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Dist:0.4km<br/>Like several other W-E dales, the main settlements and farmland in Colsterdale are on the north side facing the sun. In this photo there is one occupied farm and another slowly falling into ruin.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.4km<br/>One of several in the scattered community of Colsterdale
©Chris Heaton
Dist:0.4km<br/>One of several abandoned farmsteads and cottages in the upper reaches of Colsterdale. Most of these were originally built for colliers who worked the mines in the area and who also gained some income from the land.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.5km<br/>Hostel and outdoor centre near the head of Colsterdale.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.5km<br/>A narrow, dead end road runs into Colsterdale from the Masham to Lofthouse road. There are several gates to open along the way.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.6km<br/>Not a Public Right of Way but within Open Access grouse moorland. The path shows evidence of extensive use by off road motorcycles. The Bell Heather is well in bloom.
©Mick Garratt
Dist:0.6km<br/>Small waterfall in a quiet valley on the east side of some wild moorland.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.6km<br/>The north side of Colsterdale is interesting regarding the settlement pattern. Below the road [which runs across this view] the fields tend to be small and irregular in shape, whilst above the road are more typical rectangular enclosures of the late 18th century. The lower fields, with occasional abandoned houses and other ruins, were enclosed piecemeal by colliers who required land for a house and limited agriculture. The area was owned by the Danby family of Swinton Hall, who allowed this development.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.7km<br/>Colsterdale is a quiet, dead end valley to the west of Masham. Some agriculture on the north side takes advantage of south facing fields.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.7km<br/>At first glance this building looks like a field barn, but the porch and windows suggest another previous use. The 1857 OS map shows it as a school, whilst the date 1787 is inscribed into one of the quoins. This is likely to have been a school in the 19th century when the local population was swelled by people mining for coal, there being several old pits and shafts in the area.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.7km<br/>The public road along Colsterdale ends at High House Farm, some 400m ahead by the belt of trees. Beyond are several miles of nothing much except heather, bracken and peat.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.7km<br/>As viewed from across the wooded Birk Gill.
©Mick Garratt
Dist:0.7km<br/>The upper reaches of Colsterdale from the north side, which is enclosed and cultivated. The south side is heather moorland and grouse shooting country. Some very large gritstone boulders visible near the valley bottom.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.8km<br/>Field barn on the slopes of Colsterdale. The roof angle is unusually steep and suggests either a rebuilding, or the possible former use of ling thatch.
©Gordon Hatton
Dist:0.9km<br/>Ancient track used for the transportation of coal from Colsterdale Moor
©Chris Heaton

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