After visiting Bolton Priory the previous day, the walk had wetted my appetite for a trek to the local high points. Simon's Seat is the notable fell which is in the area, but on a study of an OS map noted two other Trig Points to bag, other than the one which is situated on the summit of Simon's Seat. I had noticed one of the hills whilst waiting for my train back to Embsay from Bolton Abbey, a small hill 'towering' above the station, according to the map called Haw Pike - with a trig, and then another trig on top of North Nab which is a bit of moorland that is looking down on Bolton Priory itself some four miles away to the north east.
So it was a trip to Skipton courtesy of Northern Trains, then a taxi (with the same driver from yesterday) to Embsay Station. The train I was getting at the preserved line, was the first one of the day, it had been raining very heavily and cloud was obscuring even the view of Embsay Crag and the surrounding moorland.
Steam trains tend to emit more steam and smoke than ever when there first fired up for the day, even the carriage I was sat in was steaming from beneath as they ran steam through it's ancient heating system. As the guard said to me with a big grin on his face ''this is a proper steam train'', honestly you could hardly see a thing!...
Section 1. Bolton Abbey Railway Station to Bolton Priory
After a 15 minute ride along the line I arrived into a soggy looking Bolton Abbey Station at about 10:45. It was then a matter of walking out of the station, and onto the lane leading up to it and then making a quick right after about 100 yards, then follow the footpath towards the main road...
Eventually you will come to a gate on your right, go through this and follow the field for about 50 yards...
When you get to the top edge of the field, turn left up through this gate, and follow a wide track for a good 300 yards...
Eventually you'll come to another gate, go through this and turn right across the second old railway bridge...
When you get to the other side of the railway bridge go through a farm gate, and follow a fairly steep path directly upwards...
Looking down onto Bolton Abbey Station...
From here retrace your steps to the foot of the Pike, then follow a track back towards a clearly visible Haw Pike Farm. You will need to go through the farm yard, this leads onto a very slippy tarmac lane that cuts steeply downhill towards Bolton Abbey Village...
When you make it to the bottom of the lane you will come to a main road. Cut straight across the road, through the opposite field, and then turn left at the next road (be careful here as there is no pavement). You will see Bolton Bridge that crosses the River Wharfe on your right hand side, cut right and head up the lane leading to the bridge...
Continue towards the bridge, but cut left at a footpath sign before the bridge crosses the river...
Section 2. Bolton Priory to Simon's Seat
You have the option from here to cross the river by either the famous stepping stones, or via the foot bridge. I wimped out for the second day here and decided to cross via the footbridge. I will always associate the stepping stones with Steve Coogan 'stuck in his own metaphore' (See 'The Trip)!...
This takes you to a bridge that crosses the river towards Cavendish Pavilion. Turn right at the bridge...
North Nab summit trig 319m
After refueling, it was now a matter of cutting directly across the moor towards the fantastically named 'Valley of Desolation' What a great title for an Opeth album?!
Probably not strictly legal, but you will need to cut over a dry stone wall at some point, then you will need to go through a cleared forestry plantation area which is a bit tricky underfoot. Make your way down as best as you can towards a stream that flow along the edge of the trees. You will need to cross over the stream, and then cut directly through the trees towards the main track that passes through Laund Pasture Plantation...
When you get to the edge of the plantation you will come to a gate, continue straight ahead up the track ignoring the track leading off to your left!...
Truckle Crags...
A bit of scrambling required to reach the summit...
Section 3. Simon's Seat to Cavendish Pavilion
Section 4. Cavendish Pavilion to Bolton Abbey Station
When you get to the bridge here, cross it towards the pavilion, then go left through the car parks, and head back towards Bolton Priory. From there its about a mile and a half back to the Station...
Overall, a real tough old slog. If you take this on give yourself plenty of time, as the last train is at 5, unless you wish to do this via a car of course. I ended up walking from Embsay back into Skipton too, which added a few more punishing miles onto the hike!
Haw Pike and North Nab need not be included into the walk, that was just a bit of fantical trig point bagging, but doing them made it into an interesting one. Now, where next?
Thanks for reading :0)
