GEORGE WILKINSON investigates the moors around Skipton
Short Bank Road leads south-east, dead straight and steep out of Skipton to an altitude of 650 feet, that's 250 feet above the town. So the views, as you pull on your boots, are superb, with the valley full of Skipton, old mills and all, and a backdrop of empty hillsides.
Ten minutes climbing connects you with our outward and eastward route on what a local thought was Roman road. To your right, to the south, the land leans steeply to a close horizon. In contrast, to the north, you get an uninterrupted panorama over spacious valley to the southern Dales.
It's eyes-left all the way, three miles of head-up stroll on wide, sound stony track.
After crossing a back road (which offers a short cut), things change. The track dips, there's heather on Draughton Moor and views further east to Otley.
In the distance the wooded Valley of Desolation takes the eye up to Barden Moor. Much closer is Chelker Reservoir and its attendant wind farm.
The sun had come out after a hail storm. I sat and listened to skylarks sing and watched as a draught up the valley activated a couple of the elegant white turbine blades and they whipped out enough juice to heat up a fair few kettles in Skipton or wherever.
Energised by my sandwich stop, I was on the move again, past The Bogs, which are grassy nesting grounds for lapwings and waders, then I turned west for the return route.
Now you have to concentrate on navigating. The immediate terrain is straightforward - large sheep pastures with gritstone walls. However, waymarks are virtually non-existent, indeed a couple were reversed to confuse.
Many walls, fences and gates have to be clambered over. I got the feeling I wasn't welcome, a notion confirmed at Haygill Farm. This is a 'blot on the landscape' in lovely countryside. I've reported to the authorities the scandalous quagmire of slurry that threatens watercourses, and which you must avoid.
The views now are south and west to faraway towns, and after the farms, you are on lovely, rough, upland grassland laced with streams and here and there are fine natural bogs. There's a really good big one at point nine on the map. Interesting bird sounds emitted from its squelch of sphagnum moss and rushes.
Bypass the bulk of the bog and take higher ground. At some crags, you get an instant aerial view of Skipton, better even than the one at the start, and finally a swift and enjoyable descent.
DIRECTIONS
When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.
1. Uphill on Short Bank Road, track at end, round edge of wood then track. Fieldgates.
2. Cross road, track continues. Fieldgates. Blue fieldgate with large boulder, track downhill, fieldgate, road.
3. Cross stream, 50 yards, fieldgate on right (waymark), stay by wall on right, fence in field corner, straight on uphill to dip in wall 100 yards to right of two knee-high boulders, faint painted arrow (were two pallets other side)
4. Straight on (wall on left), squeezer 50 yards left of fieldgate, 1 o'clock downhill to right-hand of two fieldgates, fieldgate/squeezer. Through farmyard.
5. Cross road, stile/fieldgate, 1 o'clock to stile, uphill to fieldgate in front of Haygill Farm (note - had to use gate on right as quagmire of slurry).
6. Left to track out of farmyard, 50 yards, left-hand bend, left and through yard at house then immediately right on track uphill. Fieldgate, large metal fieldgate then 11 o'clock to fieldgate, fieldgate to front of house.
7. Left down drive, 100 yards, gateway on right (remains of pallets on ground), 10 yards, stile on left, right, cross stream, wall stile/ fence, 20 yards then 1 o'clock uphill to gateway next to a stream running under the wall, 10 yards after gateway, cross stream on right and uphill by another stream on right.
8. Wallstile/wire and binder twine (50 yards from fieldcorner on right) and immediately left by wall on left.
9. Collapsing wall with wire netting either side. The path continues by wall up to crags but immediately is a large bog so turned right uphill by collapsing wall to higher ground.
10. Crags, track downhill on right, squeezer (on left of fieldgate), 200 yards, right fork as wall swings left, downhill/ gate/fieldgate to outward route.
FACT FILE
Distance: Seven miles.
Time: Three and a half hours.
Start: Short Bank Road, Skipton.
Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.
Date walked: March 27, 1999.
Road route: Skipton is west of Harrogate on the A59.
Parking: Roadside at top of Short Bank Road.
Lavatories: Skipton.
Refreshments: Pubs and cafs in Skipton.
Tourist & public transport information: Skipton Tourist Information Centre 01756 792809
Map: The OS map is Yorkshire Dales southern and western areas, OL2.
Terrain: Track, hillocky pasture and grasslands. Some wet.
Footwear: Walking Boots.
Points of interest: Views, birds.
Difficulty: Moderate but gates/fence/walls to climb on return leg.
Dogs: Suitable for dogs but keep on leads or under close control. Ground nesting birds.
Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418
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