The Highway Circular
Walk 13 - An easy circular walk from Garsdale Station taking in some elevated views from The Lady Anne Highway- a good day out and not too taxing! - 8.5 miles [4 hours] - By car or train from Garsdale Station. Back to Moorcock Walks
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| Yore House | Lady Anne Highway |
From Garsdale Station turn right almost immediately and proceed along the new Pennine Bridleway passing under Dandry Mire Viaduct and emerging at the main road and T junction opposite the former Moorcock Inn. Turn left along the Kirkby Stephen Road and then immediately right to follow the bridleway to Ure Force Bridge. Take the right hand track up to Yore House Farm. Pass through the farm yard and a gate to the left of the farm. Cross a small stream and continue across the rough pasture towards Hawes running parallel to the River Ure and passing through 4 stiles and to the right of Cotterside Plantation. After crossing the 4th stile look for a stile midway along the wall and cross to the other side of the wall. This can be easily missed! Continue across two further fields to emerge in the farmyard at Thwaite Bridge Farm.
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| Looking back towards Hawes | High Dyke |
Immediate out of the farm and on to the old road turn left to climb steeply uphill through the copse. Cross a stile and after the second stile on the crest of the hill now turn left. This is the Highway. Continue along the Highway for 3 miles. The going is very easy apart from 1 dip just before High Dyke and the views are good.
There are two opportunities to descend and shorten the walk the first being shortly after the plantation where the new Bridleway cuts in. This will go straight back to Ure Force. The second possibility is the path descending from High Dyke which descends to Blades Farm and then on to Ure Force.
Otherwise if attempting the full walk continue past High Dyke for 1/2 mile and over a footbridge. Just after there is a large gate. Immediately through the gate look for a small stile in the wall. Crossing the stile the path proceeds steeply downhill and then diagonally bearing left to the rear of Shaws, the former Garsdale Youth Hostel now closed for some years. Passing the rear wall and just beyond the house there is a gate and steps (take care as usually slippy) leading down to a footbridge with the idyllic Shaws Waterfall. The path then goes steeply downhill over another footbridge and through a disused farmyard to arrive at Lunds Chapel. Spend a few moments to look around the chapel which whilst now in private ownership is unlocked. Turn left at the chapel and over a small hillock (signposted). It can be pretty boggy under foot around here. Cross three fields at a slight change in direction in the fence look for a stile. Turn right to cross the stile and then immediately left. Now make a line towards Blades. The footpath has been diverted to the rear of the farmhouse passing over two stiles and a small stream to join the farm access track. As the track turns right continue straight on following the Ure to reach Ure Force and back to the former Moorcock Inn on the bridleway
Alternatively: If the prospect of a boggy walk across the fields from Lunds is uninviting an alternative is to cross the River Ure by means of the footbridge and proceed along the track serving Lunds and through a plantation. After 200m or so bear left way from the track through the recently felled plantation and diagonally across two fields. This has the disadvantage of following the main road back to the former Moorcock Inn for 1/2 mile or so.
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| Lunds Chapel | Shaws Waterfall |
At the T junction turn right and proceed along the main road towards Sedbergh for a very short while then turning left through a gate to follow the Pennine Bridleway which proceeds directly to the rear of the station passing under Dandry Mire Viaduct enroute. Remember that southbound trains run from the farthest platform and it is necessary to pass under the road bridge to gain access.
Important note:- Whilst the author has taken every care in assembling the information on this site, no responsibility can be accepted for any error or omission herein. If in any doubt walkers should always consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability.
This page was last updated on 25-Dec-2024
©John Carey 2010