Barden Moor Circular

Walk 4 - Barden Moor Circular - 11.5 miles - 6 hours - By bus or car. Back to Lower Wharfedale

View from near Hare Head View from Upper Barden dam with Lower Barden Reservoir in distance

Park in the Cavendish Pavilion car park or alight the bus at Bolton Abbey village - From the Cavendish Pavilion road walk up to the memorial fountain and turn left along the main road towards the Abbey for 200m or so. Turn right up a farm track (at rear of Bolton Hall)- cross two fields and pass by a mill pond (on the left). Pass through a gate and cross a small stream passing through a gate into a wood. Follow the zigzag track through the wood to emerge at the top and pass through gate. Then pass straight across two fields ascending all the time but at the top bear slightly right through gate and turn left with the wall on the left whilst still proceeding uphill.

Continue to follow path all the way to Middle Hare Head always with wall on the left until passing through a gate and on to Hare Head Side. Cross the Embsay- Barden road and a cattle grid taking the left of two tracks on opposite side. Continue along the track for 1 mile. After a bend and small stream the path forks. Take the right hand fork and follow the old railway track bed once used for dam construction. After about 1 mile this emerges at Upper Barden Reservoir.

Lower Barden Reseroir Upper Barden Reservoir
The Strid near Bolton Abbey Old railway trackbed leading from Hare Head to Upper Barden Reservoir

Walk across the dam and at other side turn immediately right to follow a vehicle track downhill for 2.5 miles passing Lower Barden Reservoir until eventually reaching gate and the Embsay- Barden road. Turn left and walk along the road to reach the T junction and then left along the main road for approximately 400m. Turn right into Barden Tower (tea room here) grounds and exit through a stile at the bottom to meet the minor road to Barden Bridge. Turn right either before or after Barden Bridge returning to Cavendish pavilion on one of two paths on either side of River Wharfe via the Strid.

If arriving by bus the bus can be alighted at Bolton Abbey village and either returning the same way or from the bus stop at Strid Wood car park. Alternatively the walk can be shortened alighting at Hare Head from here it is a comparatively level walk to Upper Barden Reservoir.

Important note:- Whilst the author has taken every care in assembling the information on this site no responsibility can be taken for any error or omission herein. If in any doubt walkers should consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability.

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This page was last updated on 14-May-2020

 

©John Carey 2009