ALMSCLIFFE AMBLE

30 MILE ROUTE

Cross road by Stephen Smith's Garden Centre and turn L up pavement. After approx 300 yards turn R down road SP Gallows Hill and immediately bear L along path with cycling prohibited sign keeping wall on L and green mesh fence to R. Zigzag R over pipe bridge, fence now on L. Cross footbridge over River Wharfe then head up river bank into park towards Otley, passing tennis courts on your R. At junction, bear R passing crazy golf course on your L, leave park at next exit, R and then L up lane before the large ornate gates. At Farnley Lane (opposite Athelstan Lane) bear R. After ¾ mile, at the second public footpath SP on L (just over brow of hill) cross over road (taking care on this difficult bend) and go through stile, heading towards Farnley School on horizon. Keep hedge on L. 100 yards from the church, bear R across field, headed for white gate in fence. Turn R towards road then immediately L onto road, pass cottage, turn L up farm track and over cattle grid, passing Farnley Church on your L. Where the lane bends to the R towards Haddock Stones Farm, carry straight on towards L side of wood on horizon. Follow way marked arrow by gate keeping wall on R. At end of wall go Rover stile and carry' on, keeping fence on L. At stream bed cross over stile straight on up hill to tarmac road. Turn R, follow road then track to Dob Park Pack Horse Bridge. Immediately after bridge turn R up lane to checkpoint (near entrance to Norwood Bottom Hall). GR197510

Up road to the R, opposite farm on R hand side, go through gate on L and up field, keeping wall on R. Cross wall, into wood, by Hawthorn Tree over pile of stones/stile. Follow path into wood, keeping wall on R for 20 yards then bear R through a gap in wall then bear L up through the wood. At stony clearing in pine wood, turn R onto forest track. Where track bends round to L leave it and head for the wall in front of you. Follow track about 5 yards from wall side for approx 25 yards, follow wall side to top of wood until you reach lane at top of wood. Turn R along lane, until you reach B6451.

Cross road (careful as you go) and go L down road towards Pateley Bridge. After 100 yards, follow SP to R on edge of plantation, SP to Little Almscliffe. After 300 yds, cross 2 wooden footbridges and over stile to L in fence, then turn R through field, keeping fence on R. Head for yellow marker offset to corner. Over stile through two fields with plantation on R. In corner of second field go over 2 stiles and then straight forward down path through plantation. By small pond, head over stile, keeping plantation again on R. At end of plantation, head over stile and go up field, keeping fence on R. At end of field cross next stile and head straight on over horizon, in a due-easterly direction, to Little Almscliffe.  After stopping to admire the view, head for road in front. Turn R at road and follow for 200 yards and turn R into Stainburn Moor Car Park. GR236524

Just before gate down Forestry Commission track, head L in a gap through trees with a small stream on R. At trig point at edge of wood, turn L down track towards B6161, head straight across road and you will clearly see Almscliffe Crag on near horizon. After following path for 1/2 mile, head for a stand of dark fir trees in front of you. Pass to R of these trees (not to L as on map) and head for gate in far corner of field. At road, turn L and proceed along road towards Almscliffe Crag. At road junction, turn L again towards Almscliffe Crag. Just after next R hand bend, follow the PF sign up to the L through stile and follow with wall to L hand side up to crag. Leaving crag head East towards gorse in corner. Over stile in corner of field and down lane for 100 yards to road. Turn L to CIP just before bend in road. GR273488

.At bend on edge of North Rigton, turn L up green lane SP Burn Bridge. After approx 100 yards turn R on path through fields and over stile, turning R at Prospect house. Through building site and head past old cottages towards tarmac road. Cross road following FP sign to Burn Bridge. Pass along High Fold, turning L before wooden gates along waymarked track. Follow track and over stile. Diagonally R across field to cross stile in corner and immediately L to cross field, heading between two telegraph posts over a stile in front.

Straight across 3 fields, keeping R of Rigton Lodge. After passing Rigton Lodge, over stile in corner of field, to follow the FP to Burn Bridge. Down lane, over stile and straight forward, keeping wall on R, through way marked gate and on path, wall on R. Straight on, cross fields until Horn Bank Farm is immediately on R. At wall turn R, keep wall on Rand, over next stile. Keeping to L of farm buildings, skirt round farm, keeping slurry tank on R. Round farm then head in to farm buildings and immediately L in front of farmhouse, down farm lane to main road.

On reaching A658, turn R for 40 yards. Just before bus stop cross road (take great care) and head down bridleway towards railway line. Again take extreme care crossing railway line and down farm track towards New York Farm. Through gates passing to L of farm. Forward through next field. Go through next gate, cross stream via culvert, go through field keeping line of hawthorn trees on R until next stream. Cross stream and through rusting metal gate head up the L hand side of field. Through gate at top of field and straight on towards Swindon Bank Farm. Pass to L of farm, head for main A61 in front. Cross main road (taking extreme care) and head L up road towards the bend keeping, where possible, to grass verge and facing oncoming traffic.

Just before bend, look out for a FP sign on R. Go down and over wall, head diagonally across field towards stile in top R hand corner. Over stile and carry on keeping fence and hawthorn hedge on L. Across next field to another stile, straight across field (head for ridge on near horizon), cross field, and head up hill, keeping hedge to R. Through gate and up hill keeping hedge and fence on your R. Carry on along ridge, passing unusual white house on R. Go over another stile and along ridge with church of Kirkby Overblow now in sight. At end of field, by large tree, go Rover stile. At graveled drive head L towards five-bar gate and pass over stile to R. Over next stile and through church yard and out into the village to checkpoint by Star and Garter Inn. GR325492

Turn R out of village, headed down minor road SP Swindon and Harewood. 300 yards from village centre, cross road by FP sign and go L down narrow lane with Beech hedge down R. At end of path out into field, head down field, keeping fence on R and go R through white gate at bottom of field. Through field, keeping fence hedge and trees on L. As Hawthorn trees finish, head diagonally R across the remainder of the field to bottom R hand corner and waymarked gate. Over stile and across stream and stile at other side, then head straight across middle of field to gate in fence half way along far side of field.

Straight across field to gate and way marker at other side, into next field and up towards horizon, keeping fence on the R. At Swindon Grange Farm, cross road and straight on down FP, keeping hawthorn hedge on L. Pass through several fields and head for crest of small rise in front and then head forwards down middle of field, veering to R away from fence, headed towards Red House Farm and A61. Down track, over stream, cross field to L aiming for gap in hedge. At A61 cross very carefully, turn L and head for Harewood Bridge. Take extreme care when you get to Harewood Bridge, immediately over bridge take FP on R through timber yard and over stile, immediately to rear of the white painted office.

Follow way marked signs to the L of Farm buildings, then go through gateway, keeping farm buildings to R all the time, follow side of field to the far corner by the road. Cross over Arthington road, diagonally R and head off up bridleway, SP "Private Road to Stud". Head up lane towards stud farm. After stud Farm up hill, round hairpin bend and straight forward at crossroad of bridleways (you are now on Ebor Way). Carry on towards Stank. At estate buildings, head down hill to the checkpoint. 

Head up hill. At brow of hill, leave metal road and head to R, with high walled garden on L. At fork in track, take R hand turn, on Ebor Way. At derelict farm buildings (Carr House) go through to R side. At this point turn and look back towards the magnificence of Harewood House and its lake. At Bridleway, turn R and head up hill through woods and on track for 3/4 mile. At tarmac road, head L up hill. After approx 1/2 mile a tarmac road joins from R, follow this road to pass Bank End Farm. Halfway down lane and before reaching stone cottage, turn L along little used lane with dead end sign.

At Bank Side Farm, go straight forward between Farm and outbuildings and along Bank Top Lane. At Bank Top Farm, goL of Farm buildings and head for road. Straight across road and through kissing gate at other side. Head across field in front, keeping fence on L. Head for gate in far L hand corner of field. Through gate and head diagonally L up hill towards trees. Follow way marked stiles in top L hand corner of field and carry on towards houses, keeping fence on R. After stile 100 yards down field, by first house, head over stile into lane and forward with houses still on R. At the end of Breary Lane East, join Creskeld Lane and head straight forwards towards busy A660. Cross main road and head up Breary Lane towards centre of Bramhope.GR248434

On leaving Fox and Hounds, stagger forward up Old Lane, past Robert Craven Memorial Hall. After last house on R turn R along FP, SP Pool Bank. At the end of lane, over stile, keep remains of wall on L and go forward headed for Hilton Grange School. After a couple of fields, head diagonally R towards near horizon and on reaching large gatepost, follow way marked sign over stile and, keeping wall on R, head towards R hand side of school. At far side of playing field, go through gate and head for path to the R of the field, then head for path to R of tennis court. At A658 take great care crossing the road. Head down Old Pool Bank. At main road, cross carefully on this extremely dangerous bend, take FP marked

Otley by Old Pool Bank sign. Head diagonally L across field, following line of telegraph poles. About half way along wood, leave the more obvious path and head diagonally down towards farm track in bottom. On reaching ·farm track, head L towards Caley Hall Farm. At Caley Hall Farm go between farm buildings, cross directly across yard and through small stile marked Otley. Into field with fence on L, follow the fence round L, cross tarmac lane following signpost to Otley. Head up towards top L hand corner of field and cross over stone stile. Continue with wall on R. After 1/2 mile go R SP PF to Pool, go diagonally across field towards railway line. In corner of field go over small footbridge and stile, keeping railway line and fence on R. At stream and bridge under railway, go over stile and up onto railway line, cross diagonally over railway line and down embankment at other side. Carry on down narrow lane with holly hedge on R. Carry on down path to Brighouse Farm. At tarmac lane, turn L towards Otley. At end of East Busk Lane by Summercross Pub, turn R on main road and back to Rugby Club.

WELL DONE!