Barden Moor Long Loop

The route

This loop climbs onto Barden Moor, the high open access land on the western side of Wharfedale managed by the Bolton Abbey Estate. At 18.9km with 400m 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.