A Journey Through Wharfedale – Third and Final part

Welcome to the third, and final, part of your journey through Wharfedale in North Yorkshire. A valley that continues much further downstream than our starting point and diverges to many different points of interest along its way and at its destination.

From today’s starting point in Grassington its pretty straightforward and almost impossible to get lost, except for being distracted by all the beautiful scenery and places to stop off along the way.

For drivers and riders reverse your tracks back from the bottom of main street to Threshfield, turn right and stay on the B6160 all the way to Cray via Kilnsey, Kettlewell and Buckden. A number of cafes and pubs line the way to keep body and soul together.

For walkers it would be wise to take a packed lunch and fluids not only for hydration but to occupy you as you pass through some of the most picturesque places in the entire valley. Sensible clothing would be a good idea. Just in case.

You have two route choices today. The low route and the high route. The low route leaves from the bottom of main street turn right along Wood Lane and follow it until you join Grass Woods Lane heading towards Grass Woods and down almost to the riverside. Stay on this lane until it becomes Conistone Lane and follow it to Kettlewell.

The high route starts  by walking up Grassington main street to the Town Hall and bear left along Chapel Street and Bank Lane where you pick up the “Dales Way” long distance footpath. In a short while you will meet up with our old friend “Abbey’s Amble”. Follow this footpath high above the valley floor until you descend and reach Scargill House/Monument and join the low route on Conistone Lane to Kettlewell village.

“Abbey’s Amble” is one of many long-distance walks in this country and takes in three Yorkshire abbeys (Fountains, Bolton and Jervaulx), it also visits three castles (Ripley, Bolton and Middleham) in its102 miles stride around North Yorkshire which starts and ends in Ripon.

In Kettlewell village, head for the road bridge over the river, cross the bridge and turn right taking the footpath down to the riverbank. For both walking routes it is now a steady riverbank stroll all the way to Buckden. The fields you will pass through will likely contain livestock so please remember the country code regarding animals being on leads and everyone sticking to footpaths.

Meanwhile you will notice that the fields each side of the valley are climbing ever upward into tall fells with outcrops of limestone.  Trees are becoming fewer the higher the fells climb but the grass is still there providing food for the sheep. In the valley bottom alongside the river, meadows are sprinkled with stone barns. Here is where farmers store the meadows crops for winter feed. In summer the barns provide shelter and roosting for breeding owls and smaller prey birds like kestrel. If you are lucky, you may catch sight of these silent predators.

On reaching Buckden, leave the riverbank,  cross the bridge and walk up into the village. You will find the car park, cross this and a footpath climbs up the fell to the left, this is our old friend “Abbey’s Amble” and will lead you the last mile up the hill and round the corner. Once abeam Cray hamlet turn left along a smaller footpath, cross Cray Gill Beck and you will arrive at your destination of Cray.

I do hope you have enjoyed, and will enjoy in person, your journey through Wharfedale. I trust you have enjoyed the scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and that there may be some images that may look good hanging in your home. If so, please visit our on-line shop to browse.

See you next month.