A longer Settle Loop

Sunday morning I was up early and greeted by what promised to be a fine day. After a leisurely breakfast I mad up some sandwiches and a flask of coffee and got ready for a walk up on the hills. No need to drive anywhere to start the walk as I was able to set out from the front door.

A few months ago I’d seen Alistair Campbell (not my favourite person) walking in this area on a Winter Walk on TV. Watching this had inspired me to do some walking around here and when we were thinking of where we might stay for a short break, Settle came to mind. I’d seen a circular route from Settle on the Discovering Britain Website (the downloadable booklet describing the walk includes some very interesting information by a local) and had originally thought I’d follow that. However, on the day I decided to extend the walk, heading towards Malham and then looping back towards Langcliffe on the Pendle Bridleway. I could have extended further by popping into Malham, but a quick calculation suggested I’d have trouble getting back before sunset and didn’t want to get stuck in the dark on unfamiliar moors. Going into Malham was certainly doable but I’ll have to save that for another time when longer days would allow me to linger for a while.

The view from the front door

The neighbours across the road

I had to walk into Settle and then head up through the streets on to the old Langcliffe Road, before turning off onto the moor.

Looking down over Settle

Setting off down the lane onto the moor

Zooming in onto the row of mill houses and the old mill. I could see our holiday home and our car!

On the moor now. An old drystone wall on my right. I’d be saying mile upon mile of them during my walk

I turned off the Langcliffe path climbing steeply up the hill. This is the view looking back down towards settle and the Giggleswick Scar

Nearing the top of the climb Penyghent came into view

Close to the summit of the path now, with the Warrendale Knotts on the left

Well into limestone country now

The limestone cliffs are riddled with caves

Attermire Scar came into view

Looking back towards the Warrendale Knotts

Attermire Scar. It’s almost hard to believe that these mighty cliffs were created from the skeletal remains of tiny sea creatures

Looking back again

I stopped for a brew and a croissant and took yet another photo looking back to the limestome cliffs. The terrain to the left is very different as the scars mark the change from millstone grit to limestone geology. The land to the left is very boggy and that’s the origin of the name of Attermire – “mire” is an old word for bog

Looking over the mire I had a hazy view of Pendle Hill

The route now took me over a stile and onto the Stockdale Lane.

I was on tarmac for a while on the quiet lane but it turned into a rough track after the turnoff for Stockdale farm. A gradual climb now for a few miles on the path towards Malham

A couple of miles before Malham I turned north. Malham Tarn soon came into view

zooming in

A large herd of Belted Galloways were grazing quiety, not paying any attention tot he walkers and cyclists passing by

I passed a section of limestone pavement

and this long line of sheep

The distinctive profile of Ingleborough came into view

and, a little further on, Penyghent

All three of the Three Peaks came into view

Getting closer to Langcliffe I approached more Limestone scars

There’s Jubilee cave – I popped up to have a quick look inside.

There wasn’t much to see – just a black hole!

Approaching the minor road from Langcliffe to Malham

Looking down to Langcliffe

Rather than walk down into the village, I cut off across the fields back towards Settle and then back to our holiday home.

About 10 minutes before I arrived I got a phone call. It was J asking how long I’d be and did I want her to make a brew for when I got back. Did I? Silly question 🤣. And that was good timing!