Old Cote Moor
Explore the exposed ridge between Wharfdale and Littondale
Summary
Enjoy beautiful views over the Old Cote Moor. A challenging hilly trail that climbs up rocky terrain and along a grassy plateau, where fantastic views across the Yorkshire Dales open over upper Wharfedale. Head back into the valley of Kettlewell and continue up the steep hillside above Buckden and back towards Arncliffe. A challenging but rewarding hike.
The Hike
My poor mum, I do feel sorry for her. Having dragged her up some steep terrain. It was something neither me nor mum was prepared for. It was birthday, and I said we should go walking in the Dales, not knowing how challenging the route would be. Regardless of how difficult it was, we still had an excellent day out roaming the Dale.
Old Cote Moor
We began from a layby just off Arncliffe. From here, the route quickly rose steeply towards a woodland where we began some steep scrambling. I did not prepare mum for this, and I could see in her facial expression that she wasn’t best pleased. However, as we climbed we were rewarded by fantastic views. The ridge along the Old Cote Moor was an absolute delight. The autumnal colors in the valley below created a beautiful landscape. One reason I love exploring new viewpoints in the Dales is because of this. There is always something new to see.
While on the plateau, I observed dark clouds approaching from afar, creating a fascinating contrast in the scenery. However, just 5 minutes later, we were caught in a heavy downpour. The weather can change so quickly when you're outside in wild places. Soon enough we began to descend steeply into Hawkswick, where the route would then rise again. Meanwhile, mum was beginning to struggle. “My little legs, I’m not used to these hills”–Sorry Mum!
At last, we reached the top of the hill and made our way down into Kettlewell. The dark clouds disappeared and revealed a fantastic view in front of us. From my perspective, clouds always create a captivating landscape, particularly after it has rained. Although descending back down into Kettlewell was a bit tricky and slippery. Slowly but surely, we eventually arrived in Kettlewell for a well-deserved pub lunch at the pub.
Kettlewell
After lunch, mum was feeling the effects of the last couple of hills and sadly couldn’t continue. We made the decision for her to stay in the pub and for me to complete the last half of the hike, where I would then drive to pick her up. I stormed up the last hill! Good job mum stayed in the pub; it was steep! I looked behind and could see the sunshine setting in the valley over Kettlewell. A fantastic view, to say the least.
While I arrived on the ridgeline. The weather began to change. (Again) Heavy rain and wind set in. Luckily, I was prepared, as you never know when hiking in the fells when you will be caught out. I wasn’t very far from the car by this point (phew) although descending into Arncliffe proved to be tricky. It was incredibly slippery from the downpour. A different view from this morning, that was for sure. After a tricky descent, I eventually arrived back at the car.
It’s a shame mum couldn’t complete the walk. Maybe next time I’ll stick to flatter terrain.
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