Skipton Saunter

Route 12 Miles

Please remember -notes of guidance to be used in conjunction with appropriate map.

Leave the Cricket Club (983511) by track up to road. Turn L and cross road to gain footpath. Follow path over railway and road and at bend continue downhill on path. At bottom of hill turn L up tarmac lane just beyond Magnet Joinery. This leads in 20m to canal towpath. Turn L and follow canal to second swingbridge (No.174). Cross bridge (961527) and follow track up to busy A65.(BUCKET DROP). Cross with great care and take lane opposite for approx 0.5mile where turn L at junction for 0.7mile. At 4th bend on this road locate bridleway on L (B.W. Flasby 2.5 miles).

C.P. 1 (975539) 4.1 miles.

Through gate and follow good track ahead through 2 fields, shortly after which bear R at bridleway sign and follow path uphill 320 degrees to reach a gate.

Continue ahead on a defined track steadily ascending and after crossing a small stream by a plank the path leads uphill to summit of Sharp Haw and the trig point at (959553). Leave summit almost immediately bearing R through a gap in the wall, descending on a well worn track to a gate (962556). Go through gate and swing L following track with blue waymarks towards a wood. The track runs alongside the wood then dips and rises from a stream to reach a gate at the far end of the field beyond the wood. Continue ahead, wall on L to metal gate, pass through and follow lane ahead to Flasby Hall Farm.

C.P. 2 (948566) 6.9 miles.

Take track almost opposite signed Stirton and follow to pass large new barn complex and then a house on L. Go through gateway. Here a good path veers to the left and swings up hill. Follow it to reach a gate at entrance to forestry. Continue ahead and stay on this main track which gets very rutted as you go on until you meet a forest road on a U bend. Take the upper track almost S.E for a good mile — it climbs steadily, swings left and slowly descends and levels out. At the point where it begins to rise again you pass a small wooden hut on the right and as the gradient increases you will notice a left hand bend appearing. Just before this turn right on a faint track which passes through trees to a stile in a field wall (966540).

Continue in same direction just L of line of trees ahead to cross stream and dip. Climb out of dip and head in same direction to reach gate/stile. Walk ahead with wall on L. (ignore gate in this wall) and continue to next gate/stile. Again continue ahead, now with wire fence on L. Shortly locate a stile in this fence. Cross and continue down 2 fields, close to fence now on R. to reach lane. Turn R on lane for 75m to find ladder stile on L. Climb and cross field heading for 2 big trees in middle and then continue same line to kissing gate and lane. Turn R and follow to main road junction where you turn L. Follow this road for almost 0.5mile then turn R into Raikeswood Drive and then R onto Rockwood Drive. Follow this all the way to the main road at the bottom. Cross main road L of mini roundabout by bollards. Enter park and head downhill (S) to meet main path. Turn L and follow over canal, down road to bottom. Turn R by Magnet Joinery and retrace your steps up hill, round bend to cricket club.

FINISH (983511) 12.0 miles