1. Proceed to start in Aireville Park by returning to School entrance & turning right down road.
2. Pass car park & swimming pool to your right & enter Aireville Park through gateway & wait for start.
3. Once started continue down roadway on right-hand side of park exiting by another gateway.
4. Continue on enclosed roadway to reach & cross swing bridge (No.176) over the Leeds/Liverpool canal.
5. Immediately turn right on towpath with the canal on your right.
6. [You are now on the canal towpath for approximately 4½ miles with the canal on your right throughout. No real route finding is required until you reach road bridge No. 171 (para 1.16 below). The towpath is wide enough to safely allow overtaking if everyone walks/runs sensibly & with consideration].
7. After 1300yds go under road bridge No. 175A (A629 Skipton Western by-pass).
8. In another 310yds you emerge onto a short stretch of road by swing bridge No. 175 (Niffany Bridge).
9. Continue on footway for 150yds (for your own safety, please walk in single file on this short stretch).
10. Rejoin towpath through gate/gap.
11. In another 850yds go under road bridge No. 174A (A59).
12. In another 1200yds, just before swing bridge No. 174 (Thorlby Bridge), go through gate or over stile.
13. Continue on towpath for another mile to go through gates either side of swing bridge No. 173 (Highgate Bridge) & pass a barn on your left (New Laithe).
14. In another 1200yds go under road bridge No. 172A (A65) & up steps at side of Gargrave Locks.
15. In another 550yds go under road bridge No. 172 (Ray Bridge).
16. In another 500yds, at road bridge No. 171, go through gate onto road.
17. Turn right to cross bridge over canal for 50yds before turning right to Checkpoint 1 - Gargrave (SD 934 546).
1. Return to road & turn left to return to & cross canal bridge No. 171.
2. Once over bridge turn right through gate to rejoin canal towpath. (Ignore enclosed path to left of gate).
3. After 350yds you join a road & The Pennine Way at bridge No. 170.
4. Turn right on road in direction of Malham.
5. [The route now follows the Pennine Way for just over 5 miles to Hanlith Bridge (para 2.56 below)].
6. After 125yds, at road junction, keep ahead on Mark House Lane (no through road) with wall on your left.
7. Continue on road for 950yds passing entrances to Gargrave House, Home Farm & Gargrave House Gardens to reach somewhat hidden Pennine Way sign on right (approx 200yds after footpath sign on left) (SD 925 550).
8. Leave road to right in the direction indicated & cross wall stile into field.
9. Bear left, initially parallel with fence/road road, on path/animal track continuing ahead when fence drops away to left.
10. As the path contours the hillock (you should pass 20yds to the right of an old tree stump) a gate in the fence ahead should become visible (15yds to left of wooded area).
11. Go over stile to right of this gate & continue upward (340°) to fence corner on left & finger post.
12. At fence corner bear left (315°) uphill as signed towards gate/kissing gate in fence ahead.
13. Go through kissing gate & continue up hill (320°) to corner of woodland.
14. From corner bear right (350°) to gate & marker sign in fence ahead.
15. Do not go through gate but turn left with fence on your right (as indicated by sign).
16. In 50yds through kissing gate in fence on right & bear diagonally left across field (0°) to gate & kissing gate in fence ahead.
17. Go through kissing-gate to left of gate & continue in same direction (350°) aiming to reach the wall ahead just to the left of the wooded area.
18. On reaching wall turn left with wall on your right to reach gate in wall corner (ignore first gate just before corner).
19. Go through gate (observing sign to close) & continue in direction indicated by finger post (350°).
20. Soon a line of power poles comes into view. Continue to pass between power poles.
21. After passing the power pole aim into corner of the two walls ahead.
22. Go through gate in wall corner & bear left with wall on left to reach finger post 20yds to right of wall.
23. Continue on Pennine Way in the direction indicated (330°), a path in the grass ahead is clearly visible.
24. As you descend, aim into what appears from a distance to be the corner of two joining walls.
25. The walls don't actually meet & you go between them bearing left with the left-hand wall.
26. About 10yds before reaching a stream go through a gated stile in this wall.
27. Follow path with wall/fence on left & stream/wall on right to reach & cross a footbridge.
28. Ahead from bridge aiming to pass just to the right of a copse of trees.
29. Continue in this direction with River Aire initially 20yds to right, to eventually join the river at a wall/fence corner.
30. Continue on path between woodland/wall & river.
31. Go through small gate & continue on raised terrace above river to reach waymarked tree & post.
32. Here turn right down stile in wall & immediately turning left to continue in previous direction.
33. Continue on good path with wall on left & river coming & going on right.
34. Turn right over wooden sleeper bridge to continue with fence on left.
35. Just after passing tree, cross stile in fence on left, turn right to climb stone steps & go through gated stile onto road.
36. Turn right over Newfield Bridge & after 50yds go left through signed gated stile.
37. Bear left on path back to river bank. River Aire now on left.
38. Cross stile in crossing wall (10yds to left of gate).
39. Continue ahead on obvious path to join wall on your right.
40. Cross stile in fence between wall & river then in 5yds, right over stile in wall.
41. Go across corner of field towards power pole to locate & cross gated stile 10yds to the left of it.
42. Continue on obvious path for 600yds with river on left & grass/wooded slope on right, to road bridge.
43. Climb steps through gate onto road & continue across road to go down towards river in direction of Hanlith.
44. At river cross stile in wall on right then through gate.
45. Head diagonally (0°) into corner to cross gated wall stile followed immediately by stone slab bridge.
46. Continue on obvious path with river to left.
47. Aim for & go through kissing-gate in fence, 10yds to right of corner.
48. Continue ahead on path passing to right of small brick building to go through another kissing-gate.
49. Continue on path crossing a stone slab footbridge.
50. Then aim for gate & wooden footbridge ahead.
51. Through gate, cross footbridge & immediately turn right as indicated by finger post towards Hanlith (ignore further bridge ahead).
52. Follow path in grass with hedge/stream/fence initially on right. When fence goes to right continue ahead for 30yds to join a wall on right & pass finger post.
53. Go through 2 small gates between wall & river.
54. Follow path, which is boggy in places, for 500yds passing 30yds to left of derelict building to reach & go through kissing gate to left of gate in crossing fence.
55. Follow riverside path for almost 900yds, joining wall on left just before road bridge.
56. Go up steps onto road & turn left over Hanlith Bridge [You have just left the Pennine Way].
57. Once over bridge continue on road for about 600yds (passing seat on your left & then round right-hand bend) to reach crossroads.
58. Turn right with the Victoria Inn on your left for about 30yds to reach checkpoint on right (SD 895 610).
1. Leave checkpoint & turn right on road passing post & telephone boxes on your right.
2. At junction turn right for about 200yds, in the direction of Malham. (For your safety please walk in single file along this section of narrow road).
3. About 30yds after speed 'de-restriction' sign bear right across end of track to ascend steps to go through small gated stile (to left of double wooden gates) in the direction of Malham.
4. Ahead on path with wall on your left to go through wide gap between walls.
5. Then bear right (50°) on path across field towards stile in wall ahead (20yds to right of tree in front of wall).
6. Go through stepped wall stile & ahead (40°) on path going under power lines as you proceed.
7. At path junction take right-hand fork down to stepped stile in wall, about 20yds to right of wall corner.
8. Cross stile & follow path down to reach driveway at entrance to Scalegill Mill.
9. Bear left to go through signed kissing-gate in direction of Malham. (Don't cross cattle grid).
10. Follow enclosed path with buildings on your right.
11. Go through small stile in wall to join & follow old water course (mill race).
12. Follow path along left-hand side of water, crossing & re-crossing through gate at one point.
13. Pass through a wooden gate & continue with wall on left & water down to right, to go past memorial seat.
14. Cross gated stile in crossing wall & continue ahead now with wall on right.
15. Cross another gated stile & follow path around top of spring.
16. Continue on path to go through kissing-gate to right of gate, crossing a track in the process.
17. Ahead to cross slate footbridge & continue with hedge/stream/wall/fence to right to go through kissing-gate in wall corner.
18. Continue ahead with hedge/wall/fence/trees to right aiming for gate & houses of Malham ahead.
19. Cross gated stile in wall to left of gate onto road.
20. Cross road & turn left. After about 20yds bear right to pass the front of The National Park Centre on your right.
21. Continue ahead over grassed area passing entrance to car park to reach & go along footpath signed track between walls.
22. After about 40yds at junction turn right on track in the direction of Pikedaw (car park over wall to your right). Follow track for about 320yds passing barn right & grass track left.
23. At junction of tracks turn left uphill on track, initially with wall on right & fence on left.
24. After about 770yds pass Malham Water Treatment Works to fork left at junction.
25. Soon pass a barn (Burns Barn) on your left then a further two (Field Barns).
26. Track drops slightly crossing stream by slab bridge at side of left-hand wall.
27. Opposite fourth barn (Great Heads Barn) go over gated wall stile on right (SD 892 632).
28. Cross field (300°) to wall corner to cross stream by sleeper bridge.
29. Bear left (295°) towards right-hand corner of barn ahead (Butterlands Barn).
30. Go over gated wall stile between barn (left) & gate (right).
31. Bear slightly right to cross stream.
32. Go up side of stream for a few yards before swinging left on faint path onto 'terrace'.
33. Aim for solitary tree in wall up hillside. Your path should take you about 25yds below the tree & reach a gateway & gated wall stile in the wall about 100yds beyond the tree. (SD 886 634).
34. You now climb steadily for about 560yds on a path (in the region of 300°) to reach a gated stile in a crossing wall. (SD 881 636).
35. Go over stile & continue ahead, ignoring lesser path forking right after about 50yds.
36. The path on the ground is well walked as it climbs to go up a 'boot stepped' hillside.
37. As the climb eases, continue on clear path in more spongy ground.
38. After crossing a tractor track a wall ahead will come into view & your path aims for the gateway in it.
39. Go through gate (SD 875 640) to go ahead (260°) on Pennine Bridle Way in the direction of Stockdale Lane.
40. The path for the next 1½ miles to Stockdale Lane is relatively easy to follow as it descends (biked in places, rough limestone & surfaced in others) passing through 3 gates in crossing walls at SD 872 639, SD 868 639 & SD 858 639. (A split in the path occurs at SD 866 639 but both branches rejoin).
41. Go through fourth gate at wall corner (SD 853 639) to emerge onto Stockdale Lane.
42. Turn right & follow lane in direction of Lambert Lane for 650yds to where it turns sharply left. Here go through gate on right (Open Access signed). (SD 847 638).
43. Turn left on footpath in direction of Settle with wall on left (ignore bridleway to Settle).
44. When wall on left drops away to corner, continue ahead to go through small metal gate in facing wall.
45. Continue initially with wall on left & when it bends left continue ahead to soon swing left, negotiating boggy area, into corner.
46. Go through another metal gate (SD 844 640) about 10yds to right of corner.
47. Continue ahead to go through small wooden gate in fence.
48. Ahead on surfaced path to go through a further small wooden gate in wall. (Nature Reserve signed).
49. Ahead on path negotiating another wet boggy area. At this point there is a wall 35yds to left & scree slopes to right.
50. Follow path as it drops to join wall on left at gateway/gap with single gatepost. (SD 840 642).
51. Go through gap & continue on path with wall to left for 250yds passing some rusty metal items & stile in wall, to reach ladder stile in corner of walls.
52. Go over stile to continue uphill with wall on left to go through gap in crossing wall.
53. Continue in same direction with wall on left initially (ignore path going off to right).
54. Path swings away from wall & passes the end of a wall coming up from the right. (SD 832 640).
55. Path continues to join a wall & a path coming in from right. Continue with wall on right.
56. In wall corner go through gap/gateway (gate lying on ground & overgrown at time of writing).
57. Continue ahead on descending broader path, ignore small narrow path off to left.
58. Descend to join wall on right. When it turns sharp right at a corner (next to concrete 'foundations') continue ahead downhill.
59. The descending walked path goes though a broken wall coming in from the left (right of way straight down).
60. Either way, on reaching crossing track & facing wall, turn left to derelict barn to go through gate(s).
61. Go down enclosed path which becomes gravel. It becomes tarmac & bears left to reach houses.
62. Bear right with lane, keeping ahead downhill at junction (leaving Pennine Bridle Way) to emerge into Settle Market Place.
63. At main road (Royal Oak Hotel directly ahead) turn right. Cross road at pedestrian lights.
64. Continue ahead passing car park & BP petrol station on your left.
65. Go under railway viaduct & continue ahead.
66. Immediately after bungalow No. 19 'Arkendale' turn left to Checkpoint 3 - Settle (SD 818 639).
1. Leave Checkpoint & return to main road turning left along pavement.
2. Cross road at refuge & ahead at road junction in the direction of Giggleswick/Kendal/A65.
3. Cross bridge over River Ribble & in the process go from Settle into Giggleswick.
4. Once over the bridge turn right into enclosed path with fence/school to left & wall/playing field to right.
5. Turn left with path after sports pavilion, still with fence on left, river on right.
6. Another left turn takes the path away from the river & encloses it between fence & wall.
7. At end, turn right through gated wall stile & ahead across field on well defined path (355°).
8. Go up steps & through gated stile in crossing wall (35yds to left of power pole).
9. Ahead with initially wall then later sections of fence on left & river down to right.
10. Go over stile in crossing fence.
11. Continue ahead now with full fence on left & still with river down to right.
12. Go over stile into field & follow well defined path diagonally left (335°) away from river towards gate in wall ahead. The stile you want is about 5yds to the right.
13. Through gated stile onto road. Go through a small gated stile to the right on the opposite side of the road. (Broken Ribble Way sign lying at side of road as at 03/11/07).
14. Turn right with fence/road to right & continue to corner.
15. Here pass to right of water trough swinging left uphill with wall/woodland on right on broad track.
16. In about 370yds at finger post (SD 813 657) left uphill (320°) in the direction of Feizor.
17. Path passes just to left of large tree. Path swings right in front of scar then back/bear left with a wall over to the right.
18. Opposite gap in this wall veer/turn left to pass (on your right) boulders/ small scar with tree, at end of which bear diagonally right to reach ladder stile in wall (about 120yds to left of wall corner - there is also second ladder stile in the wall another 35yds to left) (SD 811 658).
19. Over ladder stile & ahead on much clearer path in grass. After a while the path from the second stile comes in from the left.
20. Continue ahead (325°) aiming to go through left hand gap in wall ahead (redundant wall stile to left).
21. Follow tractor track upwards as it bends left & right (faint paths cuts corners in places) basically maintaining same line of travel (330°)to reach gate in wall 15yds to left of corner (SD 807 661). (Not gap in wall lower down to right).
22. Through gate & ahead with wall on right. Path swings away from it but at fork, bear right & eventually rejoining the wall just before corner.
23. Go through gate on right about 15yds before wall corner (SD 804 665).
24. Turn left with wall on left to go through another gate in wall ahead.
25. Continue ahead (310°) for 300yds on clear path going through another gate (SD 802 667).
26. Ahead, initially with wall on left.
27. [PARAGRAPHS 4.28 TO 4.35 ARE ON EXPLORER MAP OL41 - MAP PROVIDED].
28. After another 470yds go over ladder stile to left of gate in wall ahead (SD 799 669).
29. From here there are numerous tractor tracks to use & it matters little which you choose - they all come to the same place in the end. As you progress downhill you pass a finger post at (SD 796 671).
30. Eventually you travel close to a wall on the right, leaving it for a while as you go to the left of a hillock.
31. Track becomes more rocky before you reach & go through a gate just before arriving in Feizor.
32. Continue down enclosed track to tarmac lane & turn left in the direction of Austwick.
33. Just before reaching barn on right turn right, with barn on your left, down concrete bridleway signed Austwick 1¾ miles (Pennine Bridleway).
34. [This enclosed track called Hale Lane is followed for just over 1½ miles to para 4.39].
35. After about 1160yds a track joins from the left at Meldings Barn (SD 779 679).
36. Shortly you cross a small stream by a bridge by left-hand wall to continue for another 810yds to a cross road of paths (SD 776 684). (This is about 280yds after passing entrance to Wood House). [YOU ARE NOW BACK ON EXPLORER MAP OL2].
37. At cross roads continue ahead in the direction of Austwick still on Pennine Bridleway.
38. After 330yds you cross Flascoe Bridge over Austwick Beck (SD 774 686).
39. Continue for another 370yds to reach road.
40. Turn left on road to enter Austwick. (Leaving Pennine Bridleway).
41. 20yds after passing school sign turn right up Townhead Lane (No Through Road).
42. Continue upward through village passing L. Preston's & Son Town Head Garage on your left.
43. After houses end, continue upward for another 280yds to where a track crosses the road (SD 769 692).
44. Here turn left in the direction of Clapham & Norber on enclosed track.
45. [This enclosed track, called Thwaite Lane, is now followed for just over 1½ miles to Clapham (para 4.49)].
46. In just over 2000yds a track joins from the right at the corner of a plantation (SD 751 694).
47. Continue ahead (track kinks left & right) in direction of Clapham with plantation on your right.
48. The track, rocky at times, descends steeply with numerous warnings to cyclists, to go through two tunnels.
49. 50yds after second tunnel, turn right at junction passing to right of memorial stone to reach road.
50. Turn right on road passing St James Church on your right to cross bridge over Clapham Beck.
51. Immediately turn left & after 70yds, immediately after Yew Tree Cottages on your right, turn right up narrow opening, signed 'Village Hall', & continue to Checkpoint 4 - Clapham (SD 744 694).
1. Leave Checkpoint & turn right, then right again at corner of Hall, to reach road.
2. Turn right on road immediately bearing left at junction.
3. Pass entrance to Clapdale Way & Eggshell Lane both on your right.
4. Continue for another 280yds to reach bridleway sign on left.
5. Here go left through the left hand of two gates into enclosed track.
6. [This mainly enclosed track called Laithbutts Lane is followed for 1100yds to para 5.13].
7. At end of enclosed section go through gate & ahead with hedge/trees on right.
8. In the corner go through another gate & cross field to the gate in opposite corner, keep right of boggy area.
9. Through gate & ahead for 10yds to go through a further gate back into an enclosed path.
10. Follow this uphill going through gate to pass to right of Laithbutts (SD 736 699).
11. After Laithbutts continue for 620yds on enclosed path to reach & go down steps just before a gate.
12. Go through gate & continue ahead for 30yds to road.
13. Turn left on road to enter the village of Newby.
14. Walk through village on road, passing post & telephone boxes on left.
15. Just after AJC Leisure on your left, where road turns sharply left, continue ahead on signed path with wall on right. (SD 725 700).
16. Just before wall corner, turn right through small metal gate (to right of larger rusty metal gate).
17. Turn left with wall on your left & continue through a gap/gateway & ahead, still with wall on left.
18. Continue into small corner (kink) to cross stile in wall by power pole. Ahead now with wall on your right.
19. When wall turns off to right, continue ahead (340°) across field towards gate in top corner.
20. Do not go through gate but go over stile in crossing wall about 5yds to left of gate.
21. Continue ahead with wall on right towards large trees, to cross stile in wall 5yds to left of corner.
22. Continue ahead with wall/trees on your right. Cross a farm track & ahead through waymarked metal gate.
23. Continue with wall on right for approx 280yds to gateway in wall, continue for another 3yds to turn right over wall stile.
24. Turn left now with wall on your left to go over next stile 5yds to right of wall corner.
25. Ahead, still with wall on left, & 30yds after wall becomes fence, go through waymarked gate.
26. Follow bearing of 272° across field towards farm buildings. (Ignore solitary barn & three trees to left).
27. Initially aim for white windows in farmhouse then red window in building to right to reach the corner just in front of the farm here you will find a gap stile protected by rubber sheeting.
28. Go through stile, across small bridge, turn left to pass barn on your right & immediately turn right through gap between unoccupied farm house & barn.
29. Emerge onto farm track & continue ahead/diagonally right (325°) with a barn to your right to reach double gates.
30. Turn right in front of gates to cross narrow stile at end of barn.
31. Turn left & continue with fence/hedge on your left.
32. After almost 200yds cross stile in crossing wall, 3yds to right of fence/wall corner (SD 714 705).
33. Continue with fence on left passing a metal gate after about 150yds & where fence turns left bear right (0°) towards new fence (you should be able to see stile in fence at this stage).
34. Cross stile in fence & cross new grassed area (gas pipe line laid 2007) to cross stile in another new fence. (SD 713 708).
35. Turn left & in 4yds cross ladder stile (take care - rung missing as at 03/11/07).
36. Follow bearing of 342° across field to reach & cross small bridge to right of large tree.
37. Ahead (335°) towards large solitary tree & just beyond it cross stile in wall to emerge onto road.
38. Turn right for three yards then left (280°) at second finger post. (Basically you are going straight across).
39. Follow faint path in grass above boggy area, Cold Cotes Waste, dropping to cross small bridge over it.
40. Path leads to a waymarked gate (with a barbed wire topping) in corner of walls (SD 710 711).
41. Go through gate (broken wall stile to left) & ahead with wall on right towards a barn.
42. When wall on right turns right, continue ahead to go through metal gate in facing hedge/fence.
43. Follow bearing of 322° across field to reach & cross small bridge & waymarked wall stile.
44. Continue on bearing of 322° up long field for almost 400yds. Crossing a bump along the way & as you begin to descend aim to go over a stile between two trees in hedge ahead (this is about 50yds from left hand corner of field) (SD 704 715).
45. Go straight across road into bridleway opposite & after almost 200yds turn left in front of gate into enclosed signed footpath.
46. Follow path round edge of caravan park. On emerging onto driveway, turn left on it for 450yds & as it turns left to road, continue ahead on tarmac path to go through gap in wall.
47. Turn right on pavement at side of road (A65 - very busy, take care).
48. As road swings left & 10yds before chevron signs, turn right through wall stile dropping down steps into field.
49. Across field on path in grass to cross stile in fence into woodland.
50. Ahead with fence on right & wood on left to cross footbridge & stile.
51. Across field (350°) towards fence corner, houses ahead. On reaching corner follow path with houses on your right to cross stile to right of gate.
52. Immediately turn right to cross Manor Close, to reach & go through metal gate in corner.
53. Turn left & follow path, paved in places over boggy area initially with a fence on left.
54. Go through gated stile in small piece of wall in fence/hedge ahead.
55. Ahead with paddock tape on right to reach & go through gated stile in corner.
56. Follow path across small field to go through gate to cross grass area then tarmac between houses to reach road.
57. Turn left, crossing road when safe to do so, cross entrance to first car park to turn right into next car park (Main Car Park & Information Centre), ahead to Checkpoint 5 - Ingleton in hall on right (SD 695 730).
1. Leave Checkpoint turning left to retrace steps to entrance of car park.
2. Turn left up road in direction of Hawes (crossing road when safe to do so) & after 300yds, at junction, bear right still in the direction of Hawes.
3. Follow pavement/road across next junction continuing towards Hawes.
4. After another 200yds, when road swings left, bear right onto track towards Ingleborough, initially with wall on right.
5. [This well walked track/path is now followed to the summit of Ingleborough - para 6.10].
6. Follow track upwards & after 440yds go through gateway, after which track becomes enclosed.
7. After 1 mile go over ladder stile to left of gate (SD 719 733).
8. After another 230yds, bear right at track junction as indicated by signs, passing Crina Bottom boundary wall on your left.
9. Continue upward on obvious path, through rocky areas, after which a broad well maintained path, stepped at time is followed, a final short rocky scramble will get you to the summit trig point, which is Checkpoint 6 - Ingleborough (SD 741 746).
1. From Checkpoint (trig point) follow event marker tape across the limestone pavement plateau. In a mist a bearing of 60° will get you to the cairns on the left-hand plateau edge & mark your way down.
2. Descend through rocks on stepped/surfaced path & at base of extremely steep section, at fork in path, take the right-hand paved path (110°) soon passing a very small pond on your left.
3. [This path is now followed for 4¼ miles to the railway crossing at Horton in Ribblesdale - para 7.19 -take care to bear left at 7.13].
4. In daylight the path you are following can be seen descending & crossing the hillside ahead.
5. After just under a mile, cross either of the two ladder stiles in the crossing wall (SD 757 742).
6. In another 700yds path is joined by a wall on the left.
7. Across boardwalk over boggy area, pass ruins of shooting hut (SD 767 740).
8. Cross stream bed to reach crossing wall to go through either of the two gated wall stiles (SD 768 738).
9. Continue ahead bearing left at a junction so that gully & wall are on your left.
10. Soon wall on left is actually joined to go through area of limestone pavement.
11. Through wooden gate at wall corner (SD 773 736).
12. After 10yds when wall on left goes left continue ahead on obvious path for 560yds to reach cross roads of paths.
13. Ahead in the direction of Horton in Ribblesdale & after 1250yds go through gate in crossing wall.
14. After 250yds bear left at path junction (finger post) in the direction of Horton in Ribblesdale (SD 790 732).
15. In just over 100yds path goes through gap in wall & then swings right following a series of green/yellow topped marker posts as it descends the hillside to reach wall corner.
16. Here bear right, still following markers, to reach & go through gate in wall near English Nature Notice Board.
17. Ahead on well walked path & after 550yds go over ladder stile in crossing wall (SD 800 728).
18. Follow path for 440yds over slight dip to cross two farm tracks to reach & go through small gate in crossing wall.
19. Ahead down field to go through kissing gate, to go down steps to cross railway line.
20. Through small gate at end of station platform & follow drive down to road.
21. Continue across road (Crag Hill) to its junction with main road.
22. Continue ahead on pavement in the direction of Stainforth/Settle into Horton in Ribblesdale.
23. After 280yds, immediately before road bridge, bear right with pavement to footbridge over River Ribble.
24. On entering car park, with toilet block on your right, turn left through gap in wall back to road.
25. Turn right on pavement for 610yds, passing Pen-y-Ghent café, to reach road junction with church to left & Golden Lion Hotel on right.
26. Continue ahead on Chapel Lane towards Tay Bridge for 120yds to reach Checkpoint 7 - Horton-In-Ribblesdale on right (SD 809 720).
1. From Checkpoint turn left & return to main road, ahead re-passing Golden Lion to retrace your steps 630yds back to the car park.
2. [Just after the Post Office you have again joined the Pennine Way. This will now be followed for 13? miles to the outskirts of Hawes - para 9.32. NOTE SELF CLIP at 8.16 (SD 813 772)].
3. Do not re-enter the car park but continue ahead, crossing to right hand side of road, to go over bridge.
4. Turn right in front of The Crown (New Inn on maps) with it on your left.
5. After 35yds bear left into enclosed track (Pennine & Ribble Way sign) in direction of Birkwith Moor.
6. Track soon becomes rocky as you ascend. After 1300yds go through gate in crossing wall to left of ladder stile (SD 812 737).
7. Ahead on enclosed track (wall on right broken in places). After 210yds go through gap in crossing wall.
8. Ahead for another 530yds (along the way the wall on right veers off) to go through gate (SD 812 744) at Sell Gill Holes.
9. In 50yds track swings away from wall on left (ignore Ribble Way/Birkwith sign/path which goes off with wall) to climb more steeply, soon joining a wall on the right & then becoming enclosed as another wall joins on the left.
10. Go through gap/gateway in wall (SD 811 746), ahead on broad track (wall to left, fence to right, if visible).
11. After 240yds go through gate (SD 810 749).
12. Ahead on track with wall 20yds on left & open fell to right & after 390yds go through gap in wall with single stone gatepost (SD810 752).
13. Ahead on track now with wall immediately to your left & after 680yds go through gate (SD 810 758).
14. Ahead still with wall on left & after 900yds go through gate (SD 811 766).
15. The track ahead is now on the open fell side but clear on the ground. After about 550yds a stream is crossed (stone slab bridge to right of path) then 100yds later you reach & go through a gate (SD 813 772).
16. SELF-CLIP POINT A [Finger post through & to left of gate] (SD 813 772).
17. Immediately turn left off track onto surfaced Pennine Way footpath uphill toward Old Ing between posts.
18. Follow this path for 880yds across the fell side (going over stepped stile to right of gate in crossing wall) (SD 809 772) to join vehicle track at finger post (SD 806 774).
19. Ahead on track with wall on left to go over stile to left of gate at Old Ing.
20. Ahead on track with fence & farm on left, for about 50yds turning right at track junction in front of gate in corner along Pennine Way with wall on left. Ignore wooden gate by wall & take track through white metal gate.
21. Track becomes enclosed between walls & after 230yds go through gate (SD 804 776). (Ignore ladder stile to right).
22. Ahead now with wall (later fence) on left for 1640yds to go through gate at Ling Gill (SD 803 789).
23. Ahead now with stream on left & wall on right for 50yds to go left over stone bridge.
24. Once over bridge turn right with track & follow it uphill for one mile to reach track junction & finger post at Cam End (SD 802 804).
25. Turn right on track uphill (Pennine & Dales Way) for two miles until track becomes tarmac (SD 822 828). The track is deeply rutted with large pools of water in places so please take care particularly in the dark. Along the way you will pass through two gates at SD 810 813 & SD 816 822 (passing on the way a finger post & cairn where the Dales Way bears off to the right at SD 813 817).
26. Continue on tarmac track for another 1150yds (going through another gate at SD 827 833) to reach Checkpoint 8 - Kidhow Gate (SD 830 834).
1. Leave Checkpoint to follow Pennine Way on track (10°). (Do not follow tarmac through gate/wall).
2. [This track across the hillside is now followed for just under 2½ miles to near Ten End - para 9.9].
3. After 350yds you are joined by a wall on your left.
4. After another 500yds go through gate in crossing wall at corner (SD 832 841).
5. Continue ahead with wall on left. [Taking care after about 1400yds (SD 839 852) if the track is blocked by a large stretch of deep water climb the bank to the right to avoid the steep drop to the left - particularly at night].
6. Continue as wall on the left is replaced by a fence. The fence drops away to the left as the track continues ahead & after another 700yds you are joined by a wall on the right.
7. Continue with wall on right to go through a gate in crossing wall (SD 841 863).
8. Continue ahead initially between walls (broken on left) for another 650yds to Pennine Way finger post & small stone cairn on your right at Ten End (SD 843 869).
9. Leave the main track here branching right (10°) in direction of Gaudy Lane, upward onto grass path along the Pennine Way.
10. [Some care will be needed on this section as the path on the ground is rather faint at times but for daylight walkers there are some cairns to aim for].
11. After about 180yds a second cairn is passed on a rock outcrop (SD 844 870).
12. In another 100yds pass a third larger cairn (SD 844 871).
13. After this cairn you are joined by a broken wall (the easier walking is to have it on your left) & after another 180yds go through gate in crossing wall (SD 846 872).
14. Follow path as it starts to descend swinging left then right through rock outcrop, initially walking along the bottom of a steep upward slope to your right.
15. After crossing a broken wall the path swings away from the hillside you have been following to pass a small cairn at (SD 849 875).
16. After this a wall comes in on the right & this is soon joined & followed to reach & go through a gate in the corner (SD 850 878).
17. Continue ahead with wall coming & going on your right for about 600yds to reach & go through gate in it (SD 852 883).
18. Once through gate bear right with path following line of broken wall on your left.
19. After a while the path passes through broken wall (near cairn on left) so that wall is now on your right to reach & go through gate in crossing wall (SD 853 884).
20. Follow path downhill with broken wall to your right & after 300yds go through another gate in crossing wall (broken ladder stile to right) (SD 856 885).
21. Follow path downhill now with wall on your left (passing gateway to Gaudy House on left) for 530yds to cross stile to left of gate at bottom corner (SD 860 887).
22. Turn right on tarmac lane for 650yds to junction.
23. Turn right to follow Pennine Way & after 20yds turn left through gated stile in wall on Pennine Way in direction of West End.
24. Cross field on grass path to go through gated stile in crossing wall.
25. Continue across next field in same direction to cross another gated stile in crossing wall (finger post).
26. Turn immediately left on Pennine Way with wall on left dropping down to go through gated wall stile in wall corner. Continue with wall on left to go through gated wall stile to emerge onto lane.
27. Turn right on lane & after 15yds turn left at road junction (hidden Pennine Way sign to left of barn).
28. Follow lane passing Rookhurst Country House on your left then pass footpath just after it (Mossy Lane), pass Park View again on your left & 15yds later go left through gated stile on Pennine Way to Gayle.
29. Follow paved path across corner of field to go through another gated stile in wall & continue on paved path across field to go through gated squeeze stile in wall.
30. Continue along enclosed path between houses. Cross first road to continue on path between houses.
31. On emerging through squeeze stile onto second road, cross it & turn left on pavement.
32. In about 70yds ignore Pennine Way path on right & continue on pavement crossing over entrances to Wensleydale Creamery & Car Park to reach Hawes Community Primary School.
33. Turn right into school grounds & follow signs to Checkpoint 9 - Hawes (SD 870 898).
1. Leave Checkpoint & return to road. Turn right to road junction.
2. Turn right again along what is the main street through Hawes.
3. On your left you will pass The Board Hotel, The Crown, The Fountain & The Bulls Head pubs. Cross road when safe to do so & follow road, branching left into one way system passing Wilson's on your left & Skipton Building Society on your right. Soon passing Laburnum House Tea Room on your left.
4. Continue to road junction where you turn left in the direction of Hardraw & Muker. (Pennine Way sign on opposite corner).
5. Cross bridge over former railway line & continue to next junction.
6. Here turn left towards Hawes Industrial Estate immediately bearing right to go through kissing gate on Pennine Way in direction of Haylands Bridge. (Do not cross cattle grid).
7. Follow paved path across field with fence on left to reach & go through kissing gate in corner.
8. Turn left on road, crossing to footway on opposite side when safe to do so, to cross bridge over River Ure.
9. In about 180yds go right through gated stile in wall in the direction of Sedbusk.
10. Cross field (10°) to reach & cross pack horse type bridge over stream.
11. Follow path (60°) up hill with small woodland initially on left to reach & go through gated wall stile in crossing wall.
12. Continue in same direction up field passing 10yds to left of a wall end crossing a slab bridge over a small ditch, to reach & go through stepped gated stile in wall corner (SD 881 909).
13. Cross diagonally right over lane to go up steps & through gated wall stile opposite.
14. Turn right, initially with wall on right, in direction of Sedbusk initially with wall on right (ignore path going straight up hill to Sedbusk Lane).
15. Path soon leaves wall on right & then passes 15yds to left of a wall corner before dropping into a shallow dip & then climbing to go through stepped gated stile in crossing wall.
16. Continue in same direction passing a section of wall on your left to reach & go through gated wall stile to right of gate in corner by finger post.
17. Turn left up lane for about 45yds to turn right through gate towards Cams Houses.
18. Follow this tarmac track for about 1300yds (passing through four gateways as you proceed).
19. When track turns sharp left towards Litherskew, continue ahead on the grass towards a power pole, bearing right (130°) before reaching it, onto a faint tractor track & follow it to go through gate in wall ahead (SD 896 909).
20. Ahead on faint track to wall corner & continue with wall & woodland on your right.
21. Path drops slightly to cross slab bridge before rising up to go through gate to left of wall corner.
22. Cross pathless field aiming towards solitary tree/bush in wall ahead (follow bearing of 110°). The gated stile you go through is about 15yds to the right of the bush/tree.
23. Continue in same direction gradually descending to join a wall on your right, to reach & go through gate - about 35yds before corner.
24. Cross road & go through gate opposite in direction of Cams Houses.
25. Almost immediately bear right off main tractor track onto fainter track (160°) in grass to descend through rocky outcrop. At bottom bear slightly left (120°) across field passing 20yds to left of the end of small section of wall to eventually join wall on right.
26. In the corner go round a small section of wall to cross cattle grid & continue ahead a few yards to junction (SD 909 904).
27. Turn left on tarmac track passing bungalow (left) & farm (right) for about 720yds to where the track turns sharply left & begins to rise. Here locate rusty metal kissing gate set back, by finger post, & slightly down on the right.
28. Go through kissing gate & turn left with fence on left in direction of Yorebridge & Borwins.
29. Cross stile to left of small gate & continue ahead to join old railway towards Bainbridge (ignore path to right to Old Borwins).
30. The line of the old railway is now followed for just over 2000yds through a series of gates & stiles. (At night take care at SD 923 905, after about 900yds, where a line of bushes appear to block the path. Go left to the left-hand end of the bushes to cross a stile to go down & up dip. DANGER - the bushes hide a demolished bridge on the line of the old railway).
31. After going through a rusty metal kissing gate continue ahead for another 60yds to go through a second kissing gate in fence on your right (immediately to left of gate).
32. Bear left (130°) on path down to go through gap stile in left-hand buttress of bridge over river.
33. Turn right on road, crossing Yoredale Bridge (on certificate) over River Ure & continue uphill into Bainbridge.
34. Continue ahead at first road junction (Rose & Crown & No Entry road to right).
35. At crossroads continue ahead in the direction of Countersett/Semerwater/Marsett. You will have houses on your right & the village green on your left.
36. At next junction bear right passing to right of Old Hall to reach Checkpoint 10 - Bainbridge Temperance Hall on your right (SD 933 901).
1. Leave Checkpoint turning left reversing steps back to road junction. Bear right towards Aysgarth & Leyburn down to main road.
2. Ahead on main road still towards Aysgarth & Leyburn to cross bridge over River Bain.
3. Continue uphill for almost 200yds & at end of small lay-by as road bends left go through gap stile in wall on right in the direction of Semerwater. (If you reach a road junction you have gone too far).
4. Follow rising path passing finger post soon with wall & later fence on left.
5. Shortly after passing a second finger post the wall/fence goes off to the left & you continue (180°) on grass path uphill to pass a third finger post. If it is light a fourth post will be seen on the skyline ahead.
6. Pass fourth finger post (200°) to reach & go through right-hand of two gated stile in crossing wall (SD 933 891).
7. Ahead with wall initially on your left. Continue on grass path along small ridge with steeper drop on your right.
8. Continue down spine of ridge swinging slightly left but always with steeper drop to you right, to reach wall corner immediately after crossing small stream bed.
9. head with wall on left to reach & go through gated wall stile in corner (SD 931 888).
10. Ahead across field initially with wall to your right to go through gated wall stile to left of large tree.
11. Ahead across stream bed with fence on your left to go through stile in wall ahead, 5yds to left of metal gate.
12. Continue ahead down slope (220°) on grass path crossing boggy ground just before gateway to go over ladder stile to right of gate (SD 929 884).
13. Ahead on path to river bank. Follow path with river on your right to cross stile, bridge & second (redundant) stile.
14. Continue on riverside path (To preserve our good relations with the land owner please don't be tempted to shorten the route by cutting a corner across the field).
15. Go over stile in fence & continue with river on your right to reach & cross a second stile.
16. Continue to reach road bridge going through gated stile in wall to left of bridge. (SD 921 877).
17. Turn left on lane for about 600yds with Semerwater on your right & continuing ahead when lane becomes enclosed.
18. On reaching entrance to Low Bean Farm on your left (sign for parking & fishing tickets) continue for another 10yds to reach & cross ladder stile in wall on right (immediately to left of metal gate) in direction of Stalling Busk.
19. Ahead on path keeping to bottom edge of field to go through gated wall stile in crossing wall about 10yds to left of corner.
20. Ahead on path across field with wall about 20yds to your right to go through gap stile in crossing wall.
21. Ahead into wall corner to go over stepped stile to right of stone barn (Thwaite End House).
22. Continue on path with Semerwater down to right & soon joined by wall on your left.
23. Go through gated wall stile in wall corner & ahead with broken wall on left leaving Semerwater to right & behind.
24. Cross stile in fence (SD 919 866) to enter Semerwater Nature Reserve on path across hillside to reach & go through gated wall stile to leave The Reserve.
25. Ahead on path soon to be joined by a wall on your right going through gated stile to left of gate in wall corner.
26. Continue on path & as wall dips to right to corner continue ahead to gate (SD 916 862).
27. Go through gate & bear left uphill with wall on left in the direction of Stalling Busk (ignore path to right to Marsett) with stream down to right.
28. Go through gate in wall corner. Ahead & after 20yds join wall on right, after a while you are enclosed by this wall & remains of a wall on left.
29. Continue up rocky stepped section to go through gated wall stile to right of metal gate.
30. Ahead on enclosed path passing waymarker post & over slab bridge to join broader track.
31. Ahead on this track to T-junction cross/ahead to go up banking on a path in the grass to left of bushes.
32. Emerge onto road at finger post & turn right to go between buildings.
33. Keep church on your left, pass a track off to the right on a bend, to reach T-junction.
34. Turn right to pass to left of Raydale Preserves & continue to Checkpoint 11 - Stalling Busk on right, opposite street light (SD 916 858).
1. Leave Checkpoint & turn left to retrace steps to road junction where fork right uphill.
2. After 100yds turn right into enclosed track (Bob Lane). [Proceed with care it is quite rough in places].
3. After 550yds at T-junction of tracks (SD 918 854) turn right on broad track.
4. [The route now follows this track for just under 4¼ to the B6160 road at Causeway (para 12.13 below)].
5. In just under 1½ miles go over stile to right of metal gate (SD 932 843).
6. Continue on track climbing more steeply, swinging left then right, to reach a track junction (SD 934 839).
7. Continue ahead (165°) on byway in the direction of Kidstones.
8. After 950yds go through wooden gate at (SD 933 832).
9. After 240yds the walls that have been your constant companion (either to left or right, or both) run out (SD 934 828) continue ahead (170°) as the easy to follow track meanders across the open plateau of Stake Moss for 1070yds.
10. You eventually join a wall on your left & 150yds later go through a metal gate (SD 936 818).
11. Follow the now descending track once again accompanied by wall(s) for just over a mile to go over stile to left of wooden gate & cattle grid. (SD 943 804).
12. Ahead for 25yds to road.
13. Turn right on road for 860yds passing steep hill sign & going round chevroned sharp right-hand bend (with great care) to reach footpath sign & gate on left (SD 944 797). (If you have crossed a road bridge & turned sharply left you have gone too far).
14. Turn left through gate in the direction of Buckden to follow path as it swings round with a small valley to your right. Cross three small streams to join a wall on your left & shortly after becoming enclosed.
15. Go over ladder stile to right of gate (SD 944 795).
16. Ahead slightly away from wall on right but soon turning so that it is parallel 25yds to right.
17. After 140yds go over ladder stile to left of gate, 20yds to left of wall corner (SD 945 793).
18. Ahead on path with wall to right & fence to left for 200yds, crossing a small stream, to cross ladder stile to left of gate (SD 944 792).
19. Ahead on well walked path crossing stream bed to left of large tree to join wall on right.
20. Continue ahead (225°) with wall on right to go through gated wall stile to left of gate (SD 943 790).
21. Ahead (220°) with broken wall on right & continuing when it ends to go through gaps in two crossing walls 60yds apart near (SD 943 789).
22. Continue ahead (205°) with steepish drop to right to & after 230yds a wall on the right is joined at corner.
23. Go through wooden gate to right of large rock (SD 941 786).
24. Ahead (210°) with wall on right for 160yds to go through metal gate (SD 941 784).
25. Ahead (205°) with wall on right in the direction of Buckden, ignore track joining from left.
26. Follow descending track to go through wooden gate (SD 939 782).
27. Path descends steeply through wooded banks & goes through a small gate to right of gate (SD 942 776) to emerge into more open area.
28. Go through small gate to right of gate (SD 942 774) to enter the car park in Buckden.
29. Ahead passing three benches to your right to go between two 'No Exit' signs & toilet block to your left.
30. On reaching main road immediately bear left off it onto narrow street with 'Wayside' on left & 'Buckden Village Restaurant' on right to pass Rowan Holiday Cottages.
31. To reach Checkpoint 12 - Buckden on right immediately before crossroad junction (SD 942 772).
1. Leave Checkpoint & turn right at crossroad junction with hall on your right.
2. At pub bear right to reach main road.
3. Go straight over onto road opposite in the direction of Hubberholme/Hawes.
4. Follow this road to cross bridge over river.
5. At end of bridge immediately turn left through gate in direction of Starbotton on the Dales Way.
6. [You will now be following the Dales Way for almost 25 miles to para 17.39. You will only leave it to visit checkpoints & at a couple of specified places at Kettlewell & Bolton Priory].
7. Follow riverside path with the River Wharfe on your left. Continue for 1020yds going through gates where necessary & observing the notices to keep to field edge path (be warned - cutting the field corner is a deviation from the rules of the event) to reach finger post (SD 939 766).
8. Here bear right as directed away from the river to reach second finger post at wall end.
9. Ahead with wall on left to go through small gate near corner.
10. Continue on path which rises up slope to reach a wide track.
11. Turn left on this track to reach & go through small gate to left of metal gate with barn to right (SD 939 764).
12. Continue on track for 300yds to reach Y-junction in track. Here bear left as directed by finger post onto lower track (SD 940 761).
13. Ahead on track to go through gate at (SD 941 760).
14. Continue on track, bearing left to follow wall on right to gate ((SD 943 758) & enter enclosed footpath. Cross footbridge & ahead through gate.
15. For about the next three miles the path on the ground is relatively straight forward but extremely difficult to describe on paper. This is due to the large number of crossing walls together with the number of gates that may or may not be open during the lambing season. The river is always to your left, quite often you are actually on its bank, whist in others it may have meandered away. In the unlikely event of you losing the path it is suggested that you go left to the river, walk down stream to the next wall or fence, turn right & you should regain the path at the next gateway - no walls or fences should be climbed. Most gateways have a yellow paint waymarker & there are several finger posts indicating the direction to follow. Therefore, the next few paragraphs (to para 13.20) are not comprehensive in detail.
16. In just over a mile you reach a rocky area with a footbridge crossing the river (SD 951 745). Continue straight ahead in the direction of Kettlewell keeping the river on the left.
17. From here you are either on the river bank or just a field away. In just over 1? miles at (SD 963 728) you enter an enclosed path passing a barn on your left, then cross a small stream to go through a kissing-gate on the left 2yds later.
18. This takes you onto another enclosed path but soon becomes a riverside path with a wall to right. Later path becomes surfaced & is followed to the point where it goes through a small gate on the right.
19. Turn left with fence on left (cricket field to right). Fence gives way to wall & just beyond area of tree roots go left through kissing-gate in wall.
20. Turn right on riverside path, river on left, to ascend some steps to reach broad track.
21. Turn left to go through small gate to right of gate onto road & turn left over river bridge.
22. Ahead passing Garage/car park/toilets on left. At junction bear left to cross over bridge.
23. Once over bridge immediately turn right at junction so that the Bluebell Inn is on your left.
24. Continue on road for 30yds to reach Checkpoint 13 - Kettlewell on left (SD 969 723).
1. From Checkpoint return to road & turn right.
2. At junction turn left over bridge & immediately left again on road towards Scargill House.
3. At next junction bear right with flag pole/weather vain/seating circle on your left towards Scargill House & Conistone. [Dales Way actually goes left here].
4. Continue on road for 1430yds to reach entrance to Scargill (House). [Dales Way re-joined at SD 974 715].
5. Continue on road for another 260yds to turn left at finger post (just after seat on left) over stile to right of wooden gate (SD 976 709).
6. Ahead uphill in direction of Grassington with wall on right soon to be joined by trees on left.
7. Go over stile with gate on right to continue uphill on track as it swings to left.
8. When walls come together go through gateway & continue up enclosed track into woodland.
9. Emerge from woodland by going over stile to left of gate (SD 982 706).
10. Leave the track & turn right (170°) in the direction of Grassington with a broken wall on your right.
11. When wall on right turns right continue ahead & after 50yds bear right (190°) on the more level of the two paths (SD 983 703) ignoring the fainter path going uphill.
12. Continue with rocky outcrop to left to go over gated stile in crossing wall (SD 983 701).
13. Ahead (165°), still with rocky scar to left, for 560yds to go over gated stile in crossing wall (SD 985 696).
14. Ahead (160°) for 770yds passing a couple of small marker posts, the rocky scar giving way to a grass slope, to go over gated stile in crossing wall (SD 988 691).
15. Continue for 160yds on well worn path across hillside to go through small gate in crossing wall (SD 988 690).
16. Ahead (170°) on path across hillside for 350yds passing 50yds to left of rock outcrop (Conistone Pie) to go over gated wall stile (5yds to left of corner) (SD 989 687).
17. SELF-CLIP POINT B. [At gated wall stile] (SD 989 687).
18. Ahead on path with wall initially on right & after 100yds bear left, where path splits, away from wall keeping nearer to rock scar on left.
19. Continue for another 850yds to reach & cross track (four way finger post just beyond (SD 992 683).
20. Continue ahead in the direction of Grassington.
21. Continue ahead, descending slope to reach & go through gate in wall ahead in the direction of Grassington.
22. Continue on enclosed track to cross slab footbridge. Continuing ahead (180°) when walls end with steep drop to the right.
23. Path descends through rocky area, continuing ahead (165°) when path levels out & in another 250yds go through gated stile in wall (SD 993 678).
24. Continue ahead (170°) in the direction of Grassington for another 350yds to go through gated wall stile (SD 994 675).
25. Continue ahead for 630yds, passing lime kiln on your right, to go through gated wall stile (SD 995 669).
26. Continue ahead & in 210yds go through gate in wall, 10yds to left of corner (SD 996 667).
27. Ahead to join fence on right for about 40yds. As fence swings away to the right continue ahead (185°).
28. Cross gated wall stile (with memorial plaque) (SD 996 664).
29. Take left-hand path (185°). You follow this path/track for about 1200yds, in places picking its way through limestone. [This walked path is not quite as shown on maps as it keeps 20 to 30yds to the right of the wall on the left for over half-a-mile].
30. Shortly after a path comes in from the right the path splits to go either side of two small shallow sink holes (SD 998 654). Immediately after these fork right (175°) as path splits again.
31. Continue ahead at crossing path to go over stile in crossing wall.
32. Continue ahead in the direction of Grassington with wall on left & after 50yds go through slip stile in wall.
33. Turn left (90°) with wall on left for 25yds to corner then right 100yds (100°) to just before wall turn right (155°) with wall 20yds to your left.
34. Path rises up a slope to go through a very narrow slip stile in the wall ahead approximately 10yds from corner (SE 000 649).
35. Continue ahead in the direction of Grassington & when wall on left swings away continue ahead (185°) passing to left of manure dump.
36. At finger post turn left (this is about 10yds before gate in wall corner) & climb to go through gated wall stile in wall on your right (SE 001 647).
37. [Some old maps may show the Dales Way continuing ahead through the farm. The Way was re-routed several years ago & the described route must be followed].
38. Continue as indicated by finger post (80°) to go over stile in second wall.
39. Continue as indicated by finger post (80°) to go over stile in second wall.
40. Ahead (130°) as indicated by finger post to reach plank bridge at fence corner.
41. Cross bridge & then through small metal gate to emerge into walled track.
42. Turn right in the direction of Grassington for 260yds following track to bottom of Bank Lane & T junction with road at houses. (SE 002 644).
43. Leave Dales Way & turn right towards Town Head to pass 30MPH sign.
44. Just after de-restriction sign turn sharply left with road. (Do not go ahead into farmyard).
45. Follow road downhill for 300yds passing turnings to right & left to reach road T-junction (SD 999 643).
46. Continue ahead into track opposite in the direction of Grassington Bridge.
47. At entrance to white house (Wharfemead) go through left-hand metal gate into field.
48. Follow grass path with wall on right. After 20yds where wall turns right continue ahead to go over stile to left of metal gate in wall/fence.
49. Continue in same direction to go over stile to left of wooden gate in wall/fence.
50. Continue on path with wall to right & broken wall/trees to left to reach & go through gate in fence ahead.
51. Follow path & after 10yds turn right down enclosed stepped path.
52. At bottom turn left & continue to reach main road.
53. Turn right on pavement over road bridge & River Wharfe.
54. At end of bridge cross road with great care (blind bend to right) to leave main road turning left towards Linton/Burnsall (don't go into Threshfield), soon passing signs for school & lack of footpath.
55. Continue on road for 750yds, passing Threshfield School with its parking area on the right, to reach junction with minor road.
56. Bear right with major road uphill for 240yds to cross roads.
57. Continue ahead upwards towards Linton/Cracoe/Skipton. At brow of hill turn right into Checkpoint 14 - Linton (SD 998 630).
1. Return to road & turn left retracing your steps to crossroads.
2. Continue ahead downhill in the direction of Linton Parish Church & Linton Falls.
3. At road junction continue ahead on minor road in the direction of Linton Parish Church along Church Road leading to Linton Falls. After about 100yds as the road bends to right continue ahead on signed footpath (Grassington via Linton Falls) down left-hand side of driveway to 'Falls 1890 House'.
4. At high wall (entrances to house) bear left on enclosed path with house wall on your right for about 10yds. Turn sharp right on enclosed path still with house wall on your right (do not cross pack-horse bridge ahead). This path leads to a wooden bridge on your left which you cross over the River Wharfe above Linton Falls. Once over the bridge turn immediately right through gap in wall & down steps in the direction of Hebden & Burnsall (SE 001 633) where you rejoin the Dales Way.
5. Ahead (125°) on path with river to right & wall 20yds to left to go through gap stile in crossing wall.
6. Ahead (95°) on path to go over gated wall stile in crossing wall (SE 003 633).
7. Ahead (90°) on path with banking dropping away to right to pass finger post & then join surfaced path with fence on right.
8. At top of slope follow path across field (75°) away from fencing to go through gated wall stile to emerge onto lane ( SE 006 633).
9. Turn right on tarmac (later gravel) lane for 350yds to its end (SE 008 631), passing fish farm & Mayfield B&B on your left as you progress.
10. Go though small wooden gate to right of metal gate & bear half left on the Dales Way in the direction of Burnsall, crossing a track.
11. Ahead (130°) on surfaced path over field & after about 230yds cross a small wooden footbridge.
12. Continue on surfaced path to go through a kissing-gate (SE 011 629).
13. You soon have the river immediately to your right & this riverside path is followed for just under a mile. In the process you will go through a kissing-gate at (SE 014 627) & a small gate at (SE 016 627).
14. Just before reaching suspension bridge over river (SE 026 624) go through crossing wall by means of gate or stile.
15. Turn right over suspension bridge to cross river.
16. [This suspension bridge is only wide enough to allow passage in one direction at a time. On a Bank Holiday Sunday this is a very popular area for the general public & they have as much right to use the bridge as you, so you may need some patience to cross - remember you are not in a race. If you are in that much of a hurry you are free to use the stepping stones 20yds downstream].
17. At far side turn left through gate on river bank path with river on your left, passing gate in fence on right.
18. Go through small gate & in 50yds go over wooden footbridge to go over gated stile in wall ahead (SE 026 622), ignoring a path to right, up some steps.
19. This riverside path is now followed for almost a mile. In the process you will rise over a small knoll where river goes through a gorge at (SE 030 617), through a small gate at (SE 031 616), ignore a path off to right at (SE 033 615) & through two distinctive metal kissing gates.
20. Immediately before road bridge at Burnsall (SE 032 612) turn right with its rampart on your left up to road. Here turn sharp left over bridge.
21. On the other side continue ahead on road for 90yds passing between de-restriction signs to go right through gated wall stile on Dales Way in the direction of Appletreewick.
22. Continue on path (115°) ignoring track going to river bank.
23. Pass memorial seat on your left continuing upward to go through gate in fence with river down to right.
24. Path descends to river level following fence on right & left. (Fence on right ends after 50yds).
25. Through kissing-gate (SE 038 608) & ahead.
26. Go through gated wall stile (SE 038 607) to bear diagonally left (130°) on path away from river for 140yds to go through kissing-gate & over footbridge (SE 039 607).
27. Ahead with wall on right to enter farmyard (Woodhouse) keeping close to barn on left - farmhouse to right.
28. Go through small wooden gate to left of metal gate & ahead along track with wall on left.
29. On reaching corner go through stile to left of metal gate passing to the left of a large barn (SE 041 605).
30. Ahead with wall now on right to go through small gate to right of gate (may be obscured by large tree).
31. Continue ahead with wall on right back to river bank & turn left (please do not cut corner of field).
32. The river bank path with river on right is now followed for 1500yds. In the process you will enter a wooded section with the path being very uneven by crossing a stile (SE 043 604) & leaving by a gate (SE 044 603), small gate (SE 047 601), a camping area on your left, ignore a path off to left (SE 047 600), over a stile & up some steps to go through a kissing-gate (SE 048 600), through kissing-gate & up flight of steps to go through small gate at top shortly followed by another kissing-gate (SE 049 599), crossing a couple of plank bridges to reach & go through small gate (SE 051 597), to reach Checkpoint 15 - Appletreewick in field on your left (SE 052 597).
1. Return to riverside path turn left & continue in former direction with river on right to pass a finger post (SE 053 597), cross small bridge & cross gated stile in wall (SE 057 596) after which path splits & either can be followed through woodland to leave through kissing-gate (SE 058 594).
2. On leaving woodland the path veers left (140°) away from river over a small rocky area & across open field to reach fence corner & finger post.
3. Ahead on track with fence/woodland on left to reach gate.
4. Over stile to left of gate & ahead on track bearing right just before barrier to go through gap stile in wall onto road.
5. Turn right crossing bridge over stream & in 15yds bear right onto signed farm track with stream on right.
6. Pass storage area for agricultural equipment on left to turn right on reaching stone barn ahead.
7. Follow track/path with barn on left, caravan & wooden 'bungalows' to right.
8. Path swings left with wall to re-join river on your right, to reach & go through kissing-gate (SE 058 590).
9. You are now following a well trodden riverside path for a mile enclosed in places, marked by posts & open in others through kissing-gates, fence gaps & stiles.
10. You will know when you are coming to the end of the path as it crosses 'plank' bridge over a boggy area & starts to climb above the river to go through a stepped gated stile to the right of a gate.
11. Once through this stile continue up towards road but just before reaching it turn right on footpath with wall on left (road on other side of it) & river down to right.
12. The path reaches a riverside parking area. Continue through it to reach road (SE 053 574).
13. As road swings right over bridge continue ahead through small gate to right of large gates.
14. Continue ahead on surfaced track to pass to right of parking toll booth.
15. Ahead (170°) on faint grass track, fence initially 10yds to left, to reach fence corner & river (SE 054 570).
16. Ahead now with river on right & fence on left, path surfaced in places.
17. Ahead to finger post at end of bridge (SE 057 568).
18. Turn right up steps to cross over bridge.
19. At end turn left down steps back to river bank & turn right on surfaced path now with river on your left.
20. Continue on riverside path to cross wooden footbridge to enter Strid Wood.
21. Ignore two paths going off to the right at SE 060 566 & SE 062 566 to continue ahead on both occasions.
22. When a path comes in from the right by a very small piece of fence continue in the direction indicated for 'The Strid'.
23. Continue up path for about 200yds & as path levels out turn left off main path onto smaller path.
24. This somewhat rocky descending path above the river gives an excellent view of The Strid.
25. Continue ahead when paths come in from right & left passing to life belt point (left) & large Wild Life information notice board (right).
26. Now follow the broad (wheelchair friendly) track for almost 2000yds ignoring all paths off to left or right to leave Strid Wood at Cavendish Pavilion (SE 077 553).
27. [There are well appointed public toilets here to the right - open during 'normal' visitor hours].
28. Turn left over wooden bridge, opposite Cavendish Pavilion, in the direction of The Valley of Desolation.
29. At end of bridge turn right onto riverside path in the direction of Bolton Priory to go through small gate.
30. Continue on surfaced path now with river on your right to reach crossing wall in corner.
31. Go through gate (or stile) & turn left.
32. Continue straight over road to cross stream via footbridge to turn right back to road (crossing the ford may save 40yds but it can be dangerous as the underlying roadway is often slippery).
33. Turn left up road & in 30yds bear right onto footpath towards Bolton Priory.
34. Follow this surfaced path as it twists & turns high above the river for 1070yds (in the process taking the higher path to the left just after passing a seat on a bend (SE 079 547)).
35. The path descends to reach a path T-junction just before the river. Turn left down some steps to reach & cross a footbridge over the river.
36. Go through gate at end of bridge & bear left (240°) off surfaced path over grass to pass between 'fenced' trees with river on your left.
37. Go through small gate in short piece of fence, passing more 'fenced' trees to reach & cross footbridge.
38. The clear path ahead is now followed for almost 1200yds with river bank to left & slope to right. When the slope ends the path cuts across (200°) a bend in the river. Eventually you return to the river bank by a fence. Pass anglers stile & continue with fence/river on left, reach & go through metal kissing gate.
39. After going through kissing gate bear right (250°) away from river across cricket field to Pavilion & Checkpoint 16 - Bolton Bridge (SE 071 530).
1. Leave Checkpoint with fence/hedge on your right back towards river.
2. On approaching river bridge go right up gravel ramp to go through small metal gate in wall.
3. Cross road & go through signed gap stile & down steps turning right at bottom to go ahead with house on your left.
4. Through gate to cross small paddock with fence on left to go through a further gate.
5. Ahead with river on left to go under road bridge (A59).
6. Follow path on river bank to reach & cross footbridge to continue to go through gate onto road.
7. [For the next 490yds you are walking at the side of a very busy road so for your own safety please walk in single file. Also please ensure you leave the road at para 17.9 & don't be tempted to use the road to where the route re-joins it at para 17.14. Again the described route is for your safety].
8. Turn left & follow left hand-side of road 460yds passing parking/piles of gravel areas on your left. Then use walkway to left of road - narrow in places - ascending hill & bending left.
9. When the walkway ends continue ahead for another 30yds with wall on left.
10. Cross road to signed Dales Way Permissive Path to Lobwood House.
11. Follow short track up to gate to go over stile to the left of it.
12. Now continue ahead with wall on your left parallel to road. You follow this path for 770yds alongside the wall, going over a stile in a crossing wall & ignoring a stile back onto the road as you progress. As you near Lobwood House go up slope, follow wall right & left to reach & go over stile in corner & through gate onto driveway.
13. Turn left along driveway for 15yds to turn left again just before building (small Dales Way waymarker at ground level).
14. Go round building (Farfield Friends Meeting House) with it on your right to reach & go through kissing-gate in wall ahead to emerge back onto road.
15. Cross over road, with great care & enter road into garage driveway, large Dales Way sign. (Ignore driveway to house).
16. In 5yds turn left through gap in wall to descend steps & follow path with buildings to right.
17. After swinging right go over stile wire fence on your right. (Avoid barbed wire after stile).
18. Turn left on enclosed path with river down to left.
19. In about 300yds go over ladder stile in crossing wall (SE 079 519).
20. Continue ahead for another 260yds following riverside path & marker posts to go over stile in fence.
21. Continue along riverside path for another 530yds meeting a fence on the right & passing a stile in fence.
22. On reaching woodland turn right with path up steps away from the river with the woodland on your left.
23. At top turn left over stile & ahead on enclosed path with woodland on left & fence on right.
24. Cross stile in fence & continue ahead.
25. When woodland ends continue along top of descending ridge back to riverside.
26. Cross stile in fence about 10yds from riverside.
27. In another 160yds cross another stile & continue still with river on left reach corner of caravan site.
28. Go through kissing-gate between river & caravan site & ahead on riverside path.
29. Turn right as indicated into caravan site & almost immediately turn left onto gravel driveway.
30. Continue to leave caravan site through gate (or open gateway) continue ahead with houses on left.
31. After about 30yds bear right into entrance of small parking area with small Dales Way waymarker at ground level.
32. Cross parking area to notice board & ahead on path with river again on left.
33. [PARAGRAPHS 17.34TO 18.4 ARE ON EXPLORER MAP OL297 - MAP PROVIDED].
34. Go through gap in wall corner & ahead on riverside path.
35. Path rises from river & is joined by a path & a wall coming in from the right.
36. Continue up stepped path (ignoring path off to left, down to suspension bridge, near the top).
37. Emerge onto road & turn left. Crossing road when safe to do so.
38. Go round to right with road (changing from Bark Lane to North Street in the process).
39. Continue to where road turns sharply left, here you bear right into Church Street (saying goodbye at the same time to the Dales Way).
40. Continue along left-hand side of Church Street to reach the main road (Main Street).
41. Bear right crossing over entrance to Park Crescent and continue up Main Street for about 600yds, passing The Fleece and The Crown on your right as you go.
42. Just after passing public toilets at Sugar Hill, then telephone kiosk, both on your right you arrive at the checkpoint which is above the library (clock on wall of building). 17.43 Entrance to the checkpoint is achieved by going right up the steps at Brumfit Hill, which is between the library and The Swan. Follow the handrail round to the right to access the checkpoint (SE 077 498).
1. From Checkpoint turn left and left down steps to return to Main Street.
2. Turn right and continue upward, passing The Swan on your right.
3. At road junction just after Craven Heifer Bar/Brasserie bear right on main road now called Skipton Road.
4. Cross road when safe to do so & turn left at first road into Moor Lane (about 120yds after junction).
5. [This lane/track/path, known locally as 'The Roman Road' maintains an almost straight line of passage for almost 4½ miles to the outskirts of Skipton (para 19.16)]. [YOU ARE NOW BACK ON EXPLORER MAP OL2].
6. In 520yds when road lane swings left becoming Turner Lane continue ahead up 'No Through Road'.
7. Reach & go through barriers to reach main road (A65).
8. PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE EXTREME CARE CROSSING THIS ROAD. It is very busy, the traffic is travelling very fast & you will be extremely tired. Make sure you can cross safely.
9. Once safely on the other side go through gate & continue ahead uphill on tarmac lane.
10. After almost a mile (opposite entrance to Upper White Wells Farm) the tarmac ends (SE 051 508).
11. Continue for another 120yds to go through left hand of the two gates ahead at marker post (SE 050 508).
12. Ahead up field for about 450yds with single wire 'fence' on your right to reach & go through gate with boulder in front of it.
13. Ahead for 100yds now with a wall on your left passing under some power lines to go through another gate, after which you go under the power lines for a second time (SE 046 510).
14. Ahead on track for 530yds, now with wall on right to reach & go through further gate (SE 041 511).
15. Continue ahead across open field on obvious track, wall is 25yds to right.
16. Go through gate in crossing wall & straight across road to go through another gate to reach Checkpoint 18 - Draughton (SE 040 511).
1. Leave Checkpoint & continue along track with wall on left.
2. After 260yds go through gate (SE 037 511).
3. After another 120yds go through another gate (SE 036 511).
4. In a further 340yds go through a further gate (SE 033 512).
5. The wall is still on your left but on your right you now have the felled Back Plantation for 800yds.
6. Towards the end of the plantation are some mature trees & you go through a small gate at (SE 026 513).
7. The broad track is now enclosed between walls as it descends. After 830yds go through waymarked gap in crossing fence (SE 018 513).
8. In another 460yds go through gate at corner of plantation & continue ahead with plantation on your left.
9. After 390yds the track enters a wooded area & the wall on the left goes off above it.
10. On leaving woodland, path narrows to go through an area of gorse but is easy to follow for 210yds.
11. Here (SE 005 510) you have a small piece of wall/fence on your left with a stile in it. Continue forward for a couple of yards to find a small well defined path on the right.
12. Turn right onto this path & immediately cross stile in wall. (This path is not on the map but it is the easiest way down the hillside).
13. Now follow the wall on your left steeply down hill.
14. On reaching crossing wall turn left for a couple of yards then turn right down enclosed track.
15. Take care on this rutted/rough track as it descends to eventually become a tarmac road on entering the outskirts of Skipton.
16. This road (Short Bank Road, a name you will see later) is followed downhill on left-hand pavement for 1100yds ignoring all roads off & passing under railway bridge SKSI I2 along the way. (At some point Short Bank Road has become Newmarket Street).
17. At mini-roundabout continue ahead on Newmarket Street (ignoring Brougham Street to left & Otley Road to right).
18. Continue for another 350yds to reach a small roundabout in the centre of Skipton.
19. From here you want the road diagonally across to the left going towards Clitheroe & Burnley/Coach Street Parking. The recommended safe way to do this is to continue round to the left in the direction of Keighley & Bradford. In 20yds crossing the road by means of the pedestrian lights. Turn right back to the Clitheroe/Burnley road junction. Turn left for 20yds to cross the road by means of the pedestrian lights & then turn left so that you are on the right-hand side of the road.
20. Go straight over junction with Coach Street to go over canal bridge.
21. Immediately after crossing bridge turn right into Belmont Wharf with wall/canal on your right.
22. In 25yds go through gap on right at large Disabled Access sign to gain access to canal towpath.
23. Ahead with canal on your right in the direction of Liverpool.
24. After 260yds pass swing bridge No. 177.
25. In another 300yds go through barrier just before swing bridge No. 176.
26. Turn right over swing bridge & ahead on enclosed roadway to go through gates to enter Aireville Park.
27. Follow tarmac roadway along the left-hand edge of the park to exit through gates.
28. Ahead now with car park to your left.
29. Cross over entrance/exit of car park to join pavement on left.
30. Follow pavement to entrance of School on your left (where road swings sharply right).
31. Go through gates & follow signs to finish (SD 977 519).