| Walk: | Carleton-in-Craven, Elslack Moor and Elslack Reservoir | ||
| Start Point: | Slip road to Broughton Hall | Grid Reference: | SD 940 510 |
| Distance: | 10 miles | Ascent: | 1,450 feet |
| Time: | 5.75 hours | ||
| Weather: | Dry, warm and mainly sunny | ||
| Comments: | Leaving Lancashire in low cloud and
drizzle it was a pleasant surprise to find that at the rendezvous
the sun was beginning to shine. Seventeen people took part in the
walk. After passing the front of Broughton Hall the group headed
over fields and a disused railway to Carleton-in-Craven. The
village has a population of about a thousand and contains services
such as a primary school, a church, pub, a social club, a butchers
and newsagents. Carleton Mill dates back to 1861. It was originally
built for spinning cotton; the mill later housed a mail-order
business throughout the 1930s. During the Second World War the Rover
company produced aircraft parts there. Shortly after, the mill
returned to its original use as a textile factory and later produced
carpets, eventually closing down in 1999. It was recently converted
into apartments. Leaving Carleton-in-Craven the party started a
steady climb towards Gawthorpe House on the edge of Carleton Moor.
On the way they crossed two streams, one with a bridge and the other
without, which meant a paddle over slippery stones. After climbing
to a road above Gawthorpe House the party then took shelter behind
converging walls to take lunch and to admire the sun dappled scenery
set out before them. A short route by road then enabled them to join the Pennine Way to cross Elslack Moor with its 380 degree vista. Descending from Elslack Moor the route passed through Elslack Reservoir which gave the party a chance to wash their boots has they crossed the spillway from reservoir. Continuing down to the hamlet of Elslack the group followed a Roman Road for a short while before re-crossing a disused rail track to All Saints Church at Elslack. The last leg of the route saw them cross by the way of Primrose Hill to join the A59 and a short walk back to the cars. |
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Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Broughton Hall near Skipton
A tricky crossing over an old railway stile
Over the fields to Carleton-in-Craven
A sunlit terrace in Carleton-in-Craven
A disappearing act, Carleton-in-Craven
Making the most of the autumn sun
Two of the more mature members climbing out of Carleton-in-Craven
A beck with no bridge . . .
proves to be a bit tricky underfoot
A trio of ramblers with Skipton in the background
Nearing the highest level of Elslack Moor
John obscures the trig point on Elslack Moor
In transit from the trig point to Elslack Reservoir
Passing through Standrise Plantation
Elslack Reservoir
A free boot wash at Elslack Reservoir spillway
All Saints Church at Elslack