer from Wharfedale Kilnsey Crag.

Where water once carved a channel, now an excellent walking route, Conistone Dib.

The trail stretches out between walls of shattered rock.

Sue tentatively enters Gurling Trough.

Picking our way between the limestone cliffs of Gurling Trough to be ejected into....

....the delightful Dales village of Conistone.

En route through Grass Wood.

We started with a quiet corner of Grassington, well here's another to finish.

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