A lovely moorland walk above Redmire in Wensleydale and over into Swaledale

This is a walk of three hundred and sixty degree skies on top of the world in between Wensleydale and Swaledale walking round Gibbon Hill. For most of the way the route is on well maintained tracks, if you like walking on the moors then this is for you, a few grouse, if you’re lucky a raptor, sky larks, but no lush valley’s or becks to follow, complete peace. I’m sure it would be wonderful to do this walk when the heather is in full bloom, just glorious!

The route is about ten or more miles To take full advantage of this walk it would be a good idea to pick a clear sunny day but sometimes we can’t be too choosy and do remember that the weather on the tops can change quite quickly and dramatically so always go well prepared. Wear appropriate clothing, sturdy footwear, and make sure to plan your route beforehand.  Take the map, GPS, compass etc along with plenty to drink and eat.

From Redmire go up Hargill Lane to the cattle grid at Apedale Road. We parked just past the cattle grid on a convenient gravelly area, SE 04219 94075. Start your walk on Apedale Road, off to the west, you can see your route going way off into the distance. Pass Dent’s Houses, above East Bolton Moor and on to Morley’s Folly, SD 99395 95529. Here branch off to the right, more or less north, keep going until you see some grouse butts on your right, number ten is nearest to the track SD 99383 96419. The road is just beginning to descend here. Leave the track and carefully make your way along the line of grouse butts, it is quite peaty here and we kept to the left of them, until you come to a ‘proper’ butt built of stone and tucked in a sheltered spot. Right of here, pick your way over the stream and follow the path until you reach the track again, below and to the north of Beldow Hill, SE 00620 97106.  You will start to see your route going off into the distance again.

From here keep going along the track and when the way starts to descend turn south, SE 02808 97419. You will have a seen a building, shooting box, tucked behind a ‘spoil’ heap (nothing to worry about, just a relic from long ago mining) this is your destination. Once at the shooting box, you can have a peek inside if you wish, follow round to the east and eventually come out onto the road you started on albeit on the Swaledale side of Gibbon Hill now. Turn right to walk up the hill, south. We walked back to our vehicles on the road but you can turn south west at Ridley Hush and follow the track to Dent’s Houses and then back to your vehicle that way.

We finished off our walk with an excellent lunch at the Bolton Arms in Redmire.

Come and stay in our cottages and enjoy this walk! Ring me Nadine or my daughter Joanne on 01969 663559 for friend help and advice and to book over the telephone or of course book line if you wish. Looking forward to hearing from you!