Scaleber Force and Warrendale.

Start. Settle.

Route. Settle - Chapel Square - Museum of North Craven Life - Upper Settle - Albert Hill - Mitchell Lane - Water Treatment Works - Lambert Lane - Preston's Barn - High Hill Lane - Scaleber Force - High Hill Lane - Stockdale Lane - Sugar Loaf Hill - Warrendale - Clay Pots Plantation - Settle.

Notes. Come along with us and visit an enchanting waterfall plunging into a sylvan gorge, situated in the hills to the east of Settle Scaleber Force is without doubt one of the most atmospheric waterfalls in the Dales, falling 40ft over a number of shelves into a deep ravine. We’ll then go exploring Warrendale, it’s wildness of sky and curtains of cliff is akin to a wild west landscape. I’ve been there many times over the years but never grow tired of it.

Settle is an ancient market town with a charter first granted by Henry III in 1249. Its name derives from the Old English word 'Setl' meaning a seat, an abode or a dwelling, probably because of its lofty setting in the Yorkshire Dales. Daniel Defoe wrote “Settle is the capital of an isolated little kingdom of it’s own surrounded by barren hills”, because of it’s remoteness Settle saw mostly local commerce. I never in a hundred years thought Settle as an isolated place but I suppose a few hundred years ago it would have been.

From this not so isolated community today we set out through Upper Settle, via Albert Hill then Mitchell Lane we made our way out of town, once at a water pumping station we ascended the lane opposite, this in turn guided us onto field paths. Through a number of fields we wandered eventually emerging into Lambert Lane (track), the dry stone walls of this green lane ushered us passed Preston’s Barn (Preston should take more care of it, it was falling apart) depositing us on High Hill Lane.

With tarmac to guide us we strolled on to Scaleber Force, spent some time exploring in the cool of the gorge, then headed back along the tarmac surface of High Hill Lane. At the point we joined High Hill Lane earlier another lane climbs into the wilderness of Stockdale, this we followed to a ladder stile, crossed then continued through limestone sheep pastures. With High Hill rising to our left and the towers, spires and curtains of limestone of Warrendale Knotts and Attermire Scar all tilting into view we eagerly strolled on. Once in the shadow of this stunning limestone landscape we had a choice to make, head directly back to Settle or head not so directly back, the latter won.

We ascended the path between Attermire Scar and Warrendale Knotts, wandered along the edge of Lamgcliffe Scar under the cliffs and scree of Brent Scar, passed Victoria Cave to join a track descending along the edge of cow pastures. This track ejected us onto the Malham Fell Road almost next to a path descending through fields to Settle, down we went easy walking all the way back, gates allowed easy crossing of field boundaries. This lovely green trod deposited us into a narrow lane, the steep descent that followed ended at the foot of Constitution Hill in Market Place more or less opposite Ye Old Naked Man Cafe, just in time for lunch.

view route map.

home.

Across the far horizon the hills of Bowland as seen over Settle.

Across Ribblesdale the scars of Giggleswick and the massive gash of the Giggleswick Quarry, dominating the skyline Ingleborough.

Quite often strolling through these high dales you forget you're walking through somebody's factory.

In Lambert Lane looking to Preston's Barn with High Hill rising behind.

From Lambert Lane views over recently cut crop fields.

Scaleber Force a magical corner of the Yorkshire Dales.

From the cool of the tree cover Sue soaks up the scene.

One of many cascades to be found in this sylvan gorge.

Lime Kiln above Scaleber Force.

Ascending Stockdale Lane looking to the grey bulk of Pendle Hill.

Tilting into view the stunning rock architecture of Warrendale Knotts.

The cliff and scree of Attermire Scar.

Rivers of shifting scree and walls of petrified rock, Attermire Scar.

From under the cliffs and scree of Brent Scar views to the Ingleborough massif.

Stretching from north to south the cliffs of Langcliffe Scar including Brent Scar and Attermire Scar and Victoria Cave.

Pen-y-ghent seen over the pastures of Winskill.

Descending the fields above Langcliffe soaking up views over the Ribble valley.

To the left drifting out of shot Langcliffe with the hamlet of Stackhouse directly across the valley.

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