Esklets, Westerdale, Coast to Coast
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Junction post on the Coast to Coast path indicating the Esk Valley Walk
Esklets, Westerdale, Coast to Coast
The Esklets, found in Westerdale, are a profusion of gills and other watercourses running from the east and west walls of the Valley to merge with the infant River Esk which begins at the watershed above the Valley head on Farndale Moor, near where the Coast to Coast path follows the old Rosedale Railway route. Bloworth Crossing is about 1.5 miles to the west of the Valley Head and Farndale Valley is on the opposite side of the watershed and of the Coast to Coast path.
The eastern valley side has a long crag running parallel to the valley floor, known as Esklets Crag, although the Esklets originate higher up Westerdale moor than the crag. On the western side of the valley they originate from Cooper Hill and Howdale Hill, which adjoin the Coast to Coast path.
There are scores of Esklets, which is the collective name given to these watercourses, most of which do not have individual names. This is very similar to Long Crag at Greenup Edge in the Lake District, and the head of a valley where there are numberless un-named gills, collectively known as the Black Gills, all of which run into the Stonethwaite Beck.
Using the Strahler stream order, most of the Esklets are First Order Streams, i.e. they to do not merge with other streams on the way to the River. The River Esk is the only river in North Yorkshire, flowing to the sea without being subsumed by other rivers on its way.
Westerdale
Where the Coast to Coast path meets a path coming up from Farndale on the south and continuing north on the far side of the Coast to Coast path, this is the Esk Valley Walk. There is a loud sign stating as much. A few minutes walk south on this path during September, and you will find yourself in the midst of a sea of purple blooming heather.
Westerdale
As the Coast to Coast path reaches Farndale on the south side of the path, you can instead look north, down the Westerdale Valley and across the blooming heather. A path leads from here to Esklet, the general name for the small open head of the valley into which the Esklets spring.
Esklets Crag Westerdale Moor
Esklets Crag is a 1 kilometre band of rock, often visited by climbers. The crag runs north-south and mainly populates the 320m contour, and so it is about 3/4 of the way to the moor top of 429m. Esklets that issue above the Crag mostly spring from the miry moorland at about 400m. A good track leads over Westerdale Moor to the village of Westerdale.
Howdale Hill and Nab
From the Esklets path a glance to the west will reveal the 407m summit of Howdale Hill. A path from the road at Waites House Farm on the valley floor leads around the Nab and onto the ridge to Howdale Hill. The path continues over the Coast to Coast path at Dale Head and into Farndale. Hikers can usually be seen walking along the ridge.
Infant River Esk
The infant River Esk, having made its way through the moorland, wends its way through this small arable parcel of land in the moorland wilderness. A dense canopy of trees conceals the water. The Esk Valley Walk snakes along the eastern river bank. Esklets Crag dominates the view to the east, beyond which is Westerdale Moor.
Esklet 1E
It is difficult to distinguish one Esklet from another when describing them. For convenience I have numbered them numerically starting from the first (no 1E) to the east of the Esk Valley Walk or 1W to the west. This is coming from the Coast to Coast path on Farndale Moor.
Esklet 1W
Esklet 1W issues on Cooper Hill and flows into a small woodland within the farmed area of the valley. This Esklet is made up of 4 smaller water sources.
Esklet 3E
Esklet 3E issues from High Hill Top on Westerdale Moor, and flows around the south side of Esklet Crag, merging with the River Esk near the Esk Valley Walk in the valley below.
Esklet 2E1
The OS names this Esklet as the main source of the River Esk. It starts higher up the moors than the others, on High Blakey Moor rather than Westerdale Moor, and its point of issue at 380m is very close to the Coast to Coast path. It flows through an area known as Sweet Banks and is joined by 4 separate Esklets before attaining the valley floor.
Esklet 2E2
This Esklet is the second Esklet to merge with the River Esk. It issues on Westerdale Moor near the border with High Blakey Moor, a half mile south west of Flat Howe and the Rosedale Road.
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