Length : 24.4 km (15.2 mi) [shorter walks possible, see below]
Ascent /Descent: 703/792m
Net Walking Time : 6 hours
Toughness : 7 out of 10
Take the 08.50 Carlisle train from Settle , arrives Horton-in-Ribblesdale 8.58. [This is the 07.48 from Leeds.]
Return trains to London : 15.06 (3’ 24”), 16.30 (3’ 31”), 17.58 (4’ 02”), 20.02 (5’ 12”).
This is a relatively easy exploration in the Yorkshire Dales up to the wild Fountains Fell – a fine viewpoint in good weather – which despite leading through very remote countryside has mostly good quality and easy-to-walk paths courtesy of the ascent and the crossing of the fell following the well-funded Pennine Way.
The approach to and ascent of Fountains Fell give fine vistas up to and along the famous Pen-y-ghent ‘from the back’ out of Silverdale – an angle of it not seen from the more popular routes in the area focusing on the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Fountains Fell itself, once owned by Fountains Abbey and used for sheep farming aiding the production of wool, shows ample signs of having been intensely worked for coal in the early 19th century in support of the lead smelting near Malham. On the descent off the far side of the fell, you get views into the very green Cowside and Littondale valleys and to the large Malham Tarn and beyond it into Malhamdale.
Subsequently you cross a few lonely pastures-with-views, then drop down to the pretty Catrigg Force waterfall close to Stainforth village (with a shortcut option to a bus stop) and continue along quiet lanes and bridleways through some interesting limestone country at the Winskill Stones National Nature Reserve and then along an elevated path above Ribblesdale with fine views to Settle with its good selection of tea stops.
Walk Options :
On the top of Fountains Fell , a more direct descent, southerly across the plateau and down a spur of the hill, would be shorter but also involves rougher and at times pathless ground (not yet walked).
Towards the end of the walk, you could stay on Henside Lane instead of looping down to Catrigg Force waterfall and back up through the Winskill Stones NNR. This cuts 1.9 km and 60m ascent.
Bus Line 11 (Horton in Ribblesdale to Clitheroe) stops at Stainsforth (Main Street), with a late afternoon last bus to Settle (Mon-Sat at 16.02). This enables a shortcut down from Catrigg Force along the Pennine Bridleway to the bus stop 1.2 km away. Cuts 3.6 km and 60m ascent.
Lunch : Picnic .
Tea : Plenty of options , all within a few minutes’ walk to the train station. Check the webpage or pdf for details.
For
walk directions,
map,
height profile,
photos and
gpx/kml files click
here .