A family favourite, due to us spending lots of time at Dorlands Farm in Preston-under-scar. Preston-under-scar is a regular stopping point on any Wensleydale road trip just to see how Dorlands Farm is looking. In this case it was the parking spot for a short hike around the local area.
This shows the route, a short anti-clockwise loop around Gillfield Wood, following a road for some of the way. We had planned to go further onto the moors and visit a lake we used to visit, but Skye got tired so we turned back after our picnic.
Leaving Tiggy on the outskirts of Preston-under-scar with a great view of Penhill we set off southeast along the road to Wensley.
A closer view of Penhill in the distance.
Not far along the road is Keld Heads lead smelt mill and mine complex, a significant site of the 19th-century lead mining industry, with well-preserved remains including an engine house, chimney, and wheelpit.
At the ruins head north, uphill through fields with Gillfield Wood on the left until you get to the main road, the edge of a military firing range.
Turn left and follow the main road west for a short while until you get to a crossroads. Turning right, off the tarmacked road onto a gravel track with the local quarry on the left and head north through some moorland.
Skye saw the long track and moorland ahead so decided it was picnic time.
Instead of heading further into the moors we turned back down the track we had come down, continuing south following the road to “Preston” with some nice views along the way.
Finally back to Preston-under-scar and Tiggy.
