Following a business trip to Harrogate I travelled to Barden Bridge. There had been rain earlier in the morning but as I started the walk the clouds slowly started to break and the rain stopped. The rest of the walk was in improving weather conditions. This week had seen the worst weather in June for decades with floods over large parts of Northern England and the Midlands. I walked from Barden Bridge to Strid Wood and initially took the path above The Strid. After a short while I retraced my steps to follow the River Wharfe on the opposite bank to The Strid. The river level was several feet higher than usual so I did not need to look down into The Strid. Some walkers told me that the river was as high as they had ever seen it for many a year and it was also a place where many lives had been lost with people trying to jump across the trecherous waters. I continued along the banks of the River Wharfe to Cavendish Pavillion. I then took the path to Waterfall Cottage and onwards to the Valley of Desolation - so named after a violent storm of 1826. The path continued through Laund Pasture Plantation and onto Barden Fell passing a Stone Table. After a while following above Great Agill Beck I passed Truckle Crags. Simons Seat was now clearly in view. The OS triangulation pillar was perched on top of the stony summit and a short scramble was required to attain the top. Simons Seat is an excellent viewpoint to the valley below around Appletreewick and amongst the trees is the ancient Parcevall Hall at the foot of Trollers Gill. Apparently the White Horse of Kilburn can be seen in the far distance on a clear day. To the east are good views to Lords Seat where I walked next across very boggy ground. Stone slabs had been laid for a short distance to Lords Seat. I decsended Simons Seat down more stone slabs for a while and then a stony path to Skyreholm. On the descent I saw Quail, Grouse, Buzzard and a Curlew. I returned back to Barden Bridge via Howgill.

Reference Books Used