Catrigg Force and Warrendale from Langcliffe.
Start. Langcliffe.
Route. Langcliffe - Pike Lane - Craven Lime Works - Stainforth - Catrigg Force - Henside Lane - Warrendale - Attermire Scar - Stackdale - Warrendale Knotts - Blua Crags - Langcliffe.
Notes. The stunning limestone scenery of North Yorkshire, a place to ramble through, a corner of the country where bagging summits seems unimportant. Second to the scenery passed through en route this walk has it all, quaint villages such as Langcliffe and Stainforth, easy walking through some of the dales exquisite limestone grasslands, a rather large slice of industrial history in the guise of the Craven Lime Works, green lanes and stunning waterfalls, high unspoiled valleys sandwiched between towering limestone cliffs, easy walking on lovely paths backed by mouth-watering views, just what I needed after my exploits on Lingmoor Fell yesterday.
Sue's leading the way today, test driving a new pair of boots she purchased on e-bay, the going may be slow or may be not depending on the comfort factor. The public car park at Langcliffe marked our starting point, to the north-west corner a stoney lane disappears between the quaint houses, this is Pike Lane, it carried us north to a finger-post inviting us to enter the fields, we obliged crossing several stiles before reaching the Craven Lime Works. For anyone interested in industrial archaeology this is the place to visit, our route took us through the bowels of the impressive Hoffmann Kiln, a little excitement before the easy walk through fields to Stainforth.
We entered Stainforth via Main Road, after a hundred yards we stepped into Main Street, another hundred yards saw us enter the confines of one of Yorkshires green lanes, a steep climb followed before the delights of Catrigg Force could be enjoyed. After visiting the waterfall we headed south over stunning limestone moors, striding out through a landscape littered with shake holes, we passed the limestone scars of Winskill before the narrow fell road abruptly halted our progress, we turned sharp right.
Half a mile of road walking followed, after reaching and crossing a cattle grid we turned left, an excellent green trod carried us into Warrendale. In the shadow of Brent Scar and Attermire we wandered before the sudden descent into the boggy valley of Stackdale, as we swung round the corner the massif limestone towers, cliffs and pinnacles of Warrendale Knotts greeted us, this is a stunning corner of the dales. We were standing on the Craven Fault, a spectacular fault line marking the edge of the limestone uplands, or High Dales and the lower rolling flatlands to the south. With the cliffs towering above us to our right we started an easy ascent, on reaching the crest of the hill the views were quite spectacular, the Ribble Valley and Bowland Fell stretched out before us, yet another reason to stop. A steep descent followed enabling us to step onto the bridleway linking Settle and Langcliffe, this ancient track carried us through limestone pastures before a short descent to Langcliffe.
Limestone pastures above Langcliffe.
Views over the Ribble Valley to the scars above Stackhouse.
The village of Stackhouse with the scars of Reinsber rising behind.
Echoes of an industrial past, the Hoffmann Kiln believe it or not this is the only view that fits into the viewfinder.
This is only one half of the Hoffmann Kiln, 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.
It feels good to gain some height, stunning views to Ingleborough with the small community of Stainforth to the left.
Ascending one of Yorkshires many green lanes, looking to Smearsett Scar, the slate roofed houses of Stainforth with Little Stainforth to the left.
The wonderful broken cascade of Catrigg Force falls twenty feet into a delightful wooded dell.
Free of the confines of the gorge the views open up to the north, Pen-y-ghent and Fountains Fell seen over the moors of Catrigg and Overdale.
Dark on the horizon Ingleborough.
Seen from the cattle grid that marks the start of our ascent to Warrendale, Lower Winskill backed by Ingleborough and Smearsett Scar.
Outstanding views from Warrendale, across the skyline the hills of Bowland.....
....and the civilised side of Warrensale Knotts.
Warrendale Knotts as seen from the north.
Sue descends into Stackdale, shortly she'll be turning right to start the short walk back.
Waiting for us around the corner the limestone towers and cliffs of Warrendale Knotts.
Formidable cliffs of limestone mark the edge of the high dales and a softer rolling Yorkshire to the south.
Rising from Stackdale the scree and cliffs of Attermire Scar.
These cliffs towering above us are the haunt of men on ropes, I think this is the first time we've been here and not witnessed the daring deeds of the climbers.
Wonderful vistas over the Ribble Valley.
Typical Dales landscape of dry stone walls and limestone pastures.
Looking to the disused Langcliffe Quarry, home to the Hoffmann Kiln visited earlier.
Lets end the day with a view the length of Ribblesdale, I may be wrong but I believe that's Whernside on the horizon.