Old Cote Moor from Kettlewell

A circular walk of 9.9 miles (15.84 km) total, allow around 3 hours 40 minutes. It starts and finishes at the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park in Kettlewell, climbs over Old Cote Moor to Buckden, and comes back along the River Wharfe on the Dales Way.

Cross the bridge away from the village and take the stony track, then a steep footpath that squeezes through a nick in the rocky crags. Ladder stiles and a wall guide you up to the summit ridge and plateau, where the trig point sits on open ground with views over Wharfedale on one side and Littondale on the other. Pen-y-Ghent may show itself in the distance on a clear day. About 300 m further on you pick up a stone-flagged bridleway, laid to protect fragile peat, and drop towards Buckden with the valley opening out ahead. A short stretch of Dubb's Lane leads to the riverside path, then it is farm tracks, historic woodland, fields and hay meadows beside the Wharfe back to Kettlewell Bridge and the car park.

This is officially graded challenging: strenuous and hilly. The climb is long and steep, the fellside is exposed, and you cross rocky terraces and several ladder stiles. Ground can be muddy after wet weather. From the valley at roughly 210 m you gain about 400 m to reach the ridge at around 600 m, and the return is level river walking.

• Carry a compass, as officially advised, since the plateau gives few landmarks in poor visibility
• Boots with grip are worth it for the crags and any wet ground
• The route is not suitable for wheelchair users

Otters are seen fairly regularly around Buckden. Along the Wharfe, look for kingfishers, oystercatchers and dippers, and brown trout in the clear water. The hay meadows and dry-stone walls on the return make the second half quieter and slower going in the best sense.

Dogs are welcome under close control. Seasonal restrictions apply during lambing and ground-nesting bird season from March to July, so check before you set off, keep dogs on a lead near livestock, and give cattle with young plenty of room.

Use the pay-and-display Yorkshire Dales National Park car park in Kettlewell, just after Kettlewell Bridge. Public toilets are in the car park.

The Buckden to Kettlewell riverside walk covers similar valley scenery and is both shorter and flatter. It is a separate, gentler option and does not include the Old Cote Moor ridge.