Buckden Pike, Polish airmen memorial and Starbotton

This walk gives great views of Wharfedale and beyond from the summit of Buckden Pike at 2303 feet just 7 feet less than Great Whernside. The climb up from Buckden car park is steady on a good bridleway stony path. Following a signpost for the Pike we follow grassy paths through a number of gates before the steeper climb up to the trig point on steps. From the Pike the path used to be very boggy in poor weather but following recent improvements the path to the memorial is now paved. We then visit the pilots memorial where a wellington bomber crashed on 30th January 1942. Leaving the monument we follow the path through a short boggy area before we join an excellent bridleway down to Starbotton. We then return to Buckden on the Dales Way by the river.

This walk is now a pleasure and a vast improvement from what it was.