A Dales Mystery Tour
with CragFace
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Description |
Dales Drive
Driving in the Dales is a great
way to see more of this pretty part of the world, just
as long as you know where to go. Try this 50 mile round
trip, leaving Grassington town and heading North. It
is part scenic, partly adventure, but overall is meant
to be an enjoyable taster of the lower Dales area and
villages.
You can either drive all the
way round sticking to the route, or, instead of driving
past the villages or places of interest, you can stop
off at any point along the way to take in the scenery,
beauty, and essence of each village or attraction.
I have/will put links in from
this site for the current walks, villages, and attractions
to help plan your day.
This an ongoing task! Please be patient :)
ENJOY ! |
| Distance: |
Just over 50
miles |
| Time:
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Depends on your stops. Say at least 3 hrs. : Why not
make a day of it !?! |
| Height:
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Roads
reach above 1400ft : (430 metres) |
| Difficulty:
|
Needs a navigator, and driver (not back seat) Fraught
when hot or wet |
| Scenery:
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Pretty good, driver misses out, may need lots of stops. |
| Start
Location: |
Start
at Grassington National Park car park. SE 003637 |
| Maps:
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OS
: Touring Map 6, : Explorer OL 2 |
| Bus Service: |
If you don't
have a car, or want to leave the driving to someone
else? There are hourly buses throughout the day seven
days a week from Grassington National Park Centre at
the start/finish point of this drive. See www.dalesbus.org
for details. |
This
walk was Complied by Cragface.
All Words, Photography, etc. are by the man himself.
| |
Leave Grassington High street,
(pass the Spar shop on your right) turn right, then
immediately right again, at the Gallery (on the right
corner, and Dales newsagent shop on the left corner.)
You should now be heading North West towards Conistone,
and Kettlewell.
On entering the village of Conistone, please take care,
and drive slowly. As well as being a sleepy hollow,
it houses a pony trekking school, so there are lots
of horses, and children about.
Pass this sign, (pictured) then Kilnsey Trekking Centre
both on your right. Head down the road over the bridge,
and you can see the crag over on the right. |
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It is not unusual for folk to
park their cars along here, as the walks and views are
quite impressive.
See Kilnsey & Conistone Walk : HERE
Not far over the bridge is this
T junction, (pictured) turn right here.
Further up the road on the left is the park...then the
pub...then the Crag. |
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At this point you may wish to
consider wandering around the Crag, the Park, go fishing,
eat; or try a walk...(parking is free in the Park)
Toilets are available at the
Park, and in the pub The Tennant Arms further up the
road.
KILNSEY
CRAG
Click
here for further information
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Otherwise...continue on the road
travelling past the crag on your left...heading towards
Kettlewell and Aysgarth.
At this junction (see picture)
this tour will take the more adventurous and picturesque
route. Go right, (please note the banners may not be
up when you pass!...) and over the bridge, and as soon
as you are over the bridge take the first possible left
turn.
Kettlewell
Village Link
Aysgarth
Village Links |
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Here (pictured)...and follow
this road, with the river on your left.
(This is a single track road
to Hawkswick. It is unsuitable for caravans !) |
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Go through Hawkswick village
and touch the outskirts of Arncliffe.
Go straight ahead here (see picture)
heading for Litton.
However... |
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Arncliffe village, is literally
just around the corner...on the road to your left over
the bridge. You may wish to stop here and look round
the village, or do a walk. If so, the links for both
are here on the right.
Otherwise...
...Onward to Litton, (where you
will find a quiet friendly pub) the road eventually
leading to Halton Gill.
Toilets in the Pub |
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At this position, in the village
of Halton Gill, (pictured) turn left towards Stainforth
and Settle. Up 't hill ! |
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| 9 |
There
are wonderful views on both sides...but you will see the
majestic beauty of Pen-y-ghent over on your right as well
as pass lots of mini-waterfalls and streams.
(Now if you carry straight on,
rather than follow our designated route, there are the
villages of Stainforth and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, worthy
of a detour. See your map.)
The links over to the right give further information
on these villages and a walk.
There are
Public Toilets and a camp and caravan site in
both Stainforth, and Horton in Ribblesdale, and a hike
to Pen-y-ghent.
Otherwise...
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10 |
Now
all you do is head for Malham...at any signpost.
At SD 834687 take a left turn
at the signpost for Malham 6 miles...and at the next
signpost...Stainforth / Langcliffe Settle turn left.
Just keep your nose pointing
towards Malham.
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11 |
At
the next junction (see picture) take a right turn for
Malham. |
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12 |
At
this junction (pictured) turn right for Malham. You can
go straight on...this will take you near the tarn, where
you can park for free. If you continue along that road,
you still end up in Malham, but miss seeing the Cove on
the way down.
or...anywhere along here... find a spot along this
road, (without blocking it) for a short stop, and relax
for a while...the silence is deafening.
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13 |
Follow
the road down into Malham, looking out for the Cove on
your left. (see picture)
(There are no areas to stop, if you want to take photographs...please
park in the village and walk back!)
There is a campsite over on your left.
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14 |
Links
...all about this fascinating area... are here on the
right.
Pass the red telephone box on your left.
Public Toilets are on your right.
The Buck Inn is on your right, and the blacksmith is
on your left.
The National Parks Car-Park and National Park Centre
(NPC) at SD 900626 is on the right.
With free toilets (Fee payable for parking.)
|
Malham
Village Information Link
Malham & Gordale Scar WalkMalham
Walk
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15 |
Leave
Malham by way of the local road, (having passed the NPC
on your right) and go up the hill towards Kirkby Malham.
There is a very sharp left turn into the village, some
houses, a pub (Toilet in Pub),
and the church is at the end, on your right. It has a
small (but righteous) car-park.
Continue on this road through Airton, and Eshton, ignore
the left turn for Hetton near Eshton Hall, and carry
on towards Gargrave.
Passing through the back of Gargrave, over the canal
bridge, you will arrive at the A65 T junction.
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16 |
Should
you wish to look round Gargrave, turn right on the A65
junction, (see picture in cell 17) and then park in the
free car-park which is best found by going past the petrol
station, and taking the right opening at the pub (The
Old Swan) in front of you. The parking is not far along
here.
Very good Public Toilets
are on the main road on the left (turn left at The Old
Swan Inn, then drive past the Co-op, they are just before
the bridge, and have a handy short stay parking space.)
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Link to Gargrave
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17 |
Otherwise
at the junction SD 935544 on the A65 (see picture) turn
left and this road takes you back into Skipton Town Centre,
via a roundabout. |
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18 |
Arriving
in Skipton, gateway to Dales, you may want to stretch
your legs and look around - plenty to see and do here.
Moving on you need to head to the top of the High Street,
facing the castle.
Toilets in the main car park
or bus station are 20p
Use the free ones in the Town Hall
At the roundabout, turn right
signposted for Harrogate, and the A59.
(Also for, Dales Railway, Embsay, Eastby and Bolton
Abbey.)
Pass the castle on your left
and continue (up the Bailey) until you reach the left
turning for Embsay... |
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19 |
At
this junction (picture) for Embsay turn left, along the
local road. |
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20 |
Reaching
the village you pass the Embsay Steam Railway entrance
on your right, and at the pub, The Elm Tree Inn, (picture)
there is a very sharp right turn.
Further down is a parking area on the left, and the
start of a walk.
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21 |
Should
you choose to stop here and wander round
Embsay Station, (Toilets
are on the platform) or to
do the walk, and need further information about these,
click on the links on the right.
Links like these will be placed in appropriate positions
along this drive to help you plan your day.
Otherwise...
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22 |
At
the end of the village, is this junction, (see picture)
where you get the first of three opportunities (any more
and you need a tank) to divert to Bolton Abbey, (straight
ahead) should you wish to? Turn left to keep on the tour.
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23 |
BOLTON
ABBEY
Click here for further Information |
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24 |
Go
through the village of Eastby, and over a cattle-grid.
At this junction (pictured) turn
left for Parceval Hall, Burnsall and Grassington.
Pass Barden Tower on your right after about 500yds. |
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| 25 |
Turn
right here (pictured) and head towards
Appletreewick and Pateley
Bridge. (at SE 050573)
Drive over the bridge which goes sharp left, and stop
for ice-cream if the need arises? (As long as he 'baint
open yet' !!!)
Further along this road is a very sharp left turn,
and directly ahead at this point, is a cinder track
sign-posted Howgill Caravan Park.
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| 26 |
The
river is now over on your left. Pass a sharp right turn,
then at this junction (pictured) go left for Appletreewick
¼ mile.
Once in Appletreewick, you have a choice of two pubs
for refreshment and Toilets
- the New Inn, or further along - the Craven Arms, both
on the right hand side.
Further down on the left, by the river is Masons Caravan
and Camp-site.
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| 27 |
APPLETREEWICK
Click here for further information
Go over a small hump-backed bridge,
passing a farm on your left.
At this signpost (pictured) carry straight on for Burnsall,
not right for
Hebden |
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| 28 |
Heading
towards Burnsall you will see the bridge first in front
of you. Go over this, and at its end turn right, (parking
to the left) and go past the Red Lion Pub. Follow the
road around to the right, and on the outskirts of the
village, pass the church on the right.
For further information on the villages of Burnsall and
Linton, click on the links on the right. |
Linton
Village Link |
| 29 |
At
SE0063, (see picture) take the right-hand junction signposted
to Kettlewell B6160, and Grassington (B6265)
Next there is a cross-roads, which goes left for Linton,
Cracoe, and Skipton...or right for the Parish Church.
Our route carries straight on...signposted for Threshfield
Grassington and Kettlewell.
Go underneath the Railway Bridge (14' 6").
Carry on along the B6160, passing a junction for Cracoe
on your left.
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| 30 |
At
this T junction, (see picture) take the right turn towards
Grassington, one mile.
Back to where you started and
twice as happy.
This walk will have additional
information added to it continually to increase your
education and enlightenment. See how we think of you
:) |
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The
toilets along this route have been mentioned in the script
and are marked in blue |
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