Skipton Saunter

26 Miles Route

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.

Continue in same direction over stream and just beyond post box turn 1 on road and follow to junction Take the sunken footpath opposite through gate (F.P_Winterburn) with fence on L and continue length of this field. Pass through next gate, fence now on R and continue to pass through a further 2 gates. After 2^nd gate continue in same direction keeping high for about 200 yards before heading diagonally R to reach second wall junction ahead (940577). Climb ladder stile and follow path over stiles (wall always on your R) all the way to metalled lane. Cross lane and take R hand of 2 gates (B.W. Moor Lane). Follow track with wall on R to pass a barn on your R. 200yds after barn turn R at wall corner passing through a gate and go down a green lane which swings L at next barn and continues to track junction in 0.5 mile. C.P 3 Moor Lane (955598) 9.5 miles.

Turn L up Moor Lane and at next gate take track ahead (S.P.Malham) and follow downhill to reservoir feeder stream. Cross stone footbridge. Go ahead through gate (S.P.Malham) and climb, wall on L, uphill on well defined track to wall and gate. Continue ahead (B.W.Weets Top) to next wall and sign (B.W.Weets Top). Head diagonally L uphill as indicated by sign 340 degrees to meet wall, where you turn R to sign at wall junction. Go through gate and continue ahead (B.W.Weets Top) to next gateway (934625). The path now continues ahead, curving slightly R, going uphill towards a distant wall. As the wall approaches the path follows it uphill to reach a gate. Pass through and go straight ahead on good track slightly uphill to gate (S.P.) and R to Weets Trig. C.P.4 (926632) 12.6 miles.

Return to signpost and take bridleway across Calton Moor 200 degrees as indicated by sign (B.W. Calton 2.75). Pass next sign and continue for Calton keeping in touch with wall as path crosses moor to reach wall and ladder stile. Go over and continue in same direction (Pendle Hill directly ahead if clear!). Where wall veers away to R continue on main track south. When a steep wooded valley appears ahead the path stays high on R of it,track becoming even more defined as it descends. It begins to twist and goes through adjacent gates as it approaches Calton village on a good gravel track. Continue down road to junction (907591). Here turn R (Airton) and follow road which soon descends to river bridge. C.P.5 (904592) 15.8 miles

From checkpoint take Pennine Way alongside river through fields to next bridge. Here cross bridge and continue on other bank of river on Pennine Way. The path eventually comes alongside the road for a short while. Continue following Pennine Way sign which leads across a large field to the R of a copse to a gate in a wall. Do Not go through but turn L as directed by sign to next sign in 30 yards. Ahead alongside wall to gate and sign. Go through and ahead and when wall ends continue in same direction across large field to gate at wall corner (917563)P.W. Sign. Turn L with wall on L but as wood begins bear diagonally R to next stile. Cross this short field diagonally R, over stile and turn L. Ahead and R of copse, descend to stile 100yds to L of barn. Over aiming again for R end of next copse and gate nearby. Over stile and go diagonally to around the hill to reach fence. Follow fence to reach stile which allows entry into lane. Turn L on lane and follow to road junction by 30mph signs. Go L here to next junction by caravans. Again L and follow this road (footpath provided) well past first junction to where road forks. Take the R hand fork and 150 yards after crossing beck take footpath on R (S.P. Flasby). Follow track downhill and at bottom head up center of field to locate footpath sign. From here head steeply uphill near to R hand fence to find stile at top in R hand field corner. Over and in 20 yards take stile on R. Go down field close to fence on R to stile in bottom fence. Climb over, drop down steps and turn L on lane into Flasby. At junction turn R to Flasby Hall FarmC.P.6 (948566) 20.9 miles

Take track almost opposite signed Stirton and follow to pas 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 path over canal, down road to bottom. Turn R by Magnet Joinery and retrace your steps up hill, round bend to cricket club. Finish (983511) 26.0 miles

WELL DONE !!