June Walk from Grassington

Grassington is a village in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire, England. The village is around 9 miles (14 km) from Bolton Abbey and is surrounded by beautiful limestone scenery. Nearby villages include Linton, Threshfield, Hebden, Conistone and Kilnsey.

Although often described by local people as a village, Grassington was granted a Royal Charter for a market and fair in 1282 giving it market town status. The market was held regularly until about 1860. A change in land use from the early 17th century, when lead mining began to assume more importance, brought some prosperity, but Grassington's heyday arrived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The opening of the Yorkshire Dales Railway to Threshfield in 1901 brought new visitors, many of whom settled, some finding work in Skipton or in the developing limestone quarries.

Today Grassington is the main residential and tourist centre in Upper Wharfedale. Centred around its small cobbled square is a selection of shops offering food, clothing and gifts, alongside small cafes, restaurants and hotels.

The walking in this area can be spectacular and easy to walk in with gentle climbs, wide open spaces and sheltered valleys. Do join us for a wonderful day walking amongst like friendly minded people.

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Walks in Grassington June 13th

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pictures to follow

A Walk;
Leader: Beverley Kelly
Distance: 9.5 miles
Total ascent: 1072 ft

This is a walk with variety rather than height, as we walk out of the village past the methodist church, we are soon gently ascending towards Bare House. We need to stop regularly to view the panarama unfolding around us and as we proceed towards Kelber, we are able to observe a mass of wild life and vegitation.

From Kelber, it is a steady descent through limestone escarpments and dramatic landscapes towards Conistone where we view a picturesque village and ancient church.

A walk along the a quiet road for just over a mile with views over Wharfedale, before we descend to the river which we walk alongside, passing Ghaistrill's Strid and back to Grassington.

This is a B+ walk and I will not be racing, but we will need to make a good pace to avoid rushing at the end.

Click here to view pictures taken on the reccie

B Walk;
Leader: George Mann
Distance: 7.5 miles
Total ascent: 970 ft

Todays walk takes us up the main street of Grassington and continuing up Moor Lane till we reach Yarnbury. From there we branch off through the old Lead Mining Workings before joining a track beside Hebden Beck.

Crossing the Beck we climb up on to Mossy Moor, past a small reservoir, then making our way along Edge Top join a farm track and gradually come down to meet the B 6265. We have to walk along this ( Single File facing the traffic) for two hundred yards to a stile into the field. We cross another three fields from there as we make our way down to join the Dales Way footpath alongside the River Wharfe. This leads us back to the coach park at Grassington.

There are about half a dozen stiles in the course of the walk and generally underfoot conditions good with some tarmac and farm roads. If granted a clear day we have wonderful views of the Wharfe Valley.

C Walk;
Leader: John Smith
Distance: 5.5 miles
Total ascent: 670ft

The walk today is some 5.5 miles and over many stiles which are mostly easy to navigate. I hope the weather will be kind as the views are really terrific across the valley.

After our traditional coffee start at Cobblestones, we will start uphill (not steep !!) through the village and turn off onto a track, High Lane. The route moves off left to climb gently to Edge Lane giving superb views. It continues through fields to Bottom Hole and then turns right to follow Hebden Beck down to Hebden where we will stop for lunch. There is a toilet in the café which is for public use. The descent is now more marked down to the river Wharfe, during which we will pass a salmon breeding farm and may be able to see some of it and talk to the owner who was most informative when we did the recce.

At the river, we turn right to walk alongside the Wharfe for 2 miles with just a small, gentle upward slope to regain the coach and toilets.