Distance Covered: 4 miles Time to complete walk: 2.5 hours
Suitable for dog walking: No
Total Steps: approx. 13,500
Safety Tips: This is a challenging walk due to the steep ascent to Simons Seat. A good level of fitness is required. In hot weather take twice as much water as you would normally take. When on the descent keep your eye on where you are walking as loose rocks are on the route. A walking stick is essential. Look for a good steady route to the top of Simons Seat.
A definite challenge to climb up to Simons Seat on this walk. But the views make it all worthwhile. Simons Seat is a Yorkshire Peak and being as part of the Bolton Abbey estate, may be closed in August for g rouse shooting. Check online before you go. Parking is limited in Howgill at the start of the walk is two spaces. Check around for any other spots and if unable to park in Howgill, nearby Appletreewick has ample spaces outside the Craven Arms which will add approx. 20 minutes to your walk.
The Simons Seat walk
Getting There
Check for roadworks before you go as there were road closures at the time of the walk. Diversions were clear though. From Middlesbrough, follow the A66 to Darlington and then head to Scotch Corner on the M1. Turn off at junction 50 to Ripon. Head through Ripon on the North Road and Park Road. Then pass Fountains Abbey on the B6265. Head on through Pateley Bridge. Look for a left turning which is New Road and follow the signs for Howgill. Parking is free outside the chapel at Howgill, however it is restricted so try other places in Howgill or nearby Appletreewick outside the Craven Arms.
Map of the Simons Seat walk
From the parking spot head immediately onto the Sandy Lane which leads into the village of Howgill.
Signpost at parking layby
Head onto the sandy lane
Go left onto the farm lane which passes a campsite.
Turn left onto the farm lane
Follow the lane
As you walk, look to your left for great views of Wharfedale.
View of Wharfedale
Soon the path swerves to the right passing some farm buildings. Keep on the road.
Follow the road passing farm buildings
Keep on the road ahead
Just short of the Daleshead Farm look for a gate on the right which heads into bracken on a rising track.
Gate obscured by a car
Head through the gate
The path now changes to overgrown bracken on the hillside. Climb the hillside on the path using your walking stick to negotiate the bracken.
Information panel
Head onto the path through bracken
Go over a step stile over a wire fence.
Go over the step stile
Head towards an oak tree in the near distance. Keep climbing on the path towards the tree
Head for the tree
Keep on the bracken path
This is a great spot to have a short break as the tree provides welcome shade.
Head for the Oak tree
After a brief break head upwards over the trees roots and you will emerge onto a clear path.
Climb past the tree to its right
Emerge onto a clear rocky path
You need now to be taking the best route to the top, the path is clear though but look for any route which climbs to your goal.
Pass the rock on the climb
Keep to the stony path
A tip on the climb is to never pass the edge of the farm below you as the path zig-zags up the hillside.
Keep climbing the stony path
Keep the path
You will soon see Simons Seat in the distance and will eventually come to a ladder stile over a wall.
Simons Seat in the distance
Climb over the ladder stile
Follow the path as it climbs to the summit.
Keep on the rocky path
The path goes to the right and then turns upwards
Keep on the path
The path then joins a clear flagged paving route to Simons Seat.
Path to Simons Seat
Keep climbing
Soon you emerge onto the summit and climb up to the top of Simons Seat for stunning views. It was worth it!
Climber on top of Simons Seat
Make your way carefully to the top of the peak
Climb to the top carefully
Top of Simons Seat
View from the top
After spending time at the summit - a great spot for a picnic, head to the right on a clear path away from the summit.
Follow the path from the summit
Keep on the path
The path is clear but has loose rocks on it so negotiate the descent carefully.
Signpost on the track
Follow the path
The path heads downwards beside a wall.
Continue on the path near the wall
You will then emerge onto a track coming from your left. Head down this track.
Head onto track from the left
Keep on this track
The path passes a forest to your left and through a gate.
Forest to your left
Go through the gate
Keep on the path as it descends and go over a stile and you will emerge onto the road you parked your car.
Keep on the path as it descends
Go through the gate and back your parking spot
Simons Seat
Simon's Seat is a peak in the Yorkshire Dales in northern England. It is a prominent outcrop of millstone grit on the eastern side of Wharfedale. Although only 485 metres (1,591 ft) high, the extensive views from the summit make it a popular destination for walkers. Simon's Seat is on private land of the Bolton Abbey Estate. There are no public footpaths to the summit, but the summit is on access land. It is usually reached by a permissive route which leads north from Bolton Abbey across the River Wharfe up the Valley of Desolation. The route leads across Barden Fell, which is a grouse moor, somethimes closed to the public during the shooting season. The summit can also be reached by shorter but steeper paths from Howgill or Skyreholme, one mile north of the summit.
There are several explanations of the origin of the name. It was first recorded in 1771, and may have been named after an owner of the estate in a similar way to the nearby crags named Lord's Seat and Earl Seat. A traveller in 1838 recorded a local tale that the crag was named after an infant found there by a shepherd, who named the child Simon. The 19th century antiquarian Henry Speight thought that it was a high place of Druidic worship, named after the legendary Simon Druid or Simon Magus.
