Distance: 3 miles Time to complete walk: 2 hours
Safety Tips: Don't attempt the walk after rainfall or icy weather. The terrain for a big part of the walk is on a broken limestone path which can be treacherous when wet or icy. Expect to do a bit of scrambling up the pathway and to reach the top of Conistone Pie. Wear walking boots and take a walking stick.
An outstanding walk to Conistone Pie an outcrop with panoramic views. It is a unique walk up a dry valley covered in limestone with some scrambling up the valley over the limestone steps. The terrain of the walk is unusual and due care and sensible good walking boots are required. The resulting panoramic views at the top of Conistone Pie are worth it!
The Conistone Pie walk
Getting There
From Middlesbrough follow the A66 to Darlington and then follow it to the A1 Scotch Corner. Keep on the A1 south bound and look for Junction 47 which is signposted to Harrogate. Follow the A59 road through Harrogate and follow it out of Harrogate until you come to a roundabout for Bolton Abbey on a right hand turn. Follow the B6160 past Bolton Abbey. Follow the B6160 and look for a right turn off for Conistone. Park on the road-side on the bridge.
Map of the Conistone Pie walk
The Walk
From the bridge, go on into the village to a junction. Where the lane bends to the left fork right up to a bench and through a gate with a signpost to Conistone Dib
Go up lane to a gate
Gate with signpost to Conistone Dib
Go up the limestone steps. The way up is over a dry stream bed and it narrows in places so you can touch the sides.
Climb over the steps
Follow the way ahead up the stony path taking due care.
Follow the limestone path
Soon you will come to the narrowest part of the path. Pass through using both sides to help you through.
Pass through the narrow opening
The valley now widens onto a grassy but still stony path ahead.
Follow the path ahead
Walk up the valley over the grassy track and through a few gates. Head up again towards the trees to a stile which leads onto another narrow opening to the way ahead.
Trees on track
Go through the small gate
Scramble onto a flat platform and then look for a gate immediately to your right. (You are at marker 1 on the map)
Go through the gate on your right
Double back to the left towards another gate and go through it.
Go through gate
Follow the signpost direction to Conistone
Follow the grassy track in the direction of Conistone on the signpost passing over a path and passing under a low scar. Soon you will see Conistone Pie in the distance.
Follow the grassy track
On approaching Conistone Pie look for some steps over a stile onto the other side.
Go over steps on stile
Head on towards Conistone Pie. The easiest way to the top is facing the direction you came from, however take great care and climb to the top for some fantastic panoramic views of the countryside beyond. Conistone Pie provides shelter to the elements and is a great place for a picnic.
Conistone Pie
Views from the top of Conistone Pie
Double back the way you came and as you come to the path you passed over, turn right and join the track which is called Scot Gate Lane.(see marker number 2 on the map). Follow the path down which becomes a steep descent after passing by the transmitter mast. At the bottom, turn left passing a church and make your way back to the bridge.
Conistone
The village is set in characteristic limestone scenery, including Mossdale Caverns, the dry gorge of Conistone Dib and the limestone outcrop of Conistone Pie. Above the Dib the Dales Way path connects Kettlewell, to its north, and Grassington, to its south, providing distant views over Wharfedale. From the B6160 road, the Wharfe is crossed at Conistone by a stone-arch bridge, which is within easy walking distance of Kilnsey, with its Crag.
The parish church, St Mary's Church, dates from the 11th or 12th century, and is a Grade II listed building.
Conistone was historically in the large ancient parish of Burnsall, in Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It became part of the civil parish of Conistone with Kilnsey in 1866, and was transferred to North Yorkshire in 1974.
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