The Twelve Apostles

Directions to the Twelve Apostles

1. The start point for this walk is at the triangular junction at Burley Woodhead, where Moor Lane meets Moor Road. If walking from Burley in Wharfedale Train Station, walk up to the top of Moor Lane, the gate onto Burley Moor is directly opposite the end of the road, where it meets Moor Road.

2. Proceed through the gate onto Burley Moor. The path leads directly upwards from there, through two large gorse bushes. The path to Lower Lanshaw Dam heads upwards and slightly to the right.

3. As you climb, you will notice a house to the left. At the fork in the path here, take the right hand fork. The path you want continues upwards, veering slightly to the right.

4. The path continues along the top of Barks Crag and will reach another fork. This time, take the left fork (the other takes you right, down to Coldstone Beck). After a short while, you will end up at a 4 way crossroads. Here, take the ‘straight on’ of the 3 options, this is a wide clear track, and will continue rising towards Lower Lanshaw Dam.

5. Pass Lower Lanshaw Dam on your left (making sure you stop for a stone throwing session! It’s also a place where you can sometimes find frog spawn.) You need to keep straight on and upwards on the main track. This will take you to the rocks at the top of Burley Moor, which are THE BEST climbing rocks!

6. As you stand facing the rocks, there is a wide and obvious track which continues off to the right. You could easily fit 3 people side by side on it, so it’s unmissable. This heads Northwest (bearing slightly to the left) Follow this (you’ll pass High Lanshaw Dam to your right) and continue until you reach the equally as unmissable Dales High Way route at a T Junction. Turn right here and walk onwards. In around 100m the 12 Apostles will emerge over the crest of the Moor to your right. And there you are! Awesome isn’t it?

7. Once you have filled your boots with the spectacular views (ahead, you will see the listening station of Menwith Hill - the ‘golf balls’.) retrace your steps back to High Lanshaw Dam, just near the rocks. There is a track which leads down to the dam and heads across the retaining wall. Take this and then turn off on the path to the right just after the far edge of the dam. Your route now will take you down the moor, roughly parallel to Coldstone Beck.

8. Here is my tip to you. The descending paths here are many, and new tracks seem to constantly emerge and disappear with the seasons. I’m not sure I’ve ever been down the exact route more than once, despite doing this walk many times. As long as you are roughly parallel to the beck, heading steadily downwards in the direction of the village of Burley in Wharfedale, you will manage to get to the bottom without any issue.

9. After around 3/4 of a mile, you will reach a crossroads with The Dales Way/ Ebor Way, which stretches out left to right. You need to continue straight on, down the path which roughly tracks the edge of the dry stone walling, keeping parallel to Coldstone Beck (which is on your right) You will eventually see a gate onto Moor Road.

10. At this point, turn right and back on yourself a bit, through the gorse and across Coldstone Beck, keeping to the path that runs along the bottom of Barks Crag, keeping the dry stone wall to your left and the crag to your right. This path will take you right back to the beginning and to the gate with Moor Road. As a word of warning, the path can get a little overgrown with ferns during the summer months. The path is there, but it might be a little trickier to walk through.

Last walked October 2022