Cavendish Pavilion – Valley of Desolation loop from Barden

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Barden

Cavendish Pavilion – Valley of Desolation loop from Barden

Moderate

4.9

(118)

836

hikers

Cavendish Pavilion – Valley of Desolation loop from Barden

04:13

14.4km

390m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.56 km

Riverside path at Strid Wood on the River Wharfe

Highlight • Viewpoint

A place to rest at the top of the hill with beautiful view downstream

Tip by

2.77 km

Strid Wood

Forest

3.26 km

Cavendish Pavilion Café

Highlight • Cafe

Large selection of drinks/food. Not bad considering the demand they get!

Tip by

4.11 km

Cavendish Pavilion

Highlight • River

You'll find the Pavilion in the heart of The Bolton Abbey Estate. Great for grabbing some refreshments and something to eat then heading to the riverside to enjoy them. Whether …

Tip by

4.97 km

Valley of Desolation

Highlight • Forest

In the wilderness. a nice path through the countryside. Can go to the waterfall or try a challenging hike up the hill.

Tip by

6.25 km

Steep Ascent to Simon's Seat

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

This this about a 1050ft incline, looking at a 17-23% incline through out.

Tip by

12.0 km

Stepping Stones to Drebley

Highlight • River

Can be slippy so be careful

Tip by

13.7 km

View of the River in Yorkshire Dales National Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

A lot of wildlife around especially young lambs, be careful

Tip by

14.4 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.6 km

1.99 km

992 m

435 m

341 m

Surfaces

4.67 km

3.11 km

2.63 km

1.61 km

1.60 km

633 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (460 m)

Lowest point (110 m)

Weather

Monday 12 October

16°C

8°C

97 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 34.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

November 27, 2022,Valley of Desolation with Simon’s seat

This one could be classed as quite local to me really as it's just in the Yorkshire Dales.

I was tasked with creating a localish hike so I came up with this.
Starting at Bolton Abbey, which we explored after the hike) and looping around Simon's Seat through the Valley of Desolation.

September 14, 2023,Simon's Seat

A walk across the moors to Simon's Seat a dowm through woods. Finally along the the well surfaced riverside path.

February 18, 2023,Simon's Seat – Bolton Abbey Loop from Halton East

This is a fantastic walk with every different terrain from the river to waterfalls woods hills and a trig point on some rocks that you have to do a little bit of climbing to get to it, nothing to worrying. Then there are so many routes back that you can do as many miles as you like. The views are …