Dales High Way - Stage 3.

The Pictures.

To see who was on the walk, click on the following picture:-

To view all the pictures taken on the walk click 'Here'  

 The Walk.

Walk leader - Ian Wardle

Thirteen walkers met at a sunny layby near the Hill Inn to catch the minicoach to Settle. Whilst waiting, several of us admired the pigs across the road from the pub and, although Stan tried to get them to smile for his camera, they were intent on mainly just showing him their backsides.

The short coach ride ended in Settle Market Square, the finishing point of Stage Two of the walk the previous week. With the sun still shining in an azure sky, we set off along the Ribble's banks to Stackhouse and then on to Stainforth Foss. The path was surprisingly dry and mud free and the river scenery delightful, but, being only March, nobody was tempted to take a dip in the pool under the waterfall. A short section of tarmac led us to the old hamlet of Little Stainforth, passing the impressive 3 storey Stainforth Hall (now a farmhouse) which was built in the 1670s at the same time as the packhorse bridge over the Ribble by Stainforth Foss. Field paths now took us easily uphill through dry limestone pasture, with the shapely tops or Smearsett and Pot Scars to the right. Then it was down to the hamlet of Feizor where we enjoyed a coffee stop outside the cafe. Sitting with a tea or coffee in the warm sun was more reminiscent of springtime by the Mediterranean than Yorkshire in March. Stan exacted his revenge on the earlier uncooperative pigs by eating some slices of one of their cousins in a butty!!

A short climb took us out of Feizor, past Wharfe Wood and past a splendid piece of farm machinery in action, trimming branches from trees, then down to the hamlet of Wharfe, dating back to at least the 15th Century. We followed a bridleway up Crummackdale to cross Austwick Beck on the wonderful old clapper bridge, by Wash Dub, a pool which was dammed for sheep washing as recently as the 1930s.. The walled lane we followed was probably one of the "Occupation Roads" - (walled lanes leading through fields to higher open pasture beyond). Then it was past Crummack Farm and up past Long Scar for a gloriously sunny, sheltered lunch stop where we enjoyed sandwiches accompanied by music from skylarks, curlews and lapwings. After lunch, more easy walking on limestone pasture led us past Nick Pot and the (now completely derelict) shooting hut as our Dales Highway route met up with that of the Three Peaks walk.

Several of us stopped at various points as the way grew steeper, to remove a layer or to just admire the views across to Pen y Ghent and Fountains Fell. Stone flags have made what used to be a seriously rutted track much easier in places, but it was still uphill all the way to the wall crossing at the end of Simon Fell, where the track levels off for a while. The air was so clear, it felt as if you could almost touch Ingleborough's summit from this point, although of course this was an illusion, and there was still a bit of steep uphill to go, during which several of us broke into songs. (You can't accuse West Lancs of being uncultured!)

It wasn't long before we were resting at the summit shelter on Ingleborough's summit, once again enjoying the warm sunshine. Chris (never one to rest) added at least half a mile to her walk by exploring the edges of the summit, a fascinating place, which (depending which book you read) was either an iron age hill fort or a bronze age retreat. All to soon it was time to head on downwards towards the cars, which we could just about see from the top, glinting far below at Chapel-le-dale. First though, we had to negotiate the very steep slope and steps leading to Humphrey Bottom - one of those that's harder to descend than to climb up, and it's possible that one or two swear words might have been uttered on the way down!

The walk ended, still in warm sunshine and on easy tracks past Braithwaite Wife Hole (a doline) and across Southerscales Scars back to the cars.

It was about 14 miles in total and a truly excellent day out, thanks to expert leading by Ian in John's absence.

Sue A.