Trig Point: SD 887 779
Walked: 1st February 2010
Distance: 10 km (6.25 miles)
Start / Finish: Beckermonds, Upper Wharfedale (Langstrothdale)
Time taken: 3.5 hours
Weather: Bright, clear and very cold (-2 degrees on the summit), with snow and ice patches underfoot.
Height gain: 340 metres
Trig Point: 605 metres
Highest point: Sugar Loaf - 609 metres (SD 894 678)
Map: OL30
Route: From Beckermonds, follow the riverside path (Dales Way) down through Langstrothdale to Deepdale then Yockenthwaite (passing the stone circle along the way), cross Yockenthwaite Bridge and walk along the road to Raisgill Farm from where follow the bridleway climbing steeply up alongside Hagg Beck to reach the wall along the top of the moorland ridge (views of Penyghent ahead) - this is a long climb with some steep sections. At the wall turn right and follow the wall gently rising up across the broad moorland ridge to soon reach Horse Head trig point (605m) from where you continue straight on alongside this wall along the top of the moorland ridge (heading across Little Fell to Eller Carr Moss) to reach the Halton Gill to Beckermonds footpath (marked by a ladder stile across the wall). Turn right and follow the grassy path straight down the hillside back to Beckermonds. OL30 map required for this walk.
Detour from Horse Head to highest point (Sugar Loaf):
The highest point marked on the Horse Head ridge is a spot called Sugar Loaf, which is a 1km detour SE from the gate in the wall on the top of the moorland ridge. Simply follow the wall in a SE direction across the top of the moorland ridge until you reach a fence across your path, where the intact wall on your right ends – the pile of stones to your right just across the wall before this fence marks this highest point.
Photos of the walk
These photos are in order, and the files are named. Copyright Mark Reid 2010
