Stainforth Force, Catrigg Force, Attermire Scar & Warrendale Knotts

Route: Langcliffe, Stainforth, Pennine Bridleway, Catrigg Force, Winskill Stones, Cowside, Jubilee Cave, Victoria Cave, Brent Scar, Attermire Scar, Warrendale Knotts

Date: 09/09/2018
From: Langcliffe

Parking: Langcliffe
Start Point: Langcliffe
Region: Yorkshire Dales

Route length:  miles (12.2 km)
Time taken: 03:20
Average speed: 2.3 mph
Ascent: 448m
Descent: 446m

Summits: None

Other points of interest: Stainforth Force, Catrigg Force, Winskill Stones, Jubilee Cave, Victoria Cave, Attermire Scar, Warrendale Knotts

The Craven Fault is a series of geological fault lines which run along the southern and western edges of the Yorkshire Dales and includes the North Craven Fault, the Mid Craven Fault and the South Craven Fault. It is a wonderful place to walk and includes many of the Yorkshire Dales' finest features; Malham Cove and Cross Field Knotts to name a couple. Our highlights would be the scars at Attermire and the interesting Warrendale Knotts. Throw in a few waterfalls and caves and you have a classic Dales day out.

We started from Langcliffe, a small village which sits on the border of the National Park. We joined the Ribble Way, another long-distance route along the length of the River Ribble, making our way along the river banks towards Stainforth. I must admit that this leg of the walk is fairly uninteresting though it takes you close to the immense Stainforth Scar. There was also Stainforth Force to look forward to.

Langcliffe Mill

The River Ribble

Weir on the River Ribble

The Ribble Way

Stainforth Force is a fine waterfall, very close to the village of Stainforth (which should not come as a surprise). It is where the River Ribble tumbles over a series of cascades much like Aysgarth Falls near Hawes. Today it was absolutely roaring and make for quite a sight. Just upstream of the falls is an old packhorse bridge, a single span bridge dating from 1672. On 23rd September 1931, the bridge was transferred into the care of the National Trust.

Stainforth Force

Stainforth Force and the packhorse bridge

The packhorse bridge

Above Stainforth Force

From Stainforth, we took the Pennine Bridleway as it initially climbs steeply out of the village before wending its way across open fields towards Catrigg Force. The Pennine Bridleway is a recent long distance route designed to complement the famous Pennine Way by allowing horseriders and cyclists to make the 200-mile journey through the Pennine hills.

Stainforth

Stainforth

The Pennine Bridleway

The Pennine Bridleway

You'd be forgiven for walking past Catrigg Force were it not signposted. It's craftily hidden in a deep ravine which makes it all the more spectacular. You can stand right on the precipice of the 6m drop before making your way down into the depths to see the waterfalls full height. After hanging around for lunch, we returned back to the bridleway to continue across Winskill Stones.

The path down to Catrigg Force

Catrigg Force

Catrigg Force

Catrigg Force

Winskill Stones is an area of limestone grassland and limestone pavement, one of Britain’s most threatened habitats. It is a National Nature Reserve overseen by an advisory group which includes representatives from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the farming community and local residents.

Pen y Ghent makes an appearance

The path at Winskill Stones

Winskill Stones

Winskill Stones

The weather begins to clear

The path reaches the Langcliffe - Malham road, a superb drive if you're in the area, which we used to make our way to Jubilee Cave on the fringes of Langcliffe Scar. Jubilee Cave is very modest in size though gave us a much-needed respite from the cold wind that was blowing in from the northwest. It is, however, overshadowed by the monstrous Victoria Cave which is hidden up the hillside at Brent Scar.

Brent Scar and Warrendale Knotts

Brent Scar

Add caption

If waterfalls and caves weren't enough already, the next part of the walk was equally as impressive; a wander through Brent Scar and Attermire Scar, a ravine that runs out through the exposed limestone and provides an excellent route back towards Settle. Attermire Scar is a high limestone cliff which forms part of the Craven Fault in the hills beyond Settle.

Attermire Scar

Attermire Scar

Attermire Scar

 The path heads into Attermire Scar, a large geological fault that isolates Warrendale Knotts on the opposite side from the rest of the fault. Attermire Scar formed part of a gigantic subterranean cliff face which arose from the sea approximately 200 million years ago.

Warrendale Knotts

Warrendale Knotts

Warrendale Knotts

After rounding the bottom of the scar, a short uphill section leads beneath Warrendale Knotts towards Settle before a swift descent towards the town. Prior to actually reaching Settle, however, another bridleway serves as an easy route back to Langcliffe.

Settle

The Ribble valley

Stainforth Scar