Buckden Walk: Visit Birks Fell, Yockenthwaite, and Hubberholme

Enjoy Diverse Terrain and Breathtaking Scenery on This Buckden Walk

This Buckden walk begins at the Yorkshire Dales National Park pay-and-display car park, situated just off the B6160 at the northern end of Buckden village. The car park, conveniently located behind the former St Michael’s School Room, is easy to find and has plenty of spaces. Once you’ve parked, exit the car park via the main entrance, cross the B6160, and walk alongside the triangular village green until you reach Dubb’s Lane.

From here, follow Dubb’s Lane downhill, crossing the road bridge over the River Wharfe. Continue along this lane for about a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometres) towards Redmire. Next, look for a stone track on your left, signposted as a public footpath to Litton. Turn left onto this track and begin your ascent up the hillside. The track gradually winds its way upwards, and as it starts to level out, take a narrower path off to the right onto Birks Fell.

The path steadily leads you upwards for just over a mile (1.6 kilometres). As you hike, the trail steepens before levelling out near the summit. At this point, turn right and head north-west towards Birks Tarn, located at the top of Birks Fell. After reaching the tarn, continue across the top of the fell, passing four smaller tarns on your right. The trail then follows a dry stone wall, leading you westward for nearly two miles (3.2 kilometres) until you reach the intersection with A Pennine Journey at Horse Head Gate.

Here, turn right and follow A Pennine Journey as it descends for 1½ miles (2.4 kilometres) to the road at Raisgill. Turn left and continue down the road towards Yockenthwaite. When you arrive in Yockenthwaite, cross the River Wharfe using the historic stone arched bridge. Follow the path in front of the farmhouse and cross the grassy area to join the Dales Way footpath. This trail runs alongside the River Wharfe. Continue eastward for 1½ miles (2.4 kilometres) until you reach Hubberholme.

At Hubberholme, you can shorten your walk by staying on the Dales Way back to Buckden, saving over a mile (1.6 kilometres). However, to complete the full Buckden walk, approach the road near the church but do not cross the bridge. Instead, turn left and walk along the quiet Stubbing Lane for about half a mile (0.8 kilometres) until you reach Stubbing Bridge. Just before the bridge, take the footpath on your left, signposted to Cray.

This path leads you up through a narrow valley, following Cray Gill and passing several lovely waterfalls. Once you arrive at Cray, cross the B6160 and follow the signposted path towards Buckden. The path will guide you across stepping stones over a stream, then uphill through grassy fields until you intersect with a wider path. Turn right and follow this trail south across Buckden Rake. The path, initially level, will eventually descend, becoming a stone track that leads you back to the car park in Buckden.

This Buckden walk covers just over 11 miles (19 kilometres) of stunning Yorkshire Dales countryside. It offers a mix of country lanes, exposed moorland, riverside strolls, picturesque waterfalls, and breathtaking views. At the end of your trek, you might fancy a drink at the pub in Buckden—a perfect way to conclude this rewarding hike.

Buckden Walk: Distance, Duration, Statistics

Recommended Ordnance Survey Map

The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area, reference OS Explorer OL30, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.

Yorkshire Dales Walking Guidebooks

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: North and East, by Dennis Kelsall, describes 43 circular day walks of 3 to 12 miles across the Howgills, Mallerstang, Swaledale, Wensleydale, Coverdale and Nidderdale, with Ordnance Survey mapping and notes on parking and refreshments.

15 Short Walks in the Yorkshire Dales, by Jonathan and Lesley Williams, covers the area around Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ingleton. Its 15 routes of 1 to 7 miles each take under three hours, ideal for families or a relaxed half day out. Both books can be purchased from Amazon, as shown below.

About Buckden

Buckden is a charming village and civil parish located in the Craven district of North Yorkshire. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Buckden now lies within the picturesque Yorkshire Dales National Park, situated on the east bank of the River Wharfe in Wharfedale. The civil parish also includes the hamlet of Cray and the entirety of Langstrothdale.

The History of Buckden

The name ‘Buckden’ originates from the Old English words ‘bucca’ and ‘denu’, meaning ‘he-goat’ and ‘valley’, respectively. In 1748, a flood destroyed the village bridge. The current bridge, known as ‘Election Bridge’, was built after a prospective MP made its construction an electoral promise.

Exploring the Geography of Buckden

Buckden is nestled at the confluence of Buckden Gill and the River Wharfe, with Buckden Gill rising on Buckden Pike. Along this gill is Buckden Gavel Mine, a disused lead mine that has been designated an ancient monument. Nearby, where Langstrothdale meets Wharfedale, lies the village of Hubberholme, home to a Norman church and an inn. The Dales Way walking route passes close to Buckden, just across the Wharfe. A footpath from the village leads north-east to the summit of Buckden Pike, while another heads south-west towards Litton, forming part of the Buckden walk described on this page.

Buckden itself has a village shop, a residential outdoor education centre, and a traditional public house, the Buck Inn. Notably, Denis Healey, the former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer (1974–1979), spent his honeymoon in a converted stable next to the Buck Inn.

Buckden Governance

Historically, Buckden was a township within the ancient parish of Arncliffe, part of the Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It became a separate civil parish in 1866 and was transferred to the new county of North Yorkshire in 1974.

Today, Buckden lies within the Skipton and Ripon UK Parliament constituency. It is also part of the Mid Craven electoral division of North Yorkshire County Council and the Upper Wharfedale ward of Craven District Council.

Religious Heritage in Buckden

The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels, located in the nearby hamlet of Hubberholme, is a Grade II listed building. Built in the 12th century, it has undergone rebuilding work since the 16th century. This church is a notable landmark on the Buckden walk described above.

Buckden Walk: My Photos

The path onto Birks Fell leads me past an old barn nestled by the side of Water Gill. Inside, sheep find shade from the sun within the building’s cool interior.

As I continue my Buckden walk, I’m treated to a stunning north-east view of Buckden Pike. This view unfolds beautifully from Birks Fell.

Birks Tarn, one of the largest tarns in the Yorkshire Dales, sits on the wide ridge between Birks Fell and Out Moor. It offers a tranquil spot on the Buckden walk.

Descending along A Pennine Journey, I follow the path beside a ravine below Horse Head. Here, the rushing waters of Hagg Beck carve their way through the landscape before eventually joining the River Wharfe.

From this vantage point, the view north towards Yockenthwaite Moor unfolds. The tiny hamlet of Yockenthwaite nestles at the foot of its steep slopes, marking my next destination.

Looking east through the Langstrothdale valley, Buckden Pike stands tall in the distance, a prominent feature of the landscape.

The hamlet of Yockenthwaite is located on the northern bank of the River Wharfe in Langstrothdale. This charming stop is a highlight on the Buckden walk.

A memorable moment on the Buckden walk is crossing the Grade II listed 18th-century bridge over the River Wharfe at Yockenthwaite. This historic bridge adds to the walk’s allure.

The stretch of the River Wharfe between Yockenthwaite and Hubberholme is so picturesque.

Strolling along the Dales Way footpath by the River Wharfe between Yockenthwaite and Hubberholme is delightful.

Continuing my Buckden walk, I come across Cray Gill flowing under Stubbing Bridge, just east of Hubberholme. This scenic spot adds another picturesque moment to the journey.

The waterfalls created by Cray Gill are stunning as they cascade between Cray and Hubberholme. These falls are especially beautiful as I make my way up to Cray.

Looking down towards Cray, a small hamlet on the B6160 road, about a mile north of Buckden, I appreciate the area’s tranquil beauty.

This is the footpath across Buckden Rake, which connects Cray and Buckden.

One of my favourite views is of the River Wharfe and the village of Hubberholme in Upper Wharfedale. Here, the lush valley of Langstrothdale meets the serene Wharfedale.

As I near the end of my Buckden walk, I descend from Buckden Rake towards the village of Buckden. This concludes a remarkable day in the countryside.