Nidderdale & Washburn Walks
Cold Stones & Nabs
Date: 10th January 2009
Distance: 5.8 miles
Ascent: 1516 feet
Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
With: On my own
Start Grid Ref: SE129644
Walk Summary:
Starting from Toft Gate near Greenhow this modest little ramble took in the modern quarry at Cold Stones and the remains of Providence Mine.
Route Summary: Toft Gate - Cold Stones - Coldstonesfold Farm - Hill End - Nabs - Near Hardcastle - Brandstone Beck - Greenhow Moss - White Mere - Toft Gate
Pictures:
1. The kiln at Toft Gate
2. Looking down into Coldstones Quarry
3. Cold Stones
4. Brandstone Beck from Brandstone Dub Bridge
5. Cold Stones from Nabs
6. At Providence Mines
7. Nabs from Near Hardcastle
8. Brandstone Beck
Walk Detail: The purpose of this walk was simply to get me out in the open again after a stressful couple of weeks which had seen the return of my wife's epilepsy.
The weather was murky in parts but to be honest I didn't care for once and in fact the wintery atmosphere suited my mood well. The little walk up Cold Stones was pleasant and the view to the south and east would be extensive on most days.
I was unable to continue over the hill as marked by the OS due to the extensive quarry which has effectively hollowed out the top of the hill. The walk down to Nabs and back along Brandstone Beck was quite pleasant; the sun even came out a little while I was on Nabs and about the time I also startled a snipe. This is a bird which I seem to be coming across more often.
I concluded the walk with another attempt to cross over Cold Stones only to discover they have diverted the main path so it now contours round the slope quite often on very wet tussocky ground. In some place due to the severe frost it was also very icy. It was not particularly pleasant but to satisfy my own curiosity I had to do it.
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