We are the Midlife Hikers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Louise C.
This is a highly rewarding but fairly challenging walk with gorgeous scenery, some light scrambling and hills with far reaching views.
Park at the Riverside car park and meet outside the Cavendish tea rooms (public toilets available) for a 10.30am start. The walk starts by leaving the Bolton Abbey estate via the Strid, following the Dales Way from Barden Bridge to the village of Appletreewick. From Appletreewick we climb over decent paths, along the sweeping moors until we reach the gorge of Trollers Gill where we may need to use our hands to clamber across the rocks and make our descent.
After Trollers Gill we head over fields and then make a fairly steep climb up to Simon's Seat. From the summit it's a gradual descent back to the Bolton Abbey estate via the Valley of Desolation and waterfalls.
🅿️ Riverside car park, Bolton Abbey, BD23 6AN
Parking costs £15 a day, or £12.50 if you book in advance on the Bolton Abbey website, so we recommend car-sharing where possible
(NB, don't park in the village car park, as it's a 20 minute walk to the meeting point)
🚻 Toilets available at the start of the walk
☕ If we finish the walk in time, we'll head into the café for tea and cake
⚠️ This walk involves some gentle scrambling over rocks in Trollers Gill, which may be slippery after wet weather
🐶 Sorry but dogs are not allowed on this walk, as they are not permitted on the access land at Barden Fell
🥪 You will need to bring a packed lunch
Cavendish Pavilion (Riverside car park), Bolton Abbey, BD23 6AN
