Kettlewell to Langcliffe Fell

Starting point  and OS Grid reference: Kettlewell pay and display car park (SD 969723)		Ordnance Survey Map OL30 - Yorkshire Dales Northern and Central Areas. Buy this map from List of OS Maps Commission from map sales is used to fund the website, so keeping it free to use.
Distance:  5.9 miles	Date of Walk: 26 February 2012
Ascent: Descent: See Walking Time Calculator	1166ft (356m) 1164ft (355m)
Traffic light rating:     (For explanation see My Walks page)
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Introduction: This is a short walk over Lancliffe Fell, Kettlewell (as opposed to Langcliffe near Settle). It starts with a moderately steep climb from the village, alongside Dowber Gill Beck, before swinging round to follow to follow the ridge above the Wharfe Valley, across and along which there are good views. One issue with this walk is that due to the use of tractors across the fell in the process of sheep farming, it is sometimes difficult to be sure which track is the footpath but hopefully my directions will help.

The walk starts from the picturesque village of Kettlewell which is on the B6160 between Threshfield (near Grassington) and Wensleydale.

There is a pay and display car park in the village centre with public toilets but also a private one across the road, just by the river bridge, which is half the price (pay at the garage or café). As a common reference point, this walk starts from the pay and display car park. There are various pubs/cafes for refreshments.

Start: Turn left out of the car park (SD 969723) then first right (Middle Lane). At the maypole, turn left signposted for the church. Walk past the Kings Head pub and at the road junction, turn right following the Dalesway sign.

Ignore a path on the right signposted Conistone Road and shortly after it take the public bridleway on the right indicated by a fingerpost (SD 974724) “Whernside Pastures ½ mile”

Pass to the left of a water tank camouflaged by a stone wall. The path climbs moderately steeply. Go through a gate with a fingerpost confirming the bridleway route and keep left.

When the track forks, keep left again and through the next gateway, go left once more following the bridleway sign. There may well be a multitude of tractor tracks here but stick to the left hand route.

Go through another gate and round the top of the little valley you have been following and the track becomes a walled track though the walls are well dilapidated. Follow this track ignoring any turns off and as it ends go left then immediately right as indicated by the fingerpost.

After the path has levelled out, go through another gate and continue along the obvious track. On the hillside to the left is the stone building of Hag Dyke Scout Hostel.

On reaching the end of the bridleway marked by a sign on a gate, climb over the ladder stile and turn right indicated by the fingerpost for Capplestone Gate. For the next 1¼ miles, you now follow the wall on the right across Slatepit Rigg, passing below a group of cairns (SE 993725).

At the first gate on the right, if you do not mind a 2/300 yard steep grassy descent and return, it is worth a diversion to see Rain Hole Pot (SD 991722). Go through the gate and turn right at about 45° until you see a wall ahead of you. Turn left and descend. The large depression of Rain Hole Pot will soon become obvious. Return the same way to the main path.

Just beyond the Rain Hole Pot gate are a number of rocks which make a suitable perch for lunch. There is also a superb flat rock “bench” just beyond the next gate at SD 997711.

Go over a ladder stile on the right (SD 998709) and the obvious path goes downhill. After the steepest section ends, look out for the rock resembling a face on the left. Ignore the path off to the left to another ladder stile. The path splits. Keep to the left hand fork.

This is a section where tyre tracks confuse and the easiest solution is to simply follow the line of the wall on the right. Continue to follow the wall and as you catch sight of some conifer trees ahead, the track bends right through a gateway (SD 985704). It descends to a gateway and stile at the edge of the trees. Go through the trees, following  the fingerpost for Kettlewell. You are now on part of The Dalesway.

Follow the track to the road and turn right.

Walk along the road, passing Scargill House and as it bends left, take the footpath on the right through a walkers gate signposted Kettlewell ⁵/₈ mile. As you are on the Dalesway, a mixture of obvious stiles, fingerposts and yellow blobs guide the way. If in any doubt, some power lines will be just to your left all the way to Kettlewell until you reach a Dalesway fingerpost sending you 90° left under them. Ignore the gated stile on the right at this point.

Turn right at the broad walled track into the village, going left at Fold Farm.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.