Walks To And From Garsdale Station

(And The Surrounding Area) To Contents

The following pages include a selection of walks to and from Garsdale Station 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. Consideration should be given to the direction and end of the walk given sparse amenties in the area. Please note that it is essential to check the opening times if intending to visit the Moorcock tea room. Back to Yorkshire Dales Contents Page

  • Wild Boar Fell

The Moorcock is a licensed tea room which welcomes walkers and provides a good finishing point. However it is worth noting that the station is approximately 1 mile from the inn by road and slightly less by the new Pennine Bridleway [see later]. Approximately 30-35 minutes should be allowed for the uphill walk. If intending to visit it is essential to check opening times. Alternatively, the Black Bull at Nateby might be considered albeit 1.5 miles from Kirkby Stephen Station and return by footpaths - see below. Kirkby Stephen town centre is 1.6miles from the station.

If finsishing at Hawes or Moorcock, the Little White Bus could be used for the return trip to the station but it is worth consulting the timetable or a phone call to the driver to ensure that the bus stops - see below.

Contents:-

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 always consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability.

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

Wild Boar Fell from Swarth Fell Mallerstang Edge
Wild Boar Fell Hell Gill Waterfall
Early Purple Orchid [in May] Mallerstang Edge
Swarth Fell cairn Great Shunner Fell

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

Train services (Mon -Sat) - Normal morning departures from Leeds at 0748 or 0920; Shipley 0801 or 0933 arriving at Garsdale at 0921 or 1054. The usual return trains from Garsdale toward Leeds are 1727, 1933 and 2121. Allow about 30-35 minutes to walk to the station from the Moorcock. Don't miss the last train!

Garsdale Station Ruswarp Statue

 

The Little White Bus: Little White Bus service provides a Mon-Sat service between Garsdale Station and Hawes via Hardraw and will go on to any of the nearby villages by request. The Little White Bus is a 16 seat community bus and can be hailed from anywhere on route but it might be advisable to phone. The bus connects with the southbound and northbound trains. See current timetable for up to date times. 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.

A connection can be made in Hawes Market Place with the 156 operating between Gayle Hawes and Leyburn.

Western Dales Bus - provides another alternative in the locality S1 running from Dent Station on a Saturday throughout the year. The Saturday times from Dent Station are 1054 returning from Sedbergh at 1643. This is useful if walking from Sedbergh to Garsdale or over Baugh Fell or the Grisedale walk. These services are operated by Western Dales Bus. Other Cumbria bus times can be located through www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Other travel information-   A useful link for travel services in the Dales- www.dalesbus.org

Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line have their own website. This covers timetables, the historical facts as well as their useful information on guided walks etc.

Also, the Settle Carlisle Development Company a useful website with links to other sites.

Pubs and cafes - Black Bull at Nateby - The nearest public house to Kirkby Stephen Station at approximately 1.5miles distant and particularly useful if completing a walk off Mallerstang Edge or valley. Otherwise a small deviation will be required. Essential to check for opening times which can vary. Telephone 017683 71588 www.nateby-inn.co.uk

Moorcock Licensed Tea Room- These days operated as a licensed tea room accessed from Garsdale Station using the Pennine Bridleway which leads from the station almost to the front door of the tea room. As opening times are variable it is essential to check the Moorcock website or phone ahead. Tel 01969 667488 or visit the Moorcock website for further information and opening times.

Kirkby Stephen has a number of pubs in the town but will involve an additional 1.6 mile walk back to the station. These include

  • The Taggy Man - Kirkby Stephen centre - Cumbrian real ales - 017683 73125
  • Pennine Hotel - Kirkby Stephen centre - local real ales and bistro - penninehotel.com
  • Kings Head - Kirkby Stephen centre
  • Lal Nook - Kirkby Stephen Centre
  • The Black Bull - Kirkby Stephen centre - local real ales and popular with coast walkers www.blackbullkirkbystephen.co.uk
  • The Engine House - Pennine View Caravan Park
  • The Black Bull at Nateby - Nateby www.nateby-inn.co.uk (2 miles from station)
  • Bay Horse - Winton - Cumbrian real ales thebayhorsewinton.co.uk (3 miles from station)
  • Kings Head - Ravenstonedale www.kings-head.com (4 miles from Station)
  • Black Swan Ravestonedale www.blackswanhotel.com (4 miles from Station)
  • Fat Lamb Ravestonedale - country hotel www.fatlamb.co.uk (4 miles from Station)

In addition there are a number of cafes and tea rooms

  • Church Gallery - Kirkby Stephen centre
  • Mulberry Bush - Kirkby Stephen centre
  • Pink Geranium - Kirkby Stephen centre

Pennine Bridleway - This has only opened in recent years 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 and is a considerable improvement on the alternatives. The section leading south from The Moorcock to Garsdale Station is easy to follow and is a proper surfaced path making an excellent alternative to the road . The section north of the pub is also now 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 and Ure Force Waterfalls. bear left and follow the right hand bank for 400m or so. Just beyond Cobbles plantation turn right through a gate leading to a track on the left hand side 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 either towards Hawes or Kirkby Stephen. There is a signpost and marker posts are installed all the way up the hill.
The Pennine Bridleway from Moorcock to Garsdale Station  

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

Accommodation can be found at the following establishments:-

 

Garsdale station and signal box at night  

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 always consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability.

This page was last updated on 15-Aug-2024

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©John Carey 2010