We haven’t had the best spring this year, the weather has been a little temperamental to say the very least! But the second bank holiday in May, was a beautiful sunny day. For the first time this year, the sunscreen was out and the sunglasses were on…summer has finally arrived in the Yorkshire Dales (fingers crossed). What a lovely day for Greg’s (our yellow Labrador) birthday walk – 11 years old, hurrah!!
Our walk up Penn Hill started in the picturesque village of West Witton in Wensleydale, just outside Leyburn in the direction of Hawes. We parked just before the village by a couple of hundred yards as there is a handy layby where you can park all day, free of charge.
We walked into the village, after a few minutes there is a road to the left signposted Middleham and Melmerby. We walked up this road which is known as the Witton Steeps Road. The road is as it sounds ‘steep’ and on this hot day in May…hard work!
Keep following the twists and turns of this road to Penn Hill Farm. When you reach Penn Hill Farm keep your eyes peeled for a big red gate and the start of the public footpath to the right. It is about 50 yards before the cattle grid (if you reach the cattle grid you have gone too far).
As you approach Penn Hill you are surrounded by the beautiful Wensleydale landscape to your left and right. In the distance you shall see Bolton Castle, a fine looking castle that has been well preserved over the years. The walk through the fields is a steady incline in comparison to the previous road section, perfect to catch your breath. There are three fields to cross via gaps in the dry stone wall and one style, so easy to pass through.
Once through the fields take a quick breather as the last uphill section of Penn Hill is a steep, uneven climb to the beacon stones at the summit. The views from the top are stunning and on a day like we had you can see for miles, even some of the peaks of the Lake District were visible.
We stopped for a quick picnic at the top by the beacon stones then continued along the level summit of the hill.
The footpath takes you close to the edge and the nearly vertical slope below, which at times can be quite exciting. Following the footpath you first reach Penhill Scar which is a rocky section with many boulders scattered at the foot of the slope. Continue over the style and you’ll reach Black Scar. Here the footpath ends, forcing you to descend down a very steep grassy bank to the fields below.
It is a very quick decent and one that requires a lot of concentration to make sure you have a good steady footing as the ground is very spongy and uneven.
When you reach the grassy field the footpath isn’t that obvious but you shall see the remains of what was once a dry stone wall – only the lower levels of stone now remain.
Follow this until you reach the gate on the opposite side of the hill. Walk through the gate and the green grass path becomes very apparent. This grass footpath will lead you through two fields and bring you out on the High Lane Bridleway.
Turn left at the bridleway and walk for around half a mile and you shall see a red gate to your right. The gate is just before the bend in the bridleway and directly opposite Castle Bolton to the right and a stone barn to the left.
Walk through this gate and follow the path until you reach the A684. Turn left in the direction of West Witton.
We stopped for a cheeky ice lolly at the Berry’s Farm Shop Café. Which incidentally homes two Alpaca’s in the small field on the approach to the farm shop. They appear very friendly and keen to come and say hello.
We then continued along the A684 until we reached West Witton, we walked through the village via the Fox and Hounds and back to the cars.
