336 March Walks from Settle

Our first walk of 2013 will be from 

Settle

in the North Riding of Yorkshire
home of 'The Naked Man'

Saturday 9th March 2013

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park

Settle is a bustling market town in the foothills of the Pennines amongst some of the most picturesque scenery in North Yorkshire. The town stands beside the largest outcrop of limestone in Britain - in a region of scars, cliffs, caves and potholes. At the rear of the town a zigzag footpath leads to the summit of Castleberg crag offering a vantage point of the town in its dale and fell. Settle is a good base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. 

The market place at Settle in the valley of the Ribble, is on the dividing line between the largest outcrop of limestone in Britain (to the North) and rolling gritstone moorland.
Explore the limestone country, and you are in a stark but spectacularly attractive area of pearl-white scars, potholes and caves. 

Here too are Malham, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and the Three Peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent - each of which is served by good footpaths. 

Limestone Pavement and Ingleborough - Where the limestone gives way to gritstone are grand waterfalls, which were joyfully visited by a young composer called Edward Elgar. 

The moors, with their coverlet of peat and heather, are of the type known to the Bronte girls of Haworth. West of Settle is unspoilt Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Settle has a full range of Tourist amenities. Giggleswick, just across the river being the home of Giggleswick School. 

The Settle and Three Peaks area has justifiably been chosen as the backdrop for a number of film and television produtions.  

There will be three walks as usual;

• A Walk led by Stuart Smith
• B Walk led by Beverley Kelly
• C Walk led by Terry Simmons

Walk details will be added as they become available but by Saturday 3rd March 2013 

A Walk from Settle 2013

Walk Leader:  Stuart Smith
Distance: 17.5Km
Total Ascent: 516 mtrs

 
The A Walk is a circular walk that begins in the town centre of Settle and there are good facilities at the start of the walk. The route heads in the direction of Langcliffe and climbs steadily for the first 15 minutes and the views of Settle and Langcliffe are set against the rugged mountains. The paths are good and well maintained. The walk is challenging but not overly demanding, with the maximum ascent being 516 metres and the total distance is 17.5 km (10.85 miles).

After the initial ascent the route heads in the direction of Malham via Langcliffe scar. At Malham the route heads back towards Settle taking in some stunning views, heading in-between Great Scar and Rye Loaf Hill, towards Sugar Loaf Hill. From Sugar Loaf Hill there is a pretty walk back to the centre of Settle, passing a nice pub and the Naked Man Café. There is also an optional extra walk towards Scaleber Force, a waterfall of the River Ribble.

B Walk from Settle 2013

Walk Leader:  Beverley Kelly
Distance:       7 miles

Total Ascent: 1600ft

B Party Route [clockwise]

 This is an easy 'B' walk for our first outing of the season, mainly gentle slopes and not too long, but this does not detract from the enjoyment of the walk with lovely views and many points of interest.

Leaving Settle we have a short steep climb [250ft] out of the town which will get our lungs going and bring us some early views across the valley. We then head for the small village of Langcliffe and start a very gentle climb to Upper Winskill except for another short steep bit but now most of our climbing is finished and we head for Catrigg Force, a spectacular waterfall and our lunch stop hollow [The sun came out for us on the reccie].

Profitable Edward Elgar waterfall goes on sale

A stunning 2.5-acre piece of idyllic British countryside complete with the iconic waterfall that inspired Sir Edward Elgar could net one entrepreneurial environmentalist £1,000 a day.

Catrigg Force our lunch stop

After lunch we retrace our steps to upper Winskill and pass below an impressive limestone escarpment, then head up a grass pathway to eventually reach Jubilee Cave then head further on to a more impressive Victoria Cave

 Passing below Attermire Scar we bear right and head for Settle passing below other caves high up.
It is quit a surprise as we reach the brow of a hill and see the vast panarama of the Ribble Valley below us as we start the fairly steep descent to Settle and our refreshments.

For a video of Catrigg Force click here

C Walk from Settle 2013

Walk Leader:  Terry Simmons
Distance:  6 Miles
Total Ascent: 570 ft

C walk route

 Proposed Route

As usual we will start with a Cafe visit and have informed “Ye Olde Naked Café” that we will be coming on the walk date.

Starting from the main street we pass through an older part of Settle down to a footbridge and join the Ribble Way. This we follow all the way in places very close to the river until we arrive at Stainforth Force, a section of the river with rapids and falls. We then do a bit of minor road walking up through Little Stainforth village before leaving the road to cross fields climbing gently to Hanging Scar with a good view of Reinsber Scar (a limestone outcrop ) then above Stackhouse before making our way on a field path adjacent to the road as we return to Settle.