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Conistone Dib & Pie from Conistone

Start/Finish

Conistone Village where parking is limited so do park sensibly. Conistone is off the Skipton to Kettlewell road. The turning is just south of Kilnsey Crag.

Distance/Time

4 km.    About 2 hours.

Peaks

No peaks as this is mainly an edge and moorland walk but the highest point is about 360 m.

OL10 Yorkshire Dales: Southern Area

Introduction

This is a fine short walk in the heart of Limestone Country. It punches well above its weight in terms of scenery as the first half of the walk passes through two gorges. Conistone Dib seems to be the second of these gorges. Conistone Pie is a small circular outcrop on a grassy mound which resembles a pie although its edges are now eroding away. A short crossing of an eroded limestone pavement is also included but can be avoided.

Route

(1) From the triangle in the centre of the village, take the minor road going N but, almost immediately, leave it and turn right onto a gravel track in front of some houses. Reach a gate with a concrete “hump” just before it. Go through the gate and curve round to the start of the gorge. Follow this up through some wonderful limestone scenery. Emerge from the gorge onto a more open area and follow this to a second and shorter gorge known as Conistone Dib. Climb out of the gorge on limestone “steps” then go right, through a gate, to join a grassy track which is the Dales Way. Turn left and soon reach a sign just before the gravel track known as Scot Gate Lane. Above, to the right, is a low edge. Ascend to this then pick a way over an eroded limestone pavement then up to a medium cairn just beyond. Continue following the very wide groove between the limestone pavement and the cairn until a wide grassy path is reached which is the Dales Way. By now, Conistone Pie should be obvious as a small outcrop on a grassy mound. Cross a wall by a stone stepped stile and ascend to the Pie. There are several easy ways to reach its top (no cairn). To avoid the limestone pavement then, from the sign post, follow the Dales Way which is best picked up by going left down the lane for a few metres to reach the wide grassy path. Follow this to Conistone Pie.

(2) Retrace back across the stone stepped stile then follow the wide grassy Dales Way back to Scot Gate Lane. Follow the lane down, past the mast, to a minor road. Turn left and soon reach the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 12^th March, 2019.