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THE BOLDON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CLUB

 
 

Linear walk to Muker

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Date 15/07/07
Leader: Russell S
Distance: 13 miles
Weather:

Mainly cloudy

Walkers 12
Parking: N/A
Map: Ordnance Survey OL30
   

Route Summary - Hag's Gill Farm, Cogdon Moor, Crackpot, Gunnerside New Bridge, Ivelet, Muker.

 

 

After being dropped off on the main road near Marrick Abbey we walked south, uphill, on a track to an area of disused lead veins (Old Stark and Wellington lead veins). Here, with Judith setting a cracking pace, we turned right onto a lane which took us across Cogden Moor before joining a footpath on our left heading towards Hurst Ridge.

 

After about 2.5 miles, between Blue and Beldar hills, we came across a hunting barn. It was split into two sections; one obviously for the beaters being fitted out with trestle tables, the other a far more posh affair for the shooters with a large stained table and carver chairs, both with fancy fireplaces. Here we had lunch, in the posh end of course, under the watchful eye of an unhappy looking stuffed sheep in the corner.

From here we continued west until we joined High Lane where we turned left onto the lane then right at Birks End to join a footpath taking us to Haverdale Beck. Ominously, a couple of signs warned us that the route would be difficult or even impassable in wet weather. Undeterred we carried on preferring to get a bit muddy instead of having to negotiate a 3 mile detour. Little did we know what was waiting for us!

 

The crossing started innocently enough with a steep slippery slope down to the beck then after much scratching of heads and tentative probing we managed to get across the beck using a fallen down tree as an aid. This is where the fun started - we were met by over a foot of mud on a steep slope.

 

After managing to plodge our way up the slope we thought the worst was over but then we were met by a wall of nettles up to the aptly named Crackpot. Those with long trousers took the lead to beat a path through the nettles with Marjorie leading the way. Russell vowed to put big red cross on his map to deter any future crossing.

Crackpot derives it's from the Old English kraka (a crow) and the Viking word pot (usually a cavity or deep hole often in the bed of a river, but in Crackpot's case it refers to a rift in the limestone).

Alternatively, it could refer to a rambler who voluntarily walks down a steep slope, paddles across a torrent, climbs up a muddy bank then fights through a wall of nettles - all for fun!

We walked through Crackpot then joined the lane heading towards Gunnerside Bridge . We were amused to pass Mudd House, Nettlebed and the Rash before turning off to our right to Gunnerside Bridge through Hag Wood. Across the other side of the bridge we then kept to the north of the river before crossing the river again at Ivelet. At the main road we had intended to join a footpath to Muker but the straight, mud free road straight looked inviting and time was getting on so we took the easy option to Muker and the Farmer's Arms.