A Circuit from Langcliffe.
Start. Langcliffe.
Route. Langcliffe - Craven Lime Works - Stainforth - Dog Hill Brow - Stainforth Force - Dog Hill Brow - Little Stainforth - Stockdale - Faizor - Faizor Thwaite - Giggleswick Scar - Schoolboys Tower - Stackhouse - Holmehead - Langcliffe.
Notes. The reassuring crunch of snow under foot, when conditions are like this it makes for wonderful wandering. I'm wandering through a winter wonderland in the hills above Stainforth, no summits it's just good to be out on a day like today. Come along you don't need winter walking gear just a map, tea and coffee will be supplied by Elaine's Tea Rooms conveniently situated at Faizor around the half way point.
I left Langcliffe via one of Yorkshire's many green lanes, striding out north between dry stone walls, I'd only just left the village when a finger-post invited me to leave the lane, this path I followed, through snow covered pastures, descending to the Settle/Carlisle Railway before entering the Craven Lime Works, an industrial relic well worth exploration, hopefully you'll spend a little more time than I did digging around, it's an interesting slice of industrial history. After a quick exploration I ascended a flight of steps at the north end of the Hoffmann Kiln, a short diversion took me to a Triple Bore Kiln, a more traditional type of kiln. I left the lime works in the shadow of Stainforth Scar, field paths guided me to Stainforth, I bypassed the village via the main road to access Dog Hill Brow, this narrow lane guided me to the River Ribble and the splendour of Stainforth Force. A popular waterfall always busy, today was no exception, I was soon re-tracing my steps to Dog Hill Brow before ascending the lane to Little Stainforth.
From Little Stainforth field paths lead into Stockdale, a high valley sandwiched between limestone scars, worth a visit Smearsett and Pot Scars, and opposite a short climb away the Celtic Wall, I ignored these must see features, it was lunch time, my sights were set firmly on Elaine's Tea Rooms in Faizor. Thirst quenched with a full stomach I wandered on to the next bridleway. This well used route guides the lucky walker or rider to the village of Stackhouse, a finger-post points the way to Scar Top, like me if you wish to visit Giggleswick Scar follow this path turning right at the next finger-post, an invitation to Buck Haw Brow. One mile of field walking followed, before reaching Giggleswick Scar. Good paths escorted me along the scar, passed caves and a long dry watercourse, stiles aided my crossing of dry stone walls, ahead a rather large cairn dominates the scene The Schoolboys Tower, built by the pupils of Giggleswick School, I think the pupils should do a spot of maintenance, the northern edge is falling apart. From the tower a number of cairns guided me safely above the massive scar of the disused Settle Quarry before the boundary fence ushered me to a path junction, I turned left. With a well trod path under foot and stunning views across the Ribble Valley for company I wandered north, through rough pastures and scrub land to find myself wandering along the edge of mature woodland, a dry stone wall my companion on this section, the wall lead to a ladder stile, I crossed before descending to Stackhouse. From Stackhouse I joined a footpath signed Ribble Way and Stainforth, this path lead to the River Ribble, I left the Ribble Way, crossed a foot-bridge to access Holmehead, from Holmehead I ascended the access lane alighting on the main road, from the junction it was a short walk back to Langcliffe.
Ghosts of an industrial past, the massive Hoffmann Kiln....
....the dimentions are staggering, lime burning on an industrial scale, built in 1873 for the Craven Lime Company the kiln contained 22 individual burning chambers, three and a half million fire bricks were used, backed by limestone ballast to retain the heat. Limestone was burned in a circuit round the kiln, it took six weeks for a full circuit, it finally closed in 1939.
Langcliffe Quarry as seen over the Hoffmann Kiln.
Above the Triple Bore Kiln looking west to Faizor Thwaite.
Smearsett Scar across the Ribble Valley.
A small slice of Stainforth.
Above Stainforth Force looking to the packhorse bridge at Dog Hill Brow.
Pen-y-ghent seen from near Little Stainforth.
Looking to Attermire Scar and Warrendale Knotts across Ribblesdale.
Smearsett Scar rising above Stockdale.
Viewing Pot Scar across Stockdale.
Seen from Stockdale, Burn Moor.
Looking to Faizor backed by Oxenber Wood.
From the edge of Faizor Thwaite views to the Ingleborough massif.
Giggleswick Scar looking to Attamire Scar above Settle.
Limestone scenery on Giggleswick Scar.
Looking north from near the Schoolboys Tower.
Standing proud at the southern end of Giggleswick Scat, the Schoolboys Tower.
Seen from the Schoolboys Tower Langcliffe Scar.
Reaching across the horizon the hills of Bowland.
Enjoying views to Pendle Hill in Lancashire from Giggleswick Scar.
Looking to Lord's Wood with some grim looking weather creeping in from the southwest.
Above Stackhouse looking to a low winter sun.
The River Ribble at Holmehead.