Barden Moor Long Loop
This loop crosses genuine open moorland with long sightlines over Wharfedale, on access land that's free to roam off the main tracks if you want to vary your line.
Mostly on runnable ground, but most runners still walk the steepest climbs.
A 18.9km loop trail run around Wharfedale, using open moorland and estate track. Expect steady trail running, with clear practical decisions around pace, kit and conditions.
This loop crosses genuine open moorland with long sightlines over Wharfedale, on access land that's free to roam off the main tracks if you want to vary your line.
The route
This loop climbs onto Barden Moor and Barden Fell, the high open access land on the eastern side of Wharfedale managed by the Bolton Abbey Estate. At 18.9km with 391m of ascent, the climbing is gradual and spread across the whole route rather than concentrated in one pull, so the effort builds steadily rather than hitting you early.
The moor
Barden Moor tops out around 502m on this route, open heather and grass moorland with wide views back down into Wharfedale and across to the higher Dales hills on a clear day. The access land here means you're not locked to a single line - the main tracks are well used and easy to follow, but you can vary your route across the open ground if you want to extend the climb or pick a more direct line. Some sections run soft after rain, and the moor has little shelter, so the weather here matters more than the distance suggests.
Access and timing
This is grouse moor, with shooting running from 12 August to 10 December (no shooting on Sundays). Outside that window the moor is fully open. One firm rule applies year-round regardless of season: dogs are not permitted on Barden Moor or Barden Fell, so this isn't a route to bring one along for. Barden Tower, a short distance from the usual start point, is a useful landmark and a good place to leave a car.
Why it works
This route earns its place as the longer of two loops covering the same moor, for runners who want more distance and a bigger dose of open access land without leaving Wharfedale. The lack of a hard technical crux makes it approachable for a confident first-timer to this kind of terrain, while the length and exposure still make it a proper outing rather than something to take lightly - this is a route to take seriously on a poor-visibility day.
Open access land means the main tracks can be left easily in poor visibility - carry a map even though paths are generally clear. Grouse shooting runs 12 August to 10 December (no shooting on Sundays), and the moor offers no shelter from wind or rain.
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
About the author
Runner reports
Ran this route? Rate it, share conditions, log your time — helps other runners plan their day.
No runner feedback yet
Be the first to run this and report back — ratings appear once a few runners have shared their experience.
No runs logged yet — be the first.
More routes in Yorkshire Dales
MODERATE
HARD
VERY HARD