The Valley of Desolation and Posforth Gill

Three and a half miles there and back in a couple of easy hours, following Posforth Gill up a wooded ravine past a pretty waterfall to the moor wall, on a path that is stepped, rooty and slippery in the wet but never difficult. It starts from the Cavendish Pavilion on the Bolton Abbey estate, where parking is charged and fills fast; the estate is served by the 74 bus from Ilkley and Skipton. The important thing for a dog owner is where this walk stops - the Bolton Abbey estate does not permit dogs on Barden Fell or Barden Moor at all, so you must turn back at the moor gate and Simon's Seat is off the table, and dogs must be on the lead on the woodland paths below; the gill runs clear and gives a good drink the whole way up, there are no stiles, and sheep graze the open pasture between the woods.