Simon's Seat from Bolton Abbey
Woodland, waterfall, open moorland, and a gritstone tor — this route packs an unusual amount of variety into one 21.9km day out.
Effort: Good distance, solid climb
Underfoot: Some uneven or off-path ground
E3·T2 — how we grade routesNo photos of this route yet. Sign in to add one
Mostly on runnable ground, but most runners still walk the steepest climbs.
A varied circular from Bolton Abbey through the Valley of Desolation to the dramatic gritstone summit of Simon's Seat at 485m.
Woodland, waterfall, open moorland, and a gritstone tor — this route packs an unusual amount of variety into one 21.9km day out.
The route
Starting from the Bolton Abbey car park, the route crosses the stepping stones over the Wharfe (or the footbridge in high water) before entering the Valley of Desolation — a wooded ravine named after a storm in 1826. A waterfall marks the entry to open moorland.
Simon's Seat
The gritstone outcrops of Simon's Seat (485m) are visible long before you reach them. The summit tor is a genuine scramble — hands required for the final metres. The views over Wharfedale and across to Great Whernside and Barden Fell are excellent.
The descent
Return via Trougate and the riverside path past the priory ruins for a satisfying circular.
Stepping stones can be impassable in high water — use the footbridge instead. The summit tor involves a short scramble.
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 July 2026
Jason Millward has run this route and written it up from the ground. How we check routes
About the author
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.
More routes in Yorkshire Dales
VERY HARD
VERY HARD
HARD
HARD