WALK from the attractive village of Clapham, through Austwick and Wharfe then across the moor to Little Stainforth, writes JOHN EDMONDSON. For a little sting in the tail go back up the moor then descend to cross the River Ribble and enter Settle via the Pennine Bridleway, aiming to catch a bus back to Clapham at 5.10pm.

Start from Clapham car park (Map ref SD 745 691, postcode LA2 8H).

INFORMATION

Distance: 10 miles with 1,500 feet of ascent

Time: 5 hours

Terrain: grassy footpaths, stony tracks and quiet roads

Maps: OS Explorer OL2.

ROUTE

1 From the rear of the car park follow the footpath signed Austwick keeping on the footpath where the track bends right. At Austwick turn left onto the road and stay on the main road bending right to cross the bridge over Austwick Beck. Turn left onto the bridleway signed Feizor along a walled lane. Where the main track bends right at a crossing of tracks keep straight on. Keep left at the next fork. Turn left at the farm, right at the road, then left at a barn onto the bridleway signed Wharfe.

2 At Wharfe turn right and stay on the stony track to a road. Turn left then after 100 yards right onto a footpath signed High Bark to cross a stone bridge, a stile and a wooden bridge near a waterfall. Continue along the uphill path with several stiles to meet a farm track. Turn right then left onto a path signed Hargraves Barn. Pen-y-ghent is visible on the left. Follow the path to the right of a hillock then descend the valley on the other side where a view of Stainforth appears ahead. Cross a stile to the right of a field gate then go alongside a wall on the left, past a barn and down to the road. Turn right and walk along the road for a third of a mile to Little Stainforth.

3 Turn right to go uphill through a gateway. Turn left before the second gate at a footpath fingerpost. Follow the track to pass a fingerpost to a ladder stile next to a gate. Turn right along a grassy walled path to a metal gate and walk uphill, keeping right at the fork. The path veers left near the top of the slope to go through a metal gate. Turn left along a grassy path high above the valley then descend to the left through a pair of gates then keep right heading towards woods. Cross a ladder stile and descend to the lower part of the wood to a fingerpost by a stony track. Go straight ahead (where the track to the right is signed Stackhouse Lane) down the track to the hamlet of Stackhouse.

4 Turn left on the road then right onto the footpath signed Ribble Way Stainforth. Cross the River Ribble below the weir and walk along the tarmacked lane to the main road. Cross the road then the railway footbridge and turn left onto a track beside the railway. Turn right through a waymarked wicket gate and ascend beside the wall on the left to a walled stony track. Turn right, keep left at a fork by Hopehill Farm and left before the church at Langcliffe. Take the footpath signed Settle to the right (above the church). Walk uphill, keeping to the wall on the right, and follow the path into Settle. To return to Clapham catch a 580 bus (for Ingleton) leaving Settle Market Square at 5.10pm; also at 3.30pm on Saturdays.

Next week: Birkby Fell and La’al Ratty

NB: restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.