Above the tops of Settle, North Yorkshire is a beautiful area overlooking the valley with the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in the distance, the river in the bottom and then across to the sights of Pendle Hill.
This circular route of 8.5 miles starting in Stainforth is a challenging walk which takes in the highlights of Settle;
- Stainforth stepping stones
- Jubilee Cave
- Victoria Cave
- Attermire Scar
- Warrendale Knott trig point
- Village of Langcliffe
- Riverside walk
The route really does capture it all.
You could also do the walk in shorter sections if walking with little ones like we have done previously, check out my other blogs linked.
Parking is in Stainforth, in the main YDNPA car park. Make sure you take a picnic as there isn’t anywhere to stop off on the way round without detouring. You could also take your swim stuff as there are quite a few places that are great for a wild swim; Catrigg Force, Stainforth Force and the river downstream.
The weather is quickly changeable as you get higher up towards Attermire Scar so make sure you pack accordingly. I think we had all 4 seasons in one day when we went up!
This was however, hands down, one of the best walks I’ve ever done. I always enjoy a longer walk with friends as I get to do them so rarely, but this really is such an interesting walk.
The route details
Once you leave the main car park head into the village of Stainforth, keeping left past the Church and go over the stepping stones. Again keep left and head up the farm track up on to the moors. This is the Catrigg Force walk.
Keep following the track up past Catrigg – make sure you can do a little detour to see the waterfall though. Then take the route signposted to Attermire Scar / Victoria Cave. This will lead you across fields until you get onto the road that leads to Halton Gill.
Take the stile and follow the wall up. Jubilee Cave is at the start of the Scar. Keep following the footpath along the scar to get to Victoria Cave.
After Victoria Cave the path will again continue to follow the scar. We veered off to pick up Warrendale trig point but if you didn’t want that you can just follow the path and then turn right to head back down towards Settle.
Once you see Settle in the distance and the route becomes predominantly down hill you need to take the footpath to the right that is signposted Langcliffe. This will bring you into the village.
Through the village again following the footpath, this will take you across fields and then cross the main road down to the river. Once at the river turn right across the footbridge and follow the river all the way upstream to Stainforth.
After Stainforth Force take the packhorse bridge and follow the road back up to the car park. The route is detailed below (from Strava).
Are there any additional places that would be on your highlights of Settle walk?
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