Yorkshire Dales Walks
Gargrave and Newton Locks
Date: 15th Mar 2015
Distance: 3.3 miles
Ascent: 150 feet
Time: 1 hours 30 mins
With: Lisa and Rhiannon
Start Grid Ref: SD932543
Walk Summary:
A nice little Mother's Day family walk along the canal from Gargrave to Newton Locks and then returning via the Pennine Way.
Route Summary: Gargrave - Anchor Lock - Priest Holme Bridge - Newton Locks Foot - Legaston Bank - Pennine Way - Mosber Lane - Gargrave
Photos: Click on the photos below to enlarge.
Walk Detail: For Mother's Day my wife requested a return visit to the Skipton Pie N' Mash restaurant which Rhiannon and I had taken her to the previous year. Also given the task of finding a short walk for the three of us to do together before lunch I came up with this short walk starting in Gargrave, a lovely little village a few miles to the north-west of Skipton.
The route was very straightforward. From the small public car park in Gargrave (free of charge!) we went north along West Street to very quickly arrive at the Leeds - Liverpool canal. Turning left along the canal we followed it west passing a number of locks including Higherland Lock, Anchor Lock, Scarland Lock and Stegneck Lock. We also passed a couple of bridges where Lisa and Rhiannon discovered that the still waters of the canal really was not conducive to a game of pooh sticks.
In no time at all we arrived at the foot of Newton Bank Locks, a series of six locks that sees the canal gain about twenty metres in height. Just before the second of the six we left the canal by crossing over it and heading away on an initially enclosed path climbing up Legaston Bank.
The next section, skirting around Scaleber Hill was a bit muddy underfoot but once we joined the Pennine Way it became much firmer again. We then followed the Pennine Way north back into Gargrave with some nice views afforded of the village with a back drop of Flasby Fell. The walk concluded with a short stroll along the River Aire (unfortunately the stepping stones were impracticable due to the level of the river) and then back to the car and a short drive to Skipton for some well earned pie and mash!
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