8th March 2025 - Ribblesdale to Malhamdale and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.6 miles
Total ascent: 2715 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Settle-Pennine Bridleway-Langcliffe-Pike Lane-Lower Winskill-Winskill Stones-Jubilee Cave-Pennine Bridleway-Langscar Gate-Cove Road-Fair Sleets Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Rye Loaf Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Stockdale Lane-Warrendale Knotts-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Settle
There's a weekend of fine early spring weather forecast, so I've decided to head out walking on both days. Today it's from Settle 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 blue skies and sunshine, and that's the way it stayed on what turned out to be a great day for being on the hills, although a haze restricted the long distance views. It was pretty windy throughout, it being particularly strong on Rye Loaf Hill and Warrendale Knotts, as it was the last time I visited them.
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, then left it for the bridleway down into Langcliffe. From the car park in Langcliffe I walked along Pike Lane to its end, then took a footpath along a track north through fields and up the hillside to reach Lower Winskill. A walk up the access road to Lower Winskill brought me to the road up from Langcliffe. After crossing a cattle grid 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 (with a stop for lunch on the way). After crossing the road I took the footpath opposite towards the Pennine Way, but before reaching it I took a footpath south across the moorland to the west of Malham Cove. Staying on access land I made my way back up to Cove Road, and after a short walk up it I reached a bridleway on the left 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, to then join the Pennine Bridleway for a return to Settle.
Total ascent: 2715 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Settle-Pennine Bridleway-Langcliffe-Pike Lane-Lower Winskill-Winskill Stones-Jubilee Cave-Pennine Bridleway-Langscar Gate-Cove Road-Fair Sleets Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Rye Loaf Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Stockdale Lane-Warrendale Knotts-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Settle
There's a weekend of fine early spring weather forecast, so I've decided to head out walking on both days. Today it's from Settle 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 blue skies and sunshine, and that's the way it stayed on what turned out to be a great day for being on the hills, although a haze restricted the long distance views. It was pretty windy throughout, it being particularly strong on Rye Loaf Hill and Warrendale Knotts, as it was the last time I visited them.
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, then left it for the bridleway down into Langcliffe. From the car park in Langcliffe I walked along Pike Lane to its end, then took a footpath along a track north through fields and up the hillside to reach Lower Winskill. A walk up the access road to Lower Winskill brought me to the road up from Langcliffe. After crossing a cattle grid 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 (with a stop for lunch on the way). After crossing the road I took the footpath opposite towards the Pennine Way, but before reaching it I took a footpath south across the moorland to the west of Malham Cove. Staying on access land I made my way back up to Cove Road, and after a short walk up it I reached a bridleway on the left 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, to then join the Pennine Bridleway for a return to Settle.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Looking across the roofs of Settle as I leave it behind on the Pennine Bridleway
Heading north on the Pennine Bridleway towards Langcliffe
I leave the Pennine Bridleway and follow a footpath down into Langcliffe
Taking the footpath along a track, and then up the hillside to Lower Winskill..
Looking back down Ribblesdale to Settle
The bright white farmhouse at Lower Winskill certainly stands out in a photo
From Lower Winskill I follow the lane up to the road from Langcliffe
Penyghent and Fountains Fell to my left
Taking in the great view across Ribblesdale to Ingleborough from Winskill Stones..
and again from the roadside above Winskill
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 take the footpath opposite towards the dry valley that leads to the top of Malham Cove..
..and then south across the moorland to its west
Views across Malham Cove..
..and down Malhamdale
A last look back across Malhamdale as I make my way up to Cove Road
From Cove Road I take and follow the bridleway up 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 on the left just to the east..
..and looking across Malhamdale to Calton Moor, with Cracoe Fell in the distance on the left
At the trig point on Rye Loaf Hill with Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance
Nearby Kirkby Fell on the left and Cracoe Fell in the distance on the right
Stockdale below, Sugar Loaf Hill, and Warrendale Knotts
I get a better view from the top of the gritstone edge on the other side of the trig point, and I can see Stockdale Farm below
Making my way back across the moor to the bridleway
Back onto the Pennine Bridleway down Stockdale...
I leave Stockdale Lane and take the footpath towards Warrendale Knotts and Settle..
Heading for the top of Warrendale Knotts and I stop to take in the great view up Ribblesdale to Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
and to Penyghent, Victoria Cave, and Attermire Scar
The low sun makes for a great light for taking in the view up Ribblesdale to Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
Penyghent, Fountains Fell, Victoria Cave, and Attermire Scar
At the trig point on Warrendale Knotts. The haze makes it difficult to make out Pendle Hill in the distance to the south.
Attermire Scar, Stockdale and Rye Loaf Hill
Settle and Ribblesdale below
I can't resist taking another photo of the view up Ribblesdale as I make my way down from Warrendale Knotts
Down from Warrendale Knotts and back on the footpath to Settle
Returning to Settle via the Pennine Bridleway at the end of a lovely early spring day