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Great Knoutberry Hill from Garsdale Head to Cowgill Road

Start/Finish

Large entrance, with parking for several cars, where a track leaves the Garsdale Head to Cowgill road at SD 779 880. This is about 2.5 miles from where this minor road leaves the A684 by Garsdale Head. It soon passes Garsdale Head station, which has toilets, at postcode LA10 5PP. Note that after the station, the road rises steeply and goes above 550 m so may be impassable under winter conditions. From Cowgill, take the minor road for Garsdale Head which climbs steeply out of Cowgill and also may be impassable under winter conditions. The start is about 1 mile after passing under the railway but note that the track is a reverse right fork so might be missed by those in a hurry!

Distance/Time

4 km.   About 1 – 2 hours.

Peaks

Great Knoutberry Hill, 672 m, SD 788 871.   OL2 Yorkshire Dales: Western Area

Introduction

Great Knoutberry Hill is the highest point on Widdale Fell which can be explored further by those who wish, including visiting its two tarns, but this route just goes to the summit and back. In clear weather, there are good views to Whernside, Rise Hill (Aye Gill Pike) and Baugh Fell. Ingleborough may also be seen in clear weather. The route is simple and a fence is followed all the way to the summit.

Route

(1) From the start, walk along the track until a gate marks the end of the good track. Do not pass through the gate but go through two gates on the left to pick up a path which follows a fence uphill. At the first levelling out, you will see the cairns on Pikes Edge to your right and they can be visited by a short detour. Continue up with some short slightly steeper sections to reach the summit area. The trig point is on your side of the fence but two easy stiles need to be crossed to reach the summit cairn which is shaped like a bench. It isn't obvious which is the higher point but they are less than 20 m apart. One or both (if equal height) is the summit of Great Knoutberry Hill, 672 m.

(2) Retrace the outward route.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 2^nd July, 2021.