24th April 2021 - Rye Loaf Hill to Warrendale Knotts
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.4 miles
Total ascent: 2174 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Settle-Mitchell Lane-Lambert Lane-High Hill Lane-Stockdale Lane-Pennine Bridleway-Rye Loaf Hill-Kirkby Fell-Pennine Bridleway-Jubilee Cave-Attermire Scar-Warrendale Knotts-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Settle
Starting today's walk from Settle was an obvious choice to make, providing that the weather had played ball. When the announcement came that my age group could make bookings for a COVID-19 vaccination, I made mine, at my nearest vaccination centre, which happened to be in Settle, and my first jab is booked for 5 o'clock this afternoon. The route I decided on is one that I've done several times, with different variations of where I started from, and involved crossing the moors between Ribblesdale and Malhamdale using bridleways. It's been a long time since I was last on Rye Loaf Hill and Kirkby Fell, so I decided to include them on my itinerary. It was a beautiful spring day for being on the moors with more or less wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine, and after a cold start it felt warm enough in the strong April sunshine. I'm glad that I did this walk before I was vaccinated, as I couldn't have managed it the following day given the side effects I had from it.
After parking in the Greenfoot car park I left Settle by walking up Albert Hill and then Mitchell Lane, and onto the track of Lambert Lane, which is part of the Pennine Bridleway. I then kept on the Pennine Bridleway, and after walking north along Lambert Lane, briefly walked along High Hill Lane, then followed it up Stockdale Lane to its top at Stockdale Farm, and east onto the moors. When the bridleway reached a gate I didn't go through but turned right and went through another gate in a wall to the south. I then made my way south across the moor and up to the trig point on Rye Loaf Hill. After taking in the view I had a mostly pathless crossing of the moor to reach Kirkby Fell, and after taking in the view from there I made my way north to reach a gate in a wall, which let me join the Pennine Bridleway again. I then followed the Pennine Bridleway north towards Langscar Gate, then west towards Langcliffe. When the Pennine Bridleway reached Jubilee Cave I left it and took the footpath south beneath Victoria Cave towards Attermire Cave, but left it to make my way across to the trig point on Warrendale Knotts. From Warrendale Knotts I then made my way down to the Dales High Way, which I followed west, and then joining the Pennine Bridleway for a return to Settle.
Total ascent: 2174 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Settle-Mitchell Lane-Lambert Lane-High Hill Lane-Stockdale Lane-Pennine Bridleway-Rye Loaf Hill-Kirkby Fell-Pennine Bridleway-Jubilee Cave-Attermire Scar-Warrendale Knotts-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Settle
Starting today's walk from Settle was an obvious choice to make, providing that the weather had played ball. When the announcement came that my age group could make bookings for a COVID-19 vaccination, I made mine, at my nearest vaccination centre, which happened to be in Settle, and my first jab is booked for 5 o'clock this afternoon. The route I decided on is one that I've done several times, with different variations of where I started from, and involved crossing the moors between Ribblesdale and Malhamdale using bridleways. It's been a long time since I was last on Rye Loaf Hill and Kirkby Fell, so I decided to include them on my itinerary. It was a beautiful spring day for being on the moors with more or less wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine, and after a cold start it felt warm enough in the strong April sunshine. I'm glad that I did this walk before I was vaccinated, as I couldn't have managed it the following day given the side effects I had from it.
After parking in the Greenfoot car park I left Settle by walking up Albert Hill and then Mitchell Lane, and onto the track of Lambert Lane, which is part of the Pennine Bridleway. I then kept on the Pennine Bridleway, and after walking north along Lambert Lane, briefly walked along High Hill Lane, then followed it up Stockdale Lane to its top at Stockdale Farm, and east onto the moors. When the bridleway reached a gate I didn't go through but turned right and went through another gate in a wall to the south. I then made my way south across the moor and up to the trig point on Rye Loaf Hill. After taking in the view I had a mostly pathless crossing of the moor to reach Kirkby Fell, and after taking in the view from there I made my way north to reach a gate in a wall, which let me join the Pennine Bridleway again. I then followed the Pennine Bridleway north towards Langscar Gate, then west towards Langcliffe. When the Pennine Bridleway reached Jubilee Cave I left it and took the footpath south beneath Victoria Cave towards Attermire Cave, but left it to make my way across to the trig point on Warrendale Knotts. From Warrendale Knotts I then made my way 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 Mitchell Lane
Looking back to Settle as I walk up Mitchell Lane..
On the track of Lambert Lane, part of the Pennine Bridleway
Still on the Pennine Bridleway as I take Stockdale Lane and follow it east..
Warrendale Knotts to the north. I'll be up there much later in the day.
Looking back down Stockdale Lane
Rye Loaf Hill on the right as I approach Stockdale Farm
Looking back down Stockdale from the Pennine Bridleway
Rye Loaf Hill. Time to leave the Pennine Bridleway and make my way across to it.
At the trig point on Rye Loaf Hill. Looking northeast across the moorland of Grizedales to a distant Great Whernside.
Kirkby Fell on the left, with Cracoe Fell in the distance on the right
Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent in the distance
Looking across Stockdale to Attermire Scar
Pendle Hill in the distance
The Forest of Bowland in the distance to the west
Next stop Kirkby Fell, which is just a short distance away to the east
On Kirkby Fell. Looking northeast to Buckden Pike and Great Whernside, and there's a bit of Malham Tarn in view.
Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance beyond the moorland of Grizedales
Looking west back to Rye Loaf Hill
From the eastern edge of Kirkby Fell I get a view across Malhamdale to Weets Top and Calton Moor, with Cracoe Fell in the distance
Boulsworth Hill, Weets Hill and Pendle Hill in the distance to the south
I've left Kirkby Fell and I'm back on the Pennine Bridleway to Langscar Gate
Past Nappa Cross with great views to Malham Tarn and its surrounding limestone moors ahead of me..
The bridleway passes through areas of limestone pavement
I keep on the Pennine Bridleway and follow it west towards Langcliffe
Looking back to Langscar Gate with Weets Top and Cracoe Fell in the distance
Ingleborough appears ahead as I follow the bridleway west
A bit further on and Penyghent appears round the shoulder of Knowe Fell
It's a beautiful afternoon for enjoying being out in these wide open spaces
Looking back east along the bridleway
Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
The patches of limestone pavement above Jubilee Cave are a good place to stop for a break, and have great views across Ribblesdale to Ingleborough, Whernside, Penyghent, and Fountains Fell..
Jubilee Cave
Following the path south towards Warrendale Knotts
Looking back with Ingleborough and Whernside in the distance
Penyghent and Victoria Cave as I head for Warrendale Knotts
Areas of exposed limestone present an opportunity for taking a photo of the view up Ribblesdale
Looking across Warrendale Knotts to Attermire Scar and Rye Loaf Hill
I can't resist taking a few more photos of the view up Ribblesdale to Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent...
Penyghent, Fountains Fell and Victoria Cave
Attermire Scar, Stockdale and Rye Loaf Hill from the edge of Warrendale Knotts
At the trig point on Warrendale Knotts. Pendle Hill in the distance to the south.
The Forest of Bowland in the distance
Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
As I make my way west across Warrendale Knotts areas of limestone pavement present more opportunities for taking in the view up Ribblesdale...
The town of Settle below. Time to head down. I have an appointment to keep.
Heading back down to Settle..
