After Service at Fountain's Chapel, Lifts to Netherside and Walk Back to St Michael's

Prayer Walk.

Tuesday 10th.

After service at Fountain's Chapel, lifts to Netherside and walk back to St Michael's.

I have no idea how long in time this walk will take. if my maths is correct the full walk is about 24 miles, take off 12 for Grassington Moor, 4.5 for the walk back to church suggests it is about 8 miles.

This is a lovely walk. A bit of a climb for the first part. I prefer my boots for footwear. Shorts were the order of the day when I completed it recently. It is exposed though, so sun cream, sun hat, but also an extra layer in case the breeze picks up, and always a waterproof!

Time, zero.

From Netherside Hall walk through Long Ashes and follow the footpath up towards the quarry. Take the track to the right, cross a fence, there is an old wooden bench with views across Long Ashes and beyond. 20 minutes.

Take the path up past the reservoir and cross the dry stone wall using the stile, to the top quarry. Make for the cairn near to the viewing platform. 15 minutes.

Take the path around the quarry to the exit NNW of the viewing platform. 15 minutes.

Exit the gate here and follow the wall west. Cross the footpath which runs north to south, 20 minutes.

Continue to follow the wall for another 20 minutes. In the corner you reach there is a wooden gate. Climb over this and turn immediate south west to Malham Moor Lane, 10 minutes.

Pick up the track going south which curves around the hill to pick up a footpath going east approaching Higher Heights Holes crossing through a number of fileds in quick succession, 15 minutes.

Now head south west and then south along a good bridleway after 20 minutes there is a gate which is in the parish boundary wall, go through this gate.

Now south east towards Hamerton Hill. At the end of the track approaching the hill therev is a bench, this is about 30 minutes walk.

South east again towards the Ford. The path is indicated as straight on the map, it meanders a bit more than this! 30 minutes.

Now east north east to pick up Moor Lane (track) crossing the main road after 15 minutes.

15 minutes walk now to Linton.

15 minutes to St Michael's church.

Total time then is approximately 4 hours (without stops!)

Saturday 14th May.

HartlingtonRaikes/Hebden Road to Gill House. (Grassington Moor).

Time, zero. 1.75 miles to Blea Gill, 45 minutes

Initially track up to ruins, through pheasant huts, onto moorland with no paths. Cross at stile just beyond confluence, 40 minutes. Cross the river. Cut across meander to stone wall and river. Keep to the left of the river and climb over fence which goes over the river.

Now under Great WolfrewCragg. 10 minutes.

Continue to sheep fold, evidence here of recent flooding. 10 minutes. Lunch break.

Continue to follow the river best way you can and take gill up to Henstone Band Cragg. Distinctive Pennine outcrop feature (millstone grit). One hour.

Follow between the wall and the fence to the end of the wall. 20 minutes.

Continue route with fence to your right until you reach the fence cutting down to the left. 35 minutes.

Follow this fence downhill with the drainage ditch to your right, 25 minutes to the memorial cairn.

Continue onwards still following downhill through the heather until reaching a distinctive moor lane at the end of the heather. 25 minutes.

Gill House is a further 20 minutes.

Total time with short break stoppages, five and a half hours. From the top to Gill House was 70 minutes, on this basis I estimate a further 90 minutes to the river opposite Netherside. Hence the whole trip would be seven hours. Whilst as a team we should move faster, there will be 'prayer stops' so seven hours would seem reasonable.

I will meet at 08.00am which would give an estimated time for completion of 3.00pm.

This is the most strenuous section. The first half of the walk is all up hill. Sun protection, appropriate footwear (walking boots), trousers rather than shorts for the first half (wading through heather). No dogs, no smoking. We need to be relatively quiet due to ground nesting birds. Waterproofs as always!

Sunday 15th May (Pentecost).

HartlingtonRaikes/Hebden Road to St Michael's Linton.

After service, anyone who would like to, transport to the start and walk back. Bring a picnic. Estimate 4.5 miles. Arrive back at St Michael's for BBQ/bonfire about four o'clock. Others could join us at church who haven't made the walk.

Time, zero. 20 minutes to junction HartlingtonRaikes and footpath at South View Farm.

Cross the fields and stiles down over Skuff Road and on to Burnsall Bridge, another 20 minutes.

5 minutes to the field below Burnsall Church.

20 minutes to the suspension bridge.

30 minutes to St Michael's (over the stepping stones).

Total time, one hour thirty five minutes. It will take longer than this with stiles to cross.

NB, the stepping stones at St Michael's. The middle stone has washed away. This make the route dangerous and we should walk on to Linton Falls and back to church.

This is also a lovely walk. Quite a steep descent until we reach Burnsall. Some folk may prefer to meet us for lunch near to Burnsall Church and walk back along the river. Stout footwear along the river. Walking boots are always a preference!

Norman Cooke.