Buckden 4 Corners - Friday 25 September 2015
Route
Buckden - Firth Fell - Old Cote Moor - Litton - Arncliffe - Old Cote Moor - Starbotton - Buckden
Parking
Buckden (Charge) - Grid Ref SD942773
Mileage
12 miles
Terrain
Moorland and field paths, stony tracks. Two steep ascents & descents.
Weather
Overcast at the start with sunny spells during the latter half of the walk.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
3143ft (958m)
Map
OL30 (Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area)
Buckden - Firth Fell - Old Cote Moor - Litton - Arncliffe - Old Cote Moor - Starbotton - Buckden
Parking
Buckden (Charge) - Grid Ref SD942773
Mileage
12 miles
Terrain
Moorland and field paths, stony tracks. Two steep ascents & descents.
Weather
Overcast at the start with sunny spells during the latter half of the walk.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
3143ft (958m)
Map
OL30 (Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
The Buckden 4 Corners walk was one we had been meaning to do for quite a while now and as we were up in the Yorkshire Dales for a couple of weeks this was as good a time as any - after all the weather did look promising today. The walk takes in the beautiful valleys of Littondale & Wharfedale and visits 4 delightful Dales villages, each with a very good pub; therefore it was a walk we were really looking forward to. The walk can be started in any of the 4 villages on the route but we decided to start in Buckden - there is more parking here and the village was nearer to our base in Hawes. The village Car Park in Buckden is large therefore there is plenty of space although as is normal at weekends, it may be worth getting to Buckden early in order to ensure you get yourself a spot.
Leaving Buckden the route heads south west out of the village to climb gradually, then more steeply via a good path over Birks Fell to reach the ridge of Old Cote Moor. The final couple of hundred yards follows a wall and reaching a junction we made a short journey over to the Trig Point on Firth Fell where there are good views to both Buckden Pike to the north east and Pen y Ghent to the south west. Rejoining the route the path drops down steeply to reach a slanting path across Ackerley Moor to arrive at the quiet village of Litton and its charming pub, The Queens Arms.
From Litton the route crosses the dry ford over the River Skirfare before heading for 2 miles across a delightful farmland path that hugs the river before reaching the picturesque village of Arncliffe - once of Emmerdale Farm fame. The village boasts the former "Woolpack Inn" which in real life is The Falcon Inn and the second pub on the route. Heading out of Arncliffe it was time to climb again and head up Brayshaw Scar to reach the ridge of Old Cote Moor, again via a rough farm track for most of the way. From the ridge there are good views to be had down into Kettlewell and Starbotton and over to Buckden Pike & Starbotton Fell.
Hitting the valley bottom again the bridge over the River Wharfe took us into the village of Starbotton and pub number 3 - The Fox & Hounds - once refreshed we made our way back to the bridge to walk along the delightful Dales Way which hand railed the river all the way to Buckden Bridge before a short walk took us into the village of Buckden and pub number 4 - The Buck Inn.
Despite the two steep climbs and a distance of 12 miles, this is a walk that can really be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and one you can take all day over. Pick a good day with the weather - with 4 cracking pubs on the route there are plenty of opportunities to rest and 'drink in' the views, the 4 villages and 2 beautiful Dales that the walk visits. One definitely to be repeated in the near future.
Leaving Buckden the route heads south west out of the village to climb gradually, then more steeply via a good path over Birks Fell to reach the ridge of Old Cote Moor. The final couple of hundred yards follows a wall and reaching a junction we made a short journey over to the Trig Point on Firth Fell where there are good views to both Buckden Pike to the north east and Pen y Ghent to the south west. Rejoining the route the path drops down steeply to reach a slanting path across Ackerley Moor to arrive at the quiet village of Litton and its charming pub, The Queens Arms.
From Litton the route crosses the dry ford over the River Skirfare before heading for 2 miles across a delightful farmland path that hugs the river before reaching the picturesque village of Arncliffe - once of Emmerdale Farm fame. The village boasts the former "Woolpack Inn" which in real life is The Falcon Inn and the second pub on the route. Heading out of Arncliffe it was time to climb again and head up Brayshaw Scar to reach the ridge of Old Cote Moor, again via a rough farm track for most of the way. From the ridge there are good views to be had down into Kettlewell and Starbotton and over to Buckden Pike & Starbotton Fell.
Hitting the valley bottom again the bridge over the River Wharfe took us into the village of Starbotton and pub number 3 - The Fox & Hounds - once refreshed we made our way back to the bridge to walk along the delightful Dales Way which hand railed the river all the way to Buckden Bridge before a short walk took us into the village of Buckden and pub number 4 - The Buck Inn.
Despite the two steep climbs and a distance of 12 miles, this is a walk that can really be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and one you can take all day over. Pick a good day with the weather - with 4 cracking pubs on the route there are plenty of opportunities to rest and 'drink in' the views, the 4 villages and 2 beautiful Dales that the walk visits. One definitely to be repeated in the near future.
The large Car Park in Buckden - the start of the walk
Buckden Bridge over the River Wharfe
Leaving Buckden the route follows this track towards Litton
Buckden
"Ok, we've been walking for about half an hour and I'm starving hungry!"
A nice gentle gradient up to Old Cote Moor from Buckden
The path steepens slightly to reach a large cairn
Looking back to Buckden from the cairn at the top of the rise. Buckden Pike is in the distance
From the cairn the path levels out to reach a wall at the top of Old Cote Moor
The climb is rewarded by a splendid view over to Fountains Fell & Pen y Ghent
The summit of Firth Fell on the Old Cote Moor ridge with Pen y Ghent over the wall
The wall near Firth Fell's Trig Point - we came off route to visit the summit and the main path is 400 yards along this wall - a quick out & back
Heading down the path to Litton
Pub Number 1 and a really lovely place at that - The Queens Arms in Litton
The River Skirfare absolutely bone dry - Fudge the water dog was not impressed
A lovely walk along the flat to the next pub at Arncliffe - the signs are very exact here, 2 miles and an eighth!
That's better - further upstream the river was wet
Looking back towards Litton from the Arncliffe path
This was a lovely stretch to Arncliffe
Arncliffe
Pub Number 2, The Falcon Inn at Arncliffe - apparently "Emmerdale" used to be filmed here and the pub doubled as The Woolpack
The stone water pump on Arncliffe Village Green
The old primary school in Arncliffe. When it closed in 2011 it had 4 pupils - it is now a des res.
Dont tempt me Fudge boy - into the stocks you go
The church of St Oswald in Arncliffe
Leaving Arncliffe for Starbotton
Looking back to Arncliffe
The steep and stony path up Brayshaw Scar
The path continues along a rough track to Old Cote Moor via Brayshaw Scar
Brayshaw Scar
Old Cote Moor ahead
Heading down to Starbotton
Cam Pasture & Cam Head (and Fudge's head)
Most of the way down the slope from Old Cote Moor there is the option to go to Kettlewell and walk back from there along the Dales Way
meeting this route at Starbotton. There is an option to go to Kettlewell a bit further on too.
meeting this route at Starbotton. There is an option to go to Kettlewell a bit further on too.
Kettlewell in the distance
Heading down to Starbotton & the River Wharfe
Pub Number 3 - The Fox & Hounds at Starbotton
Fudge in his element along this delightful stretch of the Dales Way
Back into Upper Wharfedale as we near Buckden
Lovely walking along this path - and the weather was cheering up too
Pub Number 4 - The Buck Inn, Buckden - Hic!!
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