Walks in Austwick
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Austwick on foot.
Ingleborough Walk from Clapham
Starting in the North Yorkshire village of Clapham this walk climbs to Ingleborough Cave, Ingleborough and Gaping Gill. The Route Start Point: Clapham, North Yorkshire Finish Point: Clapham, North Yorkshire Distance: 7 miles GPX Route Map ingleboroughwalkfromclaphamDownload Walk Description what3words for start point: ///wants.boom.jugs This walk starts in the North Yorkshire village of Clapham before tackling the challenging 4 mile hike to the top of the mountain. Heading north on the footpath that runs along Clapham Beck the route then passes Ingleborough Show Cave before climbing Gaping Gill. The cave is one of the unmistakable landmarks on the mountain with a plunging 98 metre deep hole which Fell Beck flows into. The next section of the route takes you to the summit of Ingleborough, the second-highest hill in the Yorkshire Dales.
Walk: Helwith Bridge to Pen-y-ghent Circular
The Helwith Bridge to Pen-y-ghent Circular Walk is a popular and rewarding route in the Yorkshire Dales, offering walkers a mix of stunning scenery, challenging terrain, and the opportunity to summit one of the famous Three Peaks. Starting in the tranquil hamlet of Helwith Bridge, this walk takes you through picturesque countryside, across rolling fields, and up the slopes of Pen-y-ghent, one of Yorkshire's most iconic peaks. This circular walk is ideal for those looking to experience the natural beauty of the Dales while also enjoying a good physical challenge. Route What3Words: ///tangent.slides.newer Distance: 10 miles Start location: Austwick Rd, Helwith Bridge, Settle BD24 0EH Finish Location: Austwick Rd, Helwith Bridge, Settle BD24 0EH OS Walking Map & GPX Download Our OS map below shows the full route. Under the map, you can find a GPX file download for your navigational device. helwith-bridge-pen-y-ghent-circularDownload Walk Description Begin your walk at the picturesque hamlet of Helwith Bridge, located beside the River Ribble. The historic Helwith Bridge Inn makes for a convenient and welcoming starting point. Cross the B6479 to get on the path signposted Moor Head which leads towards Pen-y-ghent. You should be able to see the peak in the distance on a clear day. Keep left and continue on Long Lane. There is another fork on the track, join the Pennine Way, and keep Pen-y-ghent in sight. The path on Pen-y-ghent is rocky and steep in places, but it's well-trodden and easy to follow. The final section of the climb involves a bit of scrambling, but it's manageable for most walkers and adds a sense of adventure to the hike. Summit of Pen-y-ghent Reaching the summit of Pen-y-ghent, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views stretching across the Yorkshire Dales. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Lake District to the west and the Pennines to the east. The summit is marked by a trig point, where many walkers stop to take photos and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Descent Follow the Pennine Way down and stop at the cave of Hull Pot if you wish. This part of the walk requires careful footing, especially in wet conditions. Horton-in-Ribblesdale Then follow the Pennine Way to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Cross through the main carpark for Horton village and the public toilets. Take the footbridge over the River Ribble and then follow the river almost all the way back to Helwith Bridge. Helwith Bridge The Helwith Bridge Inn provides a perfect place to relax after your walk, with hearty food and refreshing drinks to help you unwind. This circular walk, covering approximately 10 miles, is a full-day adventure that showcases the very best of the Yorkshire Dales. Whether you're drawn by the challenge of Pen-y-ghent or the serenity of the river paths, this route is sure to leave you with lasting memories of one of England's most beautiful landscapes.
Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk
On this challenging 25 mile long circular walk you will take in Yorkshire's famous three peaks; Pen y Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Not for the faint of heart, this is a popular charity challenge walk, and for good reason, you'll need to be very fit, and make sure there's plenty of daylight too. Ribblehead Viaduct, visible on much of the route The Route Start Point: Horton-in-Ribblesdale Finish Point: Horton-in-Ribblesdale Distance: 25 miles GPX Route Map yorkshirethreepeaksDownload Walk Description what3words for start point: ///confining.verges.hedgehog The route for the Yorkshire Three Peaks starts in the civil parish of Horton in Ribblesdale. This walk first heads to Pen-y-Ghent climbing 694m to the summit via Brackenbottom Scar. The route then descends along the Pennine Way taking in, Tarn Barn, Horton Scar, Jackdaw Hill and Hull Point before continuing to the second peak, Whernside. Ascending 736m to the summit of Whernside via Ribblehead Viaduct you pass Blue Clay Ridge, Little Dale Beck and Force Gill where you will see a series of waterfalls. You will descend through Broadrake, Philpin Lane and Low Hill before tackling the final ascent and the third of the three peaks, Ingleborough. After climbing 723m to the summit the route descends back down to Horton in Ribblesdale where you began. Are you taking on the Three Peaks? Let us know about your walk or challenge in the comments below. If you work for a member of Welcome to Yorkshire and would like to raise money for charity through your work or office challenge, you can do so here. You can sign up your business here.
Walk: Austwick, Norber Erratics, Crummackdale and Feizor
A 7 mile walk around Austwick and the Norber Erratics. The Route what3words for start point: ///depending.prouder.baroness Start Point: The Green, Austwick, Lancaster LA2 8BB Finish Point: The Green, Austwick, Lancaster LA2 8BB Distance: 7 Miles GPX Route Map austwick-norber-and-feizorDownload Walk Description Austwick was first settled by Vikings, its name means ‘eastern farm’ as at that time the main village in the area was Clapham. It is a delightful village, with a near-perfect scene of old stone cottages facing across a small green complete with an old ‘Yorkshire West Riding’ road sign and the remains of the market cross. It retains a village atmosphere with shop, pub, hotel and school. Of particular note is Austwick Hall, a fine house dating back to at least the early 16th Century originally built as a fortified manor house. To the west of the village are ancient ploughing terraces known as lynchets, flat terraces cut into the hillside wide enough for oxen to pull a plough; these terraces allowed crops to be grown on the otherwise steep valley sides. Some may date back to the early Anglian farmers who settled in this area, although most are medieval. From Thwaite Lane, a path leads off to reach the foot of the impressive limestone screes of Robin Proctor’s Scar caused by the North Craven Fault. The scar is said to be named after a local farmer who fell to his death from these limestone cliffs whilst out riding his horse. The famous Norber Erratics can be found on the limestone plateau above these scars. Literally hundreds of large Silurian slate boulders were carried here by a glacier during the last Ice Age some 12,000 years ago from the western slopes of Crummackdale. Over the centuries, the surrounding limestone bedrock has slowly eroded away leaving the more resistant (and darker) slate boulders perched on thin limestone pedestals. Known to geologists and geography students nationwide, these are classic examples of glacial erratics. The Silurian slate boulders are 100 million years older than the Carboniferous limestone they sit on.