A walk to Great Silky Top over Stake Edge: the Yorkshire Dales at their finest.

This is a walk of just over six and a half miles from High Blean, door to door but can be shortened to five mile by driving to the end of the Stake Road and parking by the sign for Stalling Busk and starting the walk from there.

 

From High Blean turn right and head towards Stalling Busk, after about 400 yards you will hit the t-junction at which point you turn left and walk up the hill.

After approximately ½ mile you will see a stone with a name sign for Stalling Busk.

 

 

At this point take the High Lane byway which is known locally as Stake Road, this is signed Kidstones.

 

 

Keep on this track for 2½ miles, over which distance the road gently climbs 675 feet by the time you take the path to Great Silky Top and start your decent back to High Blean.

 

As you climb you will get a great view down over Semer Water, Stalling Busk and Marsett. Once past Bob Lane the track takes a left turn, allowing a view down into Cragdale and Cragdale Scar.

After a mile of being on the byway you will see a foot path sign, this is the point you will rejoin the High Lane on your return leg down from Great Silky Top.

 

 

 

 

Keep climbing for the next 1½ mile passing a sign for Carpley Green on your left.

 

Having past this sign there are spectacular views down Wensleydale towards Penhill at West Witton, across to Buckden Pike in Wharfedale and over Wether Fell down towards Swaledale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will see a five bar gate crossing the track, which is normally closed and immediately on the other side a ladder type stile. This is the path down to Great Silky Top and the path that will rejoin the High Lane at Bank Wood.

 

Following the path hitting a further six stiles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now through the gate or over stile and you will be back on High Lane. Just retrace your path down High Lane and back to High Blean.