22nd March 2024 - Ribblesdale to Malhamdale and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.2 miles
Total ascent: 2652 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Settle-Pennine Bridleway-Winskill Stones-Jubilee Cave-Pennine Bridleway-Langscar Gate-Cove Road-Pennine Way-Malham Cove-Cove Road-Fair Sleets Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Rye Loaf Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Stockdale Lane-Warrendale Knotts-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Settle
It's my Friday off work, and with some reasonable weather forecast I decided to head to Settle for a walk in the Yorkshire Dales. The route I went for is one that I've done many times, with different variations of where I start from, and involves crossing the moors between Ribblesdale and Malhamdale using bridleways. I took the northerly bridleway to Langscar Gate first so that I'd hopefully have good views from Warrendale Knotts, particularly that looking up Ribblesdale in the late afternoon sunshine, on my way back to Settle. I set off from Settle in the morning with quite cloudy skies, but the amount of sunshine soon increased so that I enjoyed blue skies and sunny spells for the moorland crossing to Malhamdale. It encouraged me to pay a visit to the top of Malham Cove. The cloud increased again for the return over the moors to Ribblesdale, and there was even a brief shower while I was walking down Stockdale Lane, but the sun returned for my visit to Warrendale Knotts. It was a windy day throughout, it being particularly strong on Rye Loaf Hill and Warrendale Knotts.
After parking in the Greenfoot car park I left Settle by walking through the town, up the road of Castle Hill, and onto the Pennine Bridleway. I then followed the Pennine Bridleway north towards Langcliffe, taking the branch up to the road above Langcliffe to Winskill Stones, and I then walked north up the road to Winskill Stones. From there I took a path across access land to reach the Pennine Bridleway below Jubilee Cave, which I then followed east across the moors and down to Langscar Gate on the Cove Road above Malham. After crossing the road I took the footpath opposite to reach the Pennine Way, which took me down to Malham Cove, where I stopped for lunch. Break over I made my way west across access land to Cove Road, and after a short walk down Cove Road I reached a bridleway on the right signposted for Settle. I took this and followed it west up to and through Fair Sleets Gate, and across the moors towards Stockdale. When the bridleway went through a gate and started its descent into Stockdale I left it, crossed a gate in a wall to the south, and made my way across access land to Rye Loaf Hill. Once I'd taken in the view from there I made my way back to the Pennine Bridleway, which I then walked along down Stockdale and Stockdale Lane until I reached the Dales High Way footpath on the right towards Warrendale Knotts. I took this and followed it west until I was below Warrendale Knotts, and a steep ascent between the crags from there took me up to the trig point on the summit. I spent a bit of time taking in the great view from Warrendale Knotts before making my way back down to the Dales High Way, which I followed west, and then joining the Pennine Bridleway for a return to Settle.
Total ascent: 2652 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Settle-Pennine Bridleway-Winskill Stones-Jubilee Cave-Pennine Bridleway-Langscar Gate-Cove Road-Pennine Way-Malham Cove-Cove Road-Fair Sleets Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Rye Loaf Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Stockdale Lane-Warrendale Knotts-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Settle
It's my Friday off work, and with some reasonable weather forecast I decided to head to Settle for a walk in the Yorkshire Dales. The route I went for is one that I've done many times, with different variations of where I start from, and involves crossing the moors between Ribblesdale and Malhamdale using bridleways. I took the northerly bridleway to Langscar Gate first so that I'd hopefully have good views from Warrendale Knotts, particularly that looking up Ribblesdale in the late afternoon sunshine, on my way back to Settle. I set off from Settle in the morning with quite cloudy skies, but the amount of sunshine soon increased so that I enjoyed blue skies and sunny spells for the moorland crossing to Malhamdale. It encouraged me to pay a visit to the top of Malham Cove. The cloud increased again for the return over the moors to Ribblesdale, and there was even a brief shower while I was walking down Stockdale Lane, but the sun returned for my visit to Warrendale Knotts. It was a windy day throughout, it being particularly strong on Rye Loaf Hill and Warrendale Knotts.
After parking in the Greenfoot car park I left Settle by walking through the town, up the road of Castle Hill, and onto the Pennine Bridleway. I then followed the Pennine Bridleway north towards Langcliffe, taking the branch up to the road above Langcliffe to Winskill Stones, and I then walked north up the road to Winskill Stones. From there I took a path across access land to reach the Pennine Bridleway below Jubilee Cave, which I then followed east across the moors and down to Langscar Gate on the Cove Road above Malham. After crossing the road I took the footpath opposite to reach the Pennine Way, which took me down to Malham Cove, where I stopped for lunch. Break over I made my way west across access land to Cove Road, and after a short walk down Cove Road I reached a bridleway on the right signposted for Settle. I took this and followed it west up to and through Fair Sleets Gate, and across the moors towards Stockdale. When the bridleway went through a gate and started its descent into Stockdale I left it, crossed a gate in a wall to the south, and made my way across access land to Rye Loaf Hill. Once I'd taken in the view from there I made my way back to the Pennine Bridleway, which I then walked along down Stockdale and Stockdale Lane until I reached the Dales High Way footpath on the right towards Warrendale Knotts. I took this and followed it west until I was below Warrendale Knotts, and a steep ascent between the crags from there took me up to the trig point on the summit. I spent a bit of time taking in the great view from Warrendale Knotts before making my way back down to the Dales High Way, which I followed west, and then joining the Pennine Bridleway for a return to Settle.
Route map
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Leaving Settle on the Pennine Bridleway
Looking across the roofs of Settle
Heading north on the Pennine Bridleway towards Langcliffe
Above the village of Langcliffe
I have a great view up Ribblesdale from the Pennine Bridleway up to the road to Winskill Stones
Views across Ribblesdale as I walk up the road to Winskill Stones. The bright white of the cottage at Lower Winskill stands out..
Warrendale Knotts to the south as I join the Pennine Bridleway beneath Jubilee Cave
Ingleborough, Whernside, and Penyghent from above Jubilee Cave
Taking the Pennine Bridleway for the journey east to Langscar Gate
Looking north to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
Great views across the surrounding moorland as I follow the bridleway east......
Looking back west along the Pennine Bridleway towards Ribblesdale and Ingleborough as I reach its top..
Starting the long gradual descent to Langscar Gate. I can make out Weets Top and Cracoe Fell in the distance.
Looking over the wall to my left and I can see Malham Tarn
Following the bridleway down to Langscar Gate..
Having crossed Cove Road, I briefly join the Pennine Way for the walk down the dry valley to the top of Malham Cove
At the top of Malham Cove
Looking south down Malhamdale
The limestone pavement above Malham Cove
A view of Malham and Malhamdale..
..and of the top of Malham Cove, as I make my way back up to Cove Road
Heading up the bridleway to Fair Sleets Gate
Looking back across Malhamdale to Weets Top
Malham Tarn in the distance as I reach the junction with the bridleway across the moorland of Grizedales
The rounded dome of Rye Loaf Hill appears as I approach the top of the bridleway..
..and start the descent towards Ribblesdale. At the gate in the wall ahead I'll leave the bridleway for a visit to Rye Loaf Hill.
Before going to the trig point I take in the view from the rash of boulders of Upper Stone Haw. Kirkby Fell just to the east.
Looking across Malhamdale to Calton Moor, with Cracoe Fell in the distance on the left
The outline of Pendle Hill in the distance to the south
The domed top of Rye Loaf Hill
At the trig point on a very windy Rye Loaf Hill. Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance.
Stockdale below, Sugar Loaf Hill, and Warrendale Knotts
Penyghent and Fountains Fell beyond the moorland of Grizedales..
..and in the distance, the moorland around Wharfedale
Sunlit limestone moorland to the north of Stockdale as I return to the Pennine Bridleway
Looking back to Rye Loaf Hill
Back onto the Pennine Bridleway down Stockdale
Rye Loaf Hill above Stockdale Farm
I leave Stockdale Lane and take the footpath towards Warrendale Knotts and Settle
Passing beneath the limestone cliffs of Attermire Scar..
Heading for the top of Warrendale Knotts and I stop to take in the great view up Ribblesdale to Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
Pendle Hill in the distance from the trig point on Warrendale Knotts
Attermire Scar, Stockdale and Rye Loaf Hill
The Forest of Bowland to the southwest
The low sun and fast moving clouds make for a great light for taking in the view up Ribblesdale to Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
Penyghent, Fountains Fell, Victoria Cave, and Attermire Scar
Back on the footpath to Settle, and looking back to the limestone crags of Warrendale Knotts, with Rye Loaf Hill in the distance on the right
Returning to Settle via the Pennine Bridleway..
