Walks To And From The Moorcock Inn, Garsdale (And The Surrounding Area) To Contents

The following pages include a selection of walks to and from the Moorcock Inn, Garsdale Head including Wild Boar Fell, Baugh Fell, Mallerstang Edge, Great Shunner Fell and Grisedale. All walks make use of the excellent Leeds/Settle to Carlisle Railway service providing wonderful opportunities for linear walks including car owners who can travel one or two stops by train.

The Moorcock Inn [01969 667488] welcomes walkers and provides a good finishing point having an excellent selection of ales and food. However it is worth noting that the station is approximately 1 mile from the pub by road and slightly less by the new Pennine Bridleway [see later]. Approximately 30-35 minutes should be allowed for the uphill walk

Alternatively, the Little White Bus could be used for the return trip to the station dep Moorcock 17:15 and 19.05 [April 2012] but it is worth consulting the timetable or a phone call to the driver to ensure that the bus stops - see below.

Stop press: The future of the 113 bus services from Garsdale Station to Hawes has been assured!

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Location map of Garsdale Station and the Moorcock Inn

Contents:-

*The above walks can be done as circular walks from the Moorcock or Garsdale ** Involves 113 bus from Moorcock or Garsdale - Otherwise walks involving using the train for at least one stop

  • Moorcock Inn

  • Garsdale Station

  • Wild Boar Fell and Hell Gill Waterfall

  • Early Purple Orchid [in May] and Wild Boar Fell from Swarth Fell

  • Mallerstang Edge

  • Garsdale station and signal box at night

  • Ruswarp statue at Garsdale Station and new bridleway from Moorcock to Garsdale Station [May 2010]

Information: Equipment: All walks have significant exposure even in Summer. Full equipment including boots, waterproofs, map and compass would be advisable

Maps: Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure 19 - Howgill Fells and the Upper Eden Valley 1:25,000

Travel Information: www.northernrail.org- Leeds-Settle-Carlisle timetable - National Rail enquiries tel 08457 484950 or http://www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Train services (Mon -Sat) - Normal morning departure is the Leeds 0849 Shipley 0902 arriving at Garsdale at 1021. The usual return train from Garsdale toward Leeds is 1727 [Mon -Sat] or last train 1924 [Mon - Sat] [Feb 2011]. Allow about 35 minutes to walk to the station from the Moorcock Inn. Don't miss the last train!

Other travel information-   A useful link for travel services in the Dales- www.traveldales.org.uk or www.dalesbus.org-This includes all bus and train services

The Little White Bus service No 113 provides daily service {inc Sundays] between Garsdale Station and Hawes via Hardraw and will go on to any of the neaby villages by request. The Little White Bus is a 12 seater and can be hailed from anywhere on route but it might be advisable to phone. The bus connects with the southbound and northbound trains key bus departure times from Garsdale Sta being 1040 dep [Sat] and 1655 or 1845 dep Hawes on the return [Sat]. The service is operated by Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership tel 01969 667400 or contact the driver mobile on 0752 895 7451 - see the link from www.dalesbus.org

Little Red Bus [now replaced with the Little White Bus] at Garsdale Station and vintage bus at Redmire

Another useful bus is the 564A service which runs from Dent Station to Kendal. This is operated by Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire and runs Saturdays throughout the year with a limited Sunday service in the Summer. The bus times at the time of writing are 1020 depart Dent Sta and 1500 depart Sedbergh on the return. This is useful if walking from Sedbergh to Garsdale or over Baugh Fell. Cumbria bus times can be located through Cumbria Bus Timetables This service whilst recently under threat has been assured.

The Wensleydale Vintage Bus runs between Garsdale station and Redmire several times a week for most of the year (details on the Wensleydale Railway website).

Wensleydale Railway - currently runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire [16 miles] and worth a visit in its own right. Good bus connections are available.

Settle Carlisle Partnership a useful website run by the Settle Carlisle Development Company and the Friends of The Settle Carlisle with links to other sites.

Moorcock Inn - Run by landlady Caz Sanderson. A fine hostelry and well worth the walk from Garsdale Station using the recently opened Pennine Bridleway which leads from the station almost to the front door of the pub. Caz welcomes walkers and always has a good selection of ales plus excellent bar meals. The pub is open during the day [summertime and weekends] and lunchtime/evening on winter weekdays. Light snacks available most times and full meals at lunchtime and from early evening. For the intending train traveller the Moorcock Inn would make an excellent lunchtime destination in itself or combined with a short walk. Please ring 01969 667488 or visit the Moorcock Inn website for further information and opening times.

Pennine Bridleway - This has only opened recently and consequently is not shown on most OS maps or anywhere else for that matter. This connects Garsdale Station and Lady Anne Highway via the Moorcock Inn and is a considerable improvement on the alternatives. The section leading south from The Moorcock Inn to Garsdale Station is easy to follow and is a proper surfaced path making an excellent alternative to the original road route. The section north of the pub is again surfaced, the gate being a few metres along the Kirkby Stephen road, This emerges at the track serving Yore House Farm and the bridge across the Ure. There are no signposts as yet [Jan 2011] so follow the right hand bank and just beyond Cobbles plantation there is a gate leading to a track on the left of the plantation. Halfway up the hill the new path bears left and there are some timber post waymarks. At the top of the hill there is a new gate leading directly onto Lady Anne Highway. There is no signpost from Lady Anne Highway as yet but the new gate roughly corresponds with when Moorcock Inn and Yore House Bridge are in direct line. It is anticipated that signposts will be installed shortly.

Weather The weather forecast and current weather conditions (including cloud level) can be obtained from Metcheck which gives the forecast and current conditions for the nearby Whernside range of hills. Also see Ribblehead weather station up to the minute status of the local weather at nearby Ribblehead. Another useful forecast service for the Yorkshire Dales is provided by the Met Office

Accommodation can be found at the following establishments:-

Moorcock Inn Tel 01969 667488 - Contact: Caz Sanderson

The Old Joinery Garsdale Nr Sedbergh Tel 015396 20309 - Contact: Janet Hope

Cotterdale Cottages - self catering in Cotterdale - contact Gaynor Walker 0191 251 9366

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 consult the relevant OS map.

This page was last updated on 01-May-2012

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©John Carey 2010