Penhill and Templars Chapel
Start and Finish: West Witton
Approximate time for the walk: 4 hours
Distance: 7 and a half miles
Landscape: Landslips, stepped profile of Penhill, moorland plants, raven, peregrine, curlew, brown hare.
Map: Outdoor Leisure Map 30, Yorkshire Dales, Northern and Central areas
Description of the walk:
A. The walk starts at the top west end of the village of West Witton. Turn left and go up the lane in the direction of the caravan site. After turn right on the path, take a steep left turn onto a path, ‘Moor Bank.’ Follow this woodland path as it goes up hill passing through a caravan. Carry straight on, passing over a stream and play area. After this, go diagonally across the field to barn and along a green and path through gated stiles. Continue along the lane and turn left to reach the road. At the road, turn right along the road. After a few yards, you come hairpin bend where you leave the road at this point. Turn sharply through a stile and continue straight-ahead towards Penhill Farm. Continue straight-ahead to reach the road once again. Continue straight-ahead over the road and up the hill. Continue straight-ahead until you see a cattle grid, then turn right through the metal gate. Go straight up the grassy slope which passes through a number of gates and then half right to reach the top of Penhill Beacon.
B. Go along the edge from the Beacon passing through to a wall and gate. At the gate opening in the wall, take the track which descends and zigzags until met the remains of wall near some tip heaps. From here, turn left diagonally heading for a good path and wall, coming down from your right. When you meet this track, turn left and follow the path down to meet a gate and a lane, High Land. At this point, you need to turn right and follow the lane then right to zigzag down a concrete section of the road. Now leave it an hairpin for a grassy and go along a grassy heading towards a small enclosure in the corner of the field.
C. Continue along this path, passing through several fields and over a lane heading towards a road. From near the road, turn diagonally up to a narrow stile and over it to continue straight-ahead which brings you out on the main road once again in the village of West Witton. This where the walk concludes and finishes.