Beldon Peat Moor

Downs, Moorland in Yorkshire Richmondshire

England

Beldon Peat Moor

Greets Shooting House ruin Credit: Colin Grice

Beldon Peat Moor is a vast expanse of picturesque moorland located in the county of Yorkshire, England. Situated in the heart of the Yorkshire Downs, this moorland is known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse ecosystem. Spanning over hundreds of acres, Beldon Peat Moor is characterized by its rolling hills, heather-covered landscapes, and numerous peat bogs.

One of the defining features of Beldon Peat Moor is its unique flora and fauna. The moorland is home to a wide array of plant species, including heather, bilberry, cotton grass, and sphagnum moss, which thrive in the acidic soil and damp conditions. This rich vegetation provides a habitat for various wildlife species, such as grouse, curlews, lapwings, and snipes, making Beldon Peat Moor a popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

The moorland also offers breathtaking views, with its open expanses and panoramic vistas. Visitors can enjoy long walks or hikes along the well-maintained trails, taking in the serene beauty of the surrounding countryside. The area is dotted with scattered stone walls and ancient ruins, adding a touch of history and intrigue to the landscape.

Beldon Peat Moor is not only a haven for wildlife and nature lovers but also a significant conservation area. Efforts are made to manage and preserve the delicate ecosystem, including controlled burning of heather to encourage new growth and prevent wildfires. Additionally, the moorland serves as a crucial carbon sink, helping to mitigate climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide.

In conclusion, Beldon Peat Moor is a captivating and ecologically important moorland in Yorkshire that offers a glimpse into the region's natural wonders. With its diverse flora and fauna, stunning views, and commitment to conservation, it is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking tranquility and a deeper connection with the natural world.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Beldon Peat Moor Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.331592/-2.0268615 or Grid Reference SD9892. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Greets Shooting House ruin

Colin Grice

Grouse butts above Ellerkin Scar

David Brown

Fence Line

Looking south-east along the edge of Woodhall Greets.

Peter Wood

Grouse Butts

Looking west from the path along the edge of Woodhall Greets.

Peter Wood

Moles at Work

Looking east towards Ellerkin Scar.

Peter Wood

Bell pits below Beldhaw Hill

Marked as Shafts (dis) on the map, this is a series of bell pits alongside the bridleway from above Newbiggin to Woodhall. Characterised by the circular upcast with a hollow in the middle bell pits are a form of small mine. Beldhaw Hill is the prominent knoll in the background.

Christopher Hall

Estate track dropping to cross Beldon Beck

The track turning right here heads for old lead mining workings, the original reason for the existence of these ways. Ahead, the track drops to cross Beldon Beck before climbing to Carperby Moor on its way down to Carperby in Wensleydale. Unlike many of the lead mine access routes in Swaledale, these in Wensleydale (where lead mining failed earlier) have not become public rights of way under the Countryside Act 1949, but the area is all Access Land under the more recent CROW Act, so walkers are free to roam. They are kept in good condition to facilitate access supporting the grouse shooting interests on the moor, which enable the nineteenth century industrial scars on the landscape to be supplemented by ugly burn scars in the heather moorland.

Andy Waddington

Estate track dropping into dry valley below Wegber Scar

The route from Carperby Moor down to Carperby drops into a dry valley, with Wegber Scar on its left. Unlike most of the lead mine access tracks in Swaledale, the ones on the Bolton Castle estate in Wensleydale did not become public rights of Way under the Countryside Act 1949. At this point, the track is on CROW Access Land, but as it leaves that, and becomes Peatmoor Lane, the right to walk is far from clear from the map. In practice, there seems to be no issue with access, and the lane eventually develops into a byway after being crossed by bridleways. The telecoms mast seen on the horizon serves mobile phone signals to Carperby, Thornton Rust and the tourist mecca of Aysgarth in Wensleydale.

Andy Waddington

Track near Tewfit Mires

This good track - not marked on my map - I presume is maintained by the shooting fraternity. It connects Greenhaw Hut to the vast expanse of moorland that separates Wensleydale from Swaledale.

Chris Heaton

Collier Gate

Spoil Heaps from mining activities in this remote part of Bolton Moor

Chris Heaton

The path between Askrigg and Carperby

Heading north west with Ellerkin Scar in the distance.

Uncredited

Track beneath Great Wegber

Lonely track that climbs up to Bolton Moor giving access to the shooting activities available in the locality.

Chris Heaton

Blue Scar

Part of a long series of limestone outcrops below Swinehaw

Chris Heaton

Swinehaw Bottom

Dry stone wall arrow straight across moorland

Chris Heaton

Greenhaw Hut

At an elevation of about 1500ft on an exposed hilltop, this stands in a truly bleak and wild location on moors high above Wensleydale - there is beauty in this hopeless environment

Chris Heaton

Carperby Moor

This is west of the dominant feature on these moors - namely the Greenhaw Hut. Lines of shooting butts cover this moor, until recently their exclusive preserve. Now walkers are slowly beginning to discover this wild area due to the new Access Agreements

Chris Heaton