Tuesday 30th September 2025
It was back in August and September 2022 that I set about the 22 trig points on OS 1/50 scale Sheet 99. For reasons I don't remember the campaign tailed off with 7 trigs still remaining.
The campaign has been now been resumed.
I left home at 7:45 am and drove down the A65 to Ingleton with a clear road, but the road from Ingleton to Hawes was completely devoid of traffic and an absolute joy to driving and a rare chance to contrast with the present day frustration of trying to drive anywhere. That route passing through Chapel le Dale flanked by Ingleborough and Whernside and then passing by Ribblehead viaduct has much nostalgia for me. Similar joyful driving got me as far as Wensley. Here the continuing A684 to Leyburn was closed and bearing in mind I needed as much time in hand for the walking I had to take a tedious diversion on narrow lanes. Eventually I was able to park on the unfenced road at Colsterdale after some heart stopping single track with few passing places.
From the road a short walk up to the first field boundary on a public footpath was blocked. There was no formal crossing point of the wall but it was obvious earlier visitors had reduced a fair amount of the wall, but a single wire ran across the gap. I had to manoeuvre until I was able to sit on top of the wall with the wire pressed down under my bum and then swing my legs over. A manipulation I had to repeat on my return.
It was quite a strenuous tramp over deep heather with occasional bare patches to reach the trig. I decided to head north from there to pick up a public footpath marked on the map, but it proved to be almost non existent. What had appeared to be a modest up and down on the map was quite arduous, but the surrrounding moorland and scenery were superb.
The whole of this area containing these last seven trigs doesn't lend itself to direct driving from one point to another. A long drive ensued to get to my second trig and this was a quick up and down with views back down to Pateley Bridge and beyond.
I had thought there was an access road to Scar House Reservoir from the south from Middlesmoor but after wasting time driving there it turned out to be only a track. The proper access road approaches from the north after a long drive from Lofthouse. I had just run out of time. I retuned using the A59 road past Skipton and the A65 back home. Initially I drove over Greenhow from Pateley Bridge. The views from that road are as extensive as anywhere in the country and a surprise considering it is from a main road rather than a higher hill location.
The distances involved in getting to, and navigating around this area are tiresome, and my morning's delight at trouble free motoring was well dissipated and I was weary of the driving by the time I arrived home. I am thinking of getting to the area next time and staying overnight in accommodation to mop up the remainder.
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| Blocked footpath on way to Colsterdale Moor trig - SE 120 815 |
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| It was mostly deep heather all the way. This at the beginning raised false hopes |
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| Grouse shooting butt. Bring your own shooting stick (seat) |
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| High Bishopside trig SE159 673 |
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| The red markers are still to do. The two done here are a blue squiggle centre of map and similar close to Pateley Bridge. Note the one north of Leyburn - Whit Fell on a military firing range, I will have to wait until the flags don't fly |
