Littondale: Halton Gill to Horsehead Pass
North Yorkshire
Halton Gill to Horsehead Pass is an atmospheric dog friendly walk on an ancient packhorse trail linking the sleepy hamlets of Littondale and Langstrothdale. Starting at the stone bridge in Halton Gill you climb steadily up Horse Head Moor on a clear old track, crossing open fell to the pass at around 580 metres before dropping to Yockenthwaite in Langstrothdale, then returning the same way or looping back via Hubberholme for a longer day.
This is remote, quiet country with hardly any other walkers, but it is sheep moorland throughout with stock grazing both sides of the pass all year, so leads are essential. The path is stony and can be boggy near the col, weather comes in fast from the west and there are no water sources once you leave the valley. Halton Gill is a tiny settlement with no facilities at all; the nearest pub and village shop are at Arncliffe a few miles down the dale, so plan refreshments before you set off.
At a Glance
Walk Must-Haves
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this is a dog friendly walk and scores 7 out of 10 on our dog friendly rating. It's a quiet, remote moorland route on an old packhorse trail with very little traffic from other walkers, making it a pleasantly peaceful outing for you and your dog.
Dogs need to be kept on leads throughout this walk. The entire route crosses sheep moorland with stock grazing on both sides of the pass all year round, so leads are essential from start to finish.
This is genuinely remote country, so a bit of preparation goes a long way. The path is stony and can be boggy near the col, weather can roll in quickly from the west, and there are no water sources once you leave the valley — so bring enough water for both of you. Halton Gill itself has no facilities at all, so stock up on food and drink beforehand; the nearest options are the Falcon Inn at Arncliffe or the George Inn at Hubberholme. Parking is limited to roadside verge space in the hamlet, so be mindful to keep farm gates and passing places clear.
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