Simon’s Seat Walk: Hike Barden Fell and the Valley of Desolation

Moorland Tracks and Waterfall Trails on the Simon’s Seat Walk in Wharfedale

Begin your Simon’s Seat walk by parking in the picturesque hamlet of Storiths. To reach Storiths, take Storiths Lane off the A59, approximately one mile east of the Bolton Bridge roundabout. Drive down Storiths Lane for just under a mile until you find the roadside car park on your left, which accommodates around six cars. Once parked, you’re ready to embark on your Simon’s Seat walk.

First, cross the road from the car park and take the lane that leads past the right-hand side of Crag Cottage. Follow this lane as it curves around, and you will soon join a wider track. At this point, turn left onto Gill Bank. Continue on this track in a north-easterly direction for about 1½ miles until you reach the ford across Pickles Gill Beck. The stone track then briefly veers north-west before returning to a north-easterly direction. After another 1½ miles, you will arrive at the dry stone wall at Rom Shaw Head.

At Rom Shaw Head, follow the straight dry stone wall as it guides you north-west for just over 1½ miles to the impressive Lord’s Seat. This section of your Simon’s Seat walk provides stunning views and a chance to soak in the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. From Lord’s Seat, continue west along the stone-flagged path to your next landmark, Simon’s Seat. Both Lord’s Seat and Simon’s Seat feature an intriguing collection of massive gritstone boulders. Upon reaching Simon’s Seat, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views, making it an ideal spot to rest and enjoy lunch. This is roughly the halfway point of your Simon’s Seat walk.

After taking a break, continue your trek by heading south-west on the well-maintained path, which has been newly laid with large paving stones. The trail descends slightly, offering more splendid views into Wharfedale. Keep descending until you reach a dry stone wall next to a woodland area. Follow the path alongside the wall until you see a signpost pointing towards Howgill. However, for this Simon’s Seat walk, you will not take the Howgill route. Instead, turn left and ascend eastward along a stone track.

After about ¾ mile, the track veers south and begins a gradual descent for roughly a mile, leading you to Sheepshaw Plantation. The path is easy to follow as it guides you through the Valley of Desolation, tracing the course of Sheepshaw Beck. Along the way, consider taking a short detour down a bank to view a lovely waterfall on your right. Afterward, continue south through the picturesque Posforth Gill until you reach a road, where you’ll turn left.

Follow the road for a few minutes until you spot a path on the right leading down to the banks of the River Wharfe. This path becomes part of the Dales Way. Continue following the Dales Way south, staying on the eastern side of the river, and passing through woodland until you reach a charming area with a bridge and stepping stones across the River Wharfe. You might choose to cross the river and explore Bolton Priory, but if you prefer to continue, head east uphill along a path for about half a mile to return to Storiths.

This nearly 11-mile Simon’s Seat walk through Barden Fell and Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales is a remarkable and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Do note that the paths and tracks on Barden Fell and through the Valley of Desolation are permissive routes rather than public rights of way. The landowner, the Bolton Abbey Estate, has imposed a no-dogs policy on its land.

Simon’s Seat 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 Southern & Western Area, reference OS Explorer OL2, 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.

About Simon’s Seat

Simon’s Seat is a notable peak in the Yorkshire Dales, standing as a prominent outcrop of millstone grit on the eastern side of Wharfedale. At 485 metres (1591 feet) high, the summit offers extensive views, making it a popular destination for walkers.

Simon’s Seat is located on private land owned by the Bolton Abbey Estate. Although there are no official public footpaths to the summit, the peak lies on access land, and there are permissive paths and tracks that allow walkers to reach the top. One well-known permissive route leads directly north from Bolton Abbey, ascending through the Valley of Desolation and across Barden Fell. Alternatively, you might prefer to follow the Simon’s Seat walk from Storiths, which I’ve described here on this page. For those seeking a shorter but steeper ascent, paths from Howgill or Skyreholme, about one mile north of the summit, also provide access.

The origin of the name Simon’s Seat has several possible explanations. First recorded in 1771, it may have been named after an estate owner, similar to nearby crags like Lord’s Seat and Earl Seat. A traveller in 1838 documented a local tale that the crag was named after an infant found there by a shepherd, who named the child Simon. Additionally, the 19th-century antiquarian Henry Speight suggested that it could have been a site of Druidic worship, named after the legendary Simon Druid or Simon Magus.

Simon’s Seat Walk: My Photos

We encounter a ford on Pickles Gill Beck, east of Brown Hill, early in our Simon’s Seat walk. The beck flows gently south-west, eventually merging with the River Wharfe on the Bolton Abbey Estate.

As we gaze south-west from Brown Hill, we’re treated to a splendid view of Pickles Gill, capturing the tranquil essence of the landscape.

Continuing our Simon’s Seat walk, we discover a charming shooting lodge tucked away on Hazlewood Moor, offering us a glimpse into traditional land use in this part of Yorkshire.

From Hazlewood Moor, the breathtaking views of Wharfedale unfold before us, leaving a lasting impression as we progress along the path.

We embark on a north-westerly path that hugs a dry stone wall, leading us directly to Lord’s Seat, a significant point in our Simon’s Seat walk.

Further along, a rustic shooting lodge emerges near the crossing of White Wham Beck, adding to the charm of this section of our trek.

As we approach Lord’s Seat, we follow a flagged path east of Hen Stones, making the ascent smoother and more enjoyable.

Lord’s Seat itself is an intriguing array of gritstone boulders perched on the northern edge of Barden Fell—a captivating stop on our route.

Our trek reaches Simon’s Seat, towering at 485 metres (1591 feet). This striking outcrop of millstone grit rewards us with spectacular views of Wharfedale and beyond, marking the halfway point of our Simon’s Seat walk.

The path between Simon’s Seat and Flask Brow is well maintained and recently laid, easing our progress across the moorland.

From the path near The Devil’s Apronful, we catch sight of the River Wharfe as it snakes through the valley, enhancing the scenic beauty around us.

This is the signpost on the popular Howgill to Simon’s Seat route, but we’re not taking the Howgill path on this occasion.

A shelter and table on Barden Fell provide a welcome rest, though we can’t help but wonder where the chairs have gone, adding a touch of humour to our day.

As we pass by farmland around Broadshawe on the southern side of Barden Fell, we realise we’re about three-quarters of the way through our Simon’s Seat walk, taking in the area’s agricultural landscape.

We follow Sheepshaw Beck as it meanders through the Valley of Desolation, a place steeped in history due to the devastation caused by a 19th-century flood.

The lower of two waterfalls on Sheepshaw Beck, found in the Valley of Desolation, is the more impressive of the pair. Its cascading waters leave us in awe.

We reach a seating area between Posforth Gill and the Valley of Desolation, where we pause to reflect on how enjoyable our Simon’s Seat walk has been so far.