October 16th 2010

Just as there are links from Leeds and Bradford to the start of the Dales Way in Ilkley, so too there is a link from Harrogate to the Dales Way, albeit to Bolton Abbey. Although this is a fine walk in its own right, it does have disadvantages as far as the Dales Way is concerned. Firstly, it does not go to Ilkley, but to Bolton Abbey, so it omits the fine opening miles of the Dales Way. And secondly it crosses the Barden Fell Access Area, which can be closed when shooting is in progress; this has also meant that the route is not named through the Access Area on O.S. maps.

The Harrogate Group of the Ramblers’ Association has now opened a new Dales Way Link, which will lead to Ilkley and will be on rights of way throughout. It will be known as “The Harrogate Link”. It will be 16 miles long, but it utilises the first 8.5 miles of the existing “Harrogate Dales Way.” The original route will still be open, subject to the usual restrictions over the Barden Fell Access Area. However, the Group will no longer promote it other than for sales of the remaining, original Bolton Abbey badges.

The walk can be divided into three sections of 8, 10 or 15 miles. Walkers can return by bus from either the Millstones Restaurant or Blubberhouses  on the A59, or Ilkley.

The new path leaves the present route after crossing Swinsty Reservoir dam wall, leaving the track by a stile on the left hand side to access a permissive Yorkshire Water path going up the bank. Pass Swinsty Hall and follow the paths in a westerly direction to reach the hamlet of Timble.

Continue along the minor road, cross the Otley to Pateley Bridge Road, to the forest of Great Timble, onto Middleton Moor and follow the track to the stone cairn on Lippersley Pike.

Strike south along the track which is marked by low white posts. After nearly 2 kilometres you leave the moor by a large wooden gate ahead, [GR 1305 515] not the small gate and stile on your right.

Continue downhill to enter Hollingley Farm. Pass East Moor House Farm, West Moor House, Hill Top Farm then on to Middleton. Follow the road until a public footpath on the left takes you to the public playing fields and the river bank to join the start of the Dales Way.

There are dedicated Harrogate Link way marks in places and the route is easy to follow, all on public or permissive paths.

The map to use is the OS Explorer Map No 297 ‘Lower Wharfedale’ which contains the whole route at 1: 25000 scale.

The new edition of Harvey’s Dales Way map, published in May 2010, contains the new “Harrogate Link.”

The brochure for the above link walk can now be obtained from Mr PL Goldsmith, 20 Pannal Ash Grove, Harrogate, HG2 0HZ   The copies are £1 each and require an A5 SAE with ordinary 60gm  postage,  Cheque made payable to the Ramblers Association.