Boss Leader

An ace moorland road takes you up to a thousand feet and you certainly feel you've arrived on Boss Moor, up there, and out there in the country, with a commanding view of peaks all around, except to the east where a few miles of heather and grass separate you from Grassington and Wharfedale. These are today's miles.

The moor is sliced by a fair-sized valley, and to keep out of this for drama and for the birds, I angled north for a while and gained more height, making good time on track, though not as good time as the gamekeeper on a quad bike. He was the only person around, friendly, and I kept opening and shutting gates for him so he didn't have to dismount. Should like a go on a quadbike sometime.

There was only one person in the landscape and only one building, a shooters' hut, but plenty of birds. Skylarks sang high over the heather, grouse skimmed by, and in the grassy valley lapwings swirled and flashed and curlews called from nest sites.

There's a boggy bit made easier by a strange fence, with along the top wire sliding banisters of blue plastic pipe. I can only presume grouse notice the colour blue; certainly they must be well familiar with the colour purple.

The views were worth the chance of wet feet. A high wall with a ladderstile made a good sheltered sandwich stop. For me as I chomped away, it was grey behind the wall, grey above, grey over the roofs on Grassington and grey in most of Wharfedale. But way down the dale, high country glowed backlit in the sunshine.

This sandwich stop viewpoint is good for the digestion as well because we don't have to climb yet, instead descending into walled pastures to a mossy back lane, the sort that develops a centre parting of grass.

From here you could make it to Grassington, taking footpaths in an arc to the south, but that would make a long day of it. I headed back, track nearly all the way. You soon make the main ridge, and the two miles of climb back is pleasantly gentle. You'll notice a flat-topped hillock the size of a bungalow on the smooth valley floor, a much sought after nest site I would imagine and occupied I think by curlews.

Streams and standing winter water are pretty, grouse butts are everywhere, and with three sweeps of its scimitar wings a raptor slid into the next valley.

DIRECTIONS

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1. Track from gravelled parking area by disused quarry (by notice requesting 'keep to footpath and dogs on leads, signed BW Kilnsey). Ignore right and left turns.

2. Fieldgate and immediately left by wall (signed Malham Moor Lane).

3. Right at wall corner (signed Skirethorns Lane) to path by wall/fence/wall.

4. Ladderstile, downhill, grassy path about 50 yards from wall to the left, crosses small stream then 1 o'clock, broken wall, 1 o'clock, ladderstile, downhill by wall, fieldgate/ladderstile and right to track.

5. Right to lane, tarmac then track.

6. Right at T-junction, walled track, gate/fieldgate to moor and straight on (signed Cracoe...), 200 yards, track swings left (i.e. ignore right fork), fieldgate, track, stream.

7. Fieldgate (by railway wagon), 20 yards then straight on to grassy track as main track swings left, (i.e. right fork), right at Y-junction and uphill.

8. Watch out for 3 old stone grouse butts on left and 2 sleepers on track then fork 11 o'clock to path across roughish ground (waymarked posts, first after about 200 yards). Stile and right to road, uphill to parking area.

FACT FILE

Distance: Nearly five miles.

Time: Two to three hours.

Start: High point of Boss Moor Lane, by disused quarry. Grid Ref: 955619.

Right of Way: The complete route is along public rights of way.

Date walked: Friday March 10, 2000.

Road Route: North of Rylstone on the Bordley only road.

Car Parking: Roadside.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: None.

Tourist & Public Transport Information: Grassington TIC 01756 752774.

Map: Based on OS Outdoor Leisure 2, Yorkshire Dales southern and western areas.

Terrain: Moorland and high pasture.

Footwear: Waterproof walking boots in winter.

Points of interest: Birds and views.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Dogs: Suitable for dogs but keep on leads. Ground nesting birds.

Weather Forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. Every effort is made to provide accurate information, but walkers set out at their own risk.

PICTURE:Winter water and wall

Click here to view a map of the walk