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.

Stalling Busk sign

Stalling Busk sign: Keep left.

 

 

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

Go to Kidstone on the High Lane

Take the High Lane to Kidstone

 

 

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.

This is where you will come out!

This is where you will come out!

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.

 

Your climb is nearly over.

Road to Carpley Green

 

 

 

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.

Penhill West Witton

Penhill West Witton

 

 

Buckden Pike in the distance.

Buckden Pike in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

You have done the climb and over half the walk.

Path back home.

 

Following the path hitting a further six stiles

First stile you come to

First stile you come to

 

 

Second Stile

Second Stile

 

 

 

 

Half way there only 3 more to go

Half way there only 3 more to go

 

 

Take the stile not the gate

Take the stile not the gate

 

 

 

 

Fifth Stile

Fifth Stile

 

 

Ideal picnic spot

Ideal picnic spot

 

 

 

 

The next is the last

Just one more stile

 

 

 

Back at High Lane

Back at High Lane

 

 

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.

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