A Round of Crummack Dale.
Start. Austwick.
Route. Austwick - Townhead Lane - Town Head Farm - Crummack Lane - Nappa Scars - Norber - Thwaite - Long Scar - Sulber Gate - Thieves Moss - Moughton Scar - Moughton - Studrigg Scar - White Stone Lane - Wash Dub Field - Town Head Farm - Townhead Lane - Austwick.
Notes. This walk is a fine, low level excursion through some of the finest limestone scenery in the north of England, probably the whole of England. Pay homage to the Norber Erratic's before wandering under limestone scars where rivers of white scree flow into green sheep pastures, teeter over limestone pavements through a karst landscape laid down at the bottom of a warm tropical ocean 360 million years ago, all this with some splendid views thrown in just for good measure.
My day started in the delightful Dales village of Austwick, there's ample roadside parking in Townhead Lane. With tarmac under foot I wandered up the lane, a few hundred yards of climbing took me to Town Head Farm and a finger-post announcing the start of a public footpath, this path looks like it passes through private gardens, it does so the way is well signed. This short trod guided me to a stile allowing access to sheep pastures. North over field paths I strolled, fording Norber Sike before the steep ascent to Crummack Lane, directly across the lane another finger-post invited me to Nappa, I obliged and was soon following the fence line over Norber Brow my sights set firmly on Nappa Scar. After Nappa Scar a ladder stile carried me over a dry stone wall to start the traverse of the Norber Boulder Fields, a sense of deja vu here, it seems I passed this way last time I was out. After Norber a good path guided me along the edge of the intake wall, below rivers of limestone scree tumbling from the high escarpment of Thwaite, it crossed a low ridge depositing me on Long Scar.
With a wonderful green trod under foot I continued north, open vistas over Moughton soon gave way to a dry stone wall, at the northern end of the wall a small Wicket Gate allowed access to Moughton Scars, I passed through said gate crossing Thieves Moss to start the awesome traverse of the limestone pavements. Just over a mile of spectacular walking followed before reaching Moughton itself, I turned south to follow another excellent green path along the edge of yet more limestone scars. Above Hunterstye and Studrigg I walked before reaching the dry waterfall that once thundered over Studrigg Scar, a stile allowed me to cross the wall and a narrow path guided me safely to the valley floor, after passing under the climbing cliffs of White Stone I stepped into White Stone Lane. Hemmed in by dry stone walls I wandered north to reach the wonderful little Clapper Bridge at Wash Dub Field, a slate slab also spans the beck, I crossed this to gain access to green fields once more. Above the farm buildings of Sowerthwaite Farm I walked, across the farm lane then into yet more green pastures, stiles aided my crossing of field boundaries, I soon found myself descending to Norber Sike re-tracing my steps back to Austwick.
In the fields above Austwick looking over Crummack Dale to the limestone scarp of Moughton.
Dark on the horizon, with it's many stone men Norber.
Walkers descend from Crummack Lane with stunning views to the hills of Bowland.
From the approach to Nappa views to Robin Proctor's Scar.
The dramatic view from Norber Brow, Maughton and Studrigg, the notch in the limestone cliffs I hope to descend from later.
Narrow but quite safe the path across Nappa Scars.
Looking over the Norber Boulder Fields, the high skyline consists of Longcliffe Scar, Attermire and Warrendale, in the middle distance just across the valley, Smearsett and Pot Scars.
In sunlight and shade Moughton, with the dark summit of Pen-y-ghent just visible behind.
The extraordinary landscape at the head of Crummack Dale.
To the northwest dappled light on the Ingleborough massif.
To the east seen over Moughton Scars Pen-y-ghent the Hill of Winds.
The desolate slopes and grit stone plateau of Ingleborough seen over Long Scar.
Breath-taking views over a landscape laid down at the bottom of a warm tropical ocean around 360 million years ago, scoured by ice, eroded by rain water, leaving us wonderful scenery to ramble through.
From Sulber Gate views over Crummack Dale, blue/grey on the horizon Pendle Hill.
Seen from the limestone plateau at the head of Crummack Dale, Ingleborough and Simon Fell.
Magical views over fields of limestone, across the horizon the Ingleborough massif.
In the other direction Pen-y-ghent and Fountains Fell.
Looking down on Crummack Dale.
Ingleborough and Simon Fell brood over the scars of Moughton.
Skirting the edge of Moughton looking over the head of Crummack Dale, this is certainly a magical place.
The dry waterfall on Studrigg Scar marked my descent route, don't panic a narrow path lays just to the left hardly visible.
Viewing White Stone over the wood that bears the same name.
The delightful scene at Wash Dub Field, in late spring and in early summer the beck was dammed to form a deep pool, this allowed the sheep to be washed removing parasites, the Wash Dub was still in use as late as the 1930s.
The cliffs of Studrigg drop sheer into Crummack Dale, the notch is the dry waterfall that marked my route of descent.