Skipton Moor and Farnhill Pinnacle
More rewarding than it looks from the map. Skipton Moor has a real open-sky feel, and Farnhill Pinnacle is a genuinely odd and photogenic landmark.
Effort: Good distance, solid climb
Underfoot: Some uneven or off-path ground
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Mostly on runnable ground, but most runners still walk the steepest climbs.
A moorland circuit above Skipton combining the open expanse of Skipton Moor with the distinctive sandstone tower of Farnhill Pinnacle. Good paths throughout with wide views over Airedale.
More rewarding than it looks from the map. Skipton Moor has a real open-sky feel, and Farnhill Pinnacle is a genuinely odd and photogenic landmark.
The route
From roadside parking on Shortbank Road above Skipton, the route climbs onto the broad expanse of Skipton Moor before heading east to Farnhill Pinnacle — a 19th century sandstone folly with wide views across Airedale.
Farnhill Pinnacle
Built in the 1800s, the pinnacle is visible from much of the Aire Valley. The views from its base take in Skipton, the Dales, and on clear days the moorland above Ilkley.
Boggy sections on the upper moor after rain. Grouse shooting August to December — check for closures.
Summits on this route
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
Run by us· last checked June 2026
Jason Millward has run this route and written it up from the ground. How we check routes
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Runner reports
Nobody's logged a run here yet. If you get out on it, a few lines about how it went helps the next person plan their day.
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