Today started well, I found myself standing outside the local bakery in the sun, yes the sun was shining, Sue was navigating but first she'd navigated herself into the bakery to buy what turned out to be a large bag of Flapjack, taking the wife along dose have it's advantages. From Grassington we would head to Grassington Moor via Bare House, our return would be made down Hebden Beck, to follow field paths back to Grassington.
From the main car park we made our way up Main Street to enter Garrs Lane, from Garrs Lane a finger post directed us between dry stone walls to Kettlewell, at the first junction we left the green lane to follow field paths climbing higher with every step to eventually reach Bare House, round the back of the house to High Barn, east to enter another green lane this one lead to Old Moor Lane, on leaving Old Moor Lane we climbed Grassington Moor navigating through the extensive remains of Grassington's Lead Mining Industry, leaving the moor by way of Duke's New Road we dropped into the delightful valley of Hebden Beck to pass yet more disused lead mines before reaching Hole Bottom, heading west on field paths we were soon entering Edge Lane and the welcome sight of the roof tops of Grassington in the valley far below us.
Grassington Moor. |
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Strolling through the fields above Grassington. |
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The stunning view across Wharfedale. |
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Looking north to the extraordinary landscape above Conistone. |
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Malham Moor across the patchwork of fields that makes up Wharfedale. |
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Dramatic views to Barden Moor. |
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Nearing Bare House with mouth-watering views to the north, the valley in the distance being Littondale. |
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Views to Old Cote Moor. |
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Bare House commands superb views over Wharfedale, unfortunately now only farmers storage. |
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Sue strides out between dry stone walls in the foot steps of Grassington's Lead Miners. |
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Like a red rag to a bull, let's go and explore. |
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The endless view to Barden Moor seen from the desolation of Grassington Moor. |
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The chimney on Grassington Moor, a local landmark and a monument to the great industry it once served, |
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Sue's just finished her dinner, "the best part of any walk" see says, now she expects me to explore one of the flues obviously I'm expendable. |
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One of the flues running under the moor, I counted four all running from different directions, probably serving individual smelt mills. |
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The sad remains of High Grinding Mill. |
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Across the skyline Barden Moor, our route was to head down the small valley of Hebden Beck to the right of Mossy Moor Reservoir. |
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At it's height between 1821 and 1861 170 men toiled on the moor, lead mining fell into decline around 1881, due mainly to cheep foreign imports, an old story. |
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Hebden Beck our route off the moor. |
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In the shadow of Care Scar the small hamlet of Hole Bottom. |
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The endless view down Wharfedale seen from the ascent to Edge Top. |