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Feizor & Giggleswick Scar from Settle

Yorkshire Dales Walk

Nat Park - Yorkshire Dales - Lower Ribblesdale

County/Area - North Yorkshire

Author - Mike Bexley

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km    Ascent - 1100 feet / 333 metres

Time - 5 hours 10 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL41Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL41Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 98Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 98Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Feizor & Giggleswick Scar from Settle
Click image to see photo description.

This Yorkshire Dales walk has everything. It starts with a pleasant riverside walk along the Ribble visiting Stainforth Force - a well-known waterfall. It then crosses limestone moors before returning via Giggleswick Scar. There is only one steep hill but many stiles. Route finding is easy.

The start is from the B6489 Settle to Giggleswick road at the river bridge near the Swimming Pool north of Settle (grid ref SD816641). Take the narrow path going north on the west bank of the bridge passing the Craft Centre with the river on your right. The clear path twists and turns sometimes near the river other times crossing the fields before ending at Stackhouse Lane.

Turn right along the lane to Stackhouse where you turn right again at the finger post to the Weir and Lock. Do not cross over but turn left upriver. Again the path is very clear and follows the river, which is on your right, to the picturesque bridge at Stainforth and its waterfalls. Camera time!

Leave the river via the steps up to the lane (Grid ref. 817 672). Turn left continuing uphill passing the entrance to the caravan and camping site up to Little Stainforth. Go straight ahead over Stainforth Lane and continue up hill to a stile. You have crossed so many stiles what's one more!

Follow the path to the right, still climbing. At last you are at the top and your reward is not only superb views of the valley you have just left but Pen-y-gent (north-east) and Ingleborough (north-west). An added bonus to all this is the wide path of soft grass that very gradually descends through the pass overlooked by Smearsett and Pot Scar to terminate at Scar Close Farm in the hamlet of Feizor (Grid ref. 790 677).

On reaching Kiln Hill Lane by the farm turn left and left again. The wide path gradually climbs up to Feizor Thwaite. On reaching a finger post, turn right to Buck Haw Brow. Once again you are walking on a carpet of grass descending to Giggleswick Scar (Grid ref. 797 659).

Turn left to follow the main path that overlooks the B6480 road. The path leads to Schoolboys Tower, a low stone tower marked as a cairn on some maps. Keeping to the path bear left until you reach the quarry fence. The map is not too clear here due to extensions to the quarries since the last map survey. Take the path close to the fence descending steeply down to a field and continue descending towards the woods (Grid ref. 812 649). Then take the wide path in the woods that bears right. You will come to a low wall on your left overlooking a field. Take the very short wide path at the corner towards the cottages and onto Stackhouse Lane. Turning right along the lane brings you to the main road and turning left delivers you back to your start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1403 Attermire Scar and Catrigg Forceeasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 1105 Settle Circulareasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1740 Attermire Scar & Victoria Caveeasy/mod5.1 miles
Walk 1548 Rye Loaf Hill from Settlemoderate7.6 miles
Walk 2082 Attermire Scar, Catrigg Force & Langcliffeeasy/mod7.5 miles
Walk 2617 Nappa Cross & Victoria Cave from Langcliffemoderate9.5 miles
Walk 1404 Oxenber and Wharfe Woods from Langcliffemoderate10.5 miles
Walk 2649 Attermire Scar & Malham Tarn from Stainforthmod/hard16.5 miles
Walk 1251 The Norber Erratics & Sulber Gatemoderate8.0 miles
Walk 2620 Sulber Gate & Crummack Dale from Austwickmoderate9.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales

Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire DalesGuidebook to 40 of the best trail and fell runs in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ranging from 5 to 24 miles, the graded runs start from bases such as Ribblehead, Dent, Sedbergh, Malham and Grassington and take in the region's diverse delights, from castles and waterfalls to iconic mountains such as Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen Y Ghent.
More information

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: South and West

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: South and WestPart of a two-book set, this guidebook describes 44 walks in the southern and western Yorkshire Dales, including the famous 23 mile Three Peaks circuit over Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. The other, mostly circular routes of 3½ to 13 miles cover the scenic region between Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Settle, Skipton and Grassington.
More information

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