Directions to Simon’s Seat

This walk heads out onto open fell, so take a map. These instructions are to provide additional guidance.

1. Bolton Abbey Estate Walks have clear route descriptions on the Bolton Abbey Website. There are also downloadable maps available from there. This description supplements that. We always recommend that you take a map and GPS with you, but this is even more important on the long walks! Good Lord, imagine if you had to turn back at do a section again! The horror….. the inevitable WHINGEING!

2. Beginning at the Riverside Car Park, head towards the Cavendish Pavilion (where you could treat yourself to a coffee and a cake) Cross the wooden bridge and follow the clear signage pointing you in the direction of the Valley of Desolation. Turn left at the end of the bridge and continue along the riverside to another gate. Here, turn right and head uphill towards the road.

3. Turn left onto the road, then soon there is a gate in the wall to your right. Go through this and head diagonally leftwards across the grassy field, onto a stone track and towards a metal gate.

4. Go through this (there are often cows grazing here) and upwards along the track. It will take you past a pond on your right. Soon after this on your left (there is a bench at the top) there is a path that heads steeply down towards the spectacular waterfall on Posforth Gill. You can opt to take a detour to the waterfall at this point, or you can continue along the path you are on until you reach a wooden footbridge across the beck.

5. If you go to see the waterfall, head down the bank and cross the footbridge to the other side, and turn right. Shortly after crossing, there is a little path that shoots down to the right. This will get you to the edge of the waterfall for a closer look. Retrace your steps to the main track. The path to the right heads up the side of the waterfall, which you can follow, but be mindful there are some steep unguarded drops. Alternatively if you’d rather avoid it, retrace your steps back to the path you left to detour to the waterfall, turn left and continue to follow it to the wooden footbridge.

6. The path up the side of the waterfall continues to follow the beck upstream. You will pass a wooden footbridge to your right (don’t cross it, it’ll take you back where you came from) then the path rises leftwards towards the entrance of the large plantation (coincidentally, a top place to find pine cones and sticks!)

7. The path is wide, stony and very visible. Follow this through the plantation, until you reach the furthest perimeter, which will take you out onto the open moorland. Ahead of you to your right, you will see Barden Fell, to the left, Carncliff Top. In prolonged periods of dry weather, the moorland may also be closed to prevent the risk of fire. If in doubt, check before you head out!

8. Continue upwards on the wide moorland track. As you climb, you may notice a rocky outcrop to your right on Barden Fell. These are the Rocking Stones, and we took a little detour to go check out their climb-ability. They were given a thumbs up from the kids!

9. If you detour, double back on yourself to the path and keep heading up. The climb is pretty gradual. Keep going until you see the huge rocks to your right. Here, there is a pretty sizable and obvious path junction. Turn right. The terrain changes from rocky track to a wide well trodden path. You will be able to see the large rocks of Simon’s Seat up ahead.

10. Once you have reached the impressive rocky outcrop, and clambered to your heart’s content, head to the Trig Point, which is situated on the topmost rock on the right of the mass of boulders.

11. To head back, you need to take the path in the direction of the Devil’s Apronful, ignoring the flagged pathway that goes in between the two rocky areas that takes you down to Dalehead Farm. Cast your mind back to the approach to the summit rocks. The right hand outcrop has the trig, the left hand pile has the path you need running directly in front of it, heading towards the Devil’s apronful in a south-westerly direction.

12. This will take you gradually downwards towards another plantation with mega views across the Dales to your right and ahead.

13. Once you reach the perimeter wall of the plantation, follow it for a short distance and then turn right onto the large wide zig-zagged track leading downwards through the trees.

14. At the bottom, you will emerge out of the trees and be treated to more spectacular views, as you descend towards Howgill. You need to take the path that heads straight on at the cross roads of paths at Howgill Lane. BUT FIRST, take a detour left to the Brownie Barn for brownies and ice cream, hot drinks or whatever else you fancy! Well worth a 5 minute detour. An impeccably placed cake bribery option!

15. Keep heading straight on, passing through the tiny Hamlet of Howgill, until you reach a road (Stangs Lane). The bridge over Fir Beck is to your right, and at this point, you need to carefully cross the road keeping to the left of the bridge and walking straight on through a small caravan site. This takes you to the edge of the River Wharfe. This path will be signposted The Dales Way, and it will veer left, and take you all the way back alongside the river until you get to Barden Bridge.

16. Thank the LORD, in warmer months, there is usually an ice cream van here, which will probably give you just enough ice cream energy to get you all the way back through the Bolton Abbey Estate!

17. Head back towards Bolton Abbey along the river. If you are here in the run up to Easter, at Halloween or at Christmas, there are seasonal trails running back alongside the river through Strid woods. Turn right at the Aqueduct (the big wide bridge) and then at the far end turn left. You are now on one of the well walked Bolton Abbey trails, simply follow this alongside the river, past the Strid and back to the Cavendish Pavilion! It serves drinks, snacks, cakes, and sandwiches and MORE ICE CREAM! I’m not sure about you, but if you’ve managed to get the kids all the way round Simon’s Seat, it’s definitely a well deserved double ice cream day!

Last walked March 2026