Standing at the trig point of Pinhaw Beacon

Pinhaw Beacon

This is the perfect short walk for a budding peak bagger.

Super short and little in the way of ascent, but with views to die for and a trig point too!

Where is Pinhaw Beacon?

Located a stone’s throw from Skipton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, this walk is less than 2.5km, has two geocaches to find and takes in a top trig point, along with a stonking view!

Plus, there’s a tale to be told too and you can take a little wander to find out loads more about the history of this little gem!

Walking up to Pinhaw Beacon and trig point

Walk details for Pinhaw Beacon

Distance: less than 2 miles

Terrain: Easily identifiable paths, less than 100m ascent. Wide stony tracks and moorland paths.

Parking: Ample layby parking at Elslack Moor Car Park, at the top of Clogger Lane.

Public Transport: This walk is not easily accessible by Public Transport.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Location: Elslack near Skipton

Map: Explorer OL 21 South Pennines

 What 3 Words: establish.ambition.unusually (Elslack Moor Car Park)

Toilets/ Baby Change: No

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: The Tempest Arms, Elslack. Nearest town is Skipton.

Robert's grave stone on the top of Pinhaw Beacon

Directions to Pinhaw Beacon and Robert Wilson’s Grave

  1. Beginning at the Car Park at the top of Clogger Lane, you need to cross the main road and head towards the rising moorland. Access is gained via a large kissing gate. The path is signposted, the Pennine Way and is a wide stony track, which gradually rises, heading away from the road.

  2. Keep on this path, which gradually bears left after around 350m. It rises upwards towards Pinhaw Beacon, the trig point of which you will see ahead. Once at the top, the views are OUTSTANDING, looking towards Pendle Hill, The Yorkshire Dales and back towards Ilkley Moor.

  3. Once you have soaked up the utter phwoar of the view, keep heading along the Pennine Way for another 250m. You will see a path off-shooting to your left. Take this as it leads you towards Robert Wilson’s Grave (more about him below!) Shortly, you will see a small square stone on your right. It is just off path and faces away from it. This was where Robert Wilson was found on that fateful night.

  4. Also hidden around here is a geocache, as well as there being one around the trig point of the beacon. Once you have read the inscription, turn round and head back to where you came from! Told you it was a short one!

Last walked June 2021

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

Walking back down the track towards the car park

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

🗻 If you’re all for bagging a trig point, there’s one to be found on this walk!

⭐ Geocaches to be found on this walk!

✨ Robert Wilson was the Beacon Guard at Pinhaw Beacon back in the early 19th Century, when there was a general sense of anxiety that Napoleon was going to come and invade the country. The concern extended to the point, that beacons were set up across the country to warn of an imminent attack from the little dude. Pinhaw Beacon was one such beacon, manned by a team of Beacon Guards, headed up by Robert Wilson. In January 1805 in particularly dire weather conditions, he headed out in the storm to try and get fresh supplies for the men, who were running low and were stranded because of the weather. Sadly, he did not survive the journey and the stone marks where he was discovered. (source thegranthams.co.uk)

🌳 It’s a short but sweet walk, but why not try one of our walking games? Or you can download a free scavenger sheet!

Sitting on the trig point at the summit of Buckden Pike

Want to bag more peaks?

All of our family friendly walks are arranged in loads of different categories including, waterfall walks, short walks and walks with play parks. So you can find exactly the kind of walk you are looking for!

But if you want to find all the kid friendly peak bagging walks in one place?

Then why not head to our Peak Bagging Walks section!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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