Littondale Day Walk

FRCC – a mid-week day walk offer 2026

A LATE SPRING/ EARLY SUMMER WALK IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES

By Presidential request, a repeat of the June 2022 Dales Walk

Richard and Jane Hargreaves live in Hawkswick, Littondale and invite you to join them for a 10 mile walk on the fells along the south-west side of Littondale, starting and finishing in Arncliffe. You won’t find this walk in any guidebook; it is Richard’s cunning and devious route to link the two highest pimples between Littondale and Pendle Hill, i.e. Parsons Pulpit and Point.531 ((Near Proctor High Mark) without having to climb any walls.

Details:

Date: Thursday 11th June (to catch the last of the spring flowers)

Venue: Park and meet outside the Falcon Inn on Arncliffe village green. In good time for a 10.30am start.

Route: Up the Monks Road public footpath towards Malham Tarn – at Dewbottom ancient settlement left ‘south-east to Parsons Pulpit 538m – trackless walking to the highest part of the Street Gate/Arncliffe Cote bridleway (Escape route back to Arncliffe if you’ve had enough!) – Lee Gate High Mark 392m – down steeply to Cow Gill, small dry valley, to the Rocking Stone GR 928675 – nice lunch spot – south-east beside the wall to a fiddly little gate ** for access to farm vehicle track up to Proctor High Mark and nameless .531m GR938676– down over Hawkswick Clowder ( = a mass of rocks) via limestone pavements to Hawkswick stone men (lots of cairns) – down to the road by Warren House GR956700 – 200m right on tarmac to public footpath left to Hawkswick village – TEA AND CAKE IN THE HARGREAVES’ GARDEN – finally footpath through fields and beside the river Skirfare to Arncliffe 2 miles.

** ‘Crux’ of the walk! After 2022 this small ‘sheepgate’ became impassably blocked with a wooden pallet, masses of string and wire and a hefty stone either side on the ground. It is a gateway shared by two farmers, one of whom I know quite well. When asked if I could untangle it to let my FRCC group through he said, “Please don’t.” The alternative is to walk down the long field, Tommy High Pasture, to Mastiles Lane, then left past some sheep pens to a proper gateway to the farm vehicle track. This route would add about a mile to the walk length. However, on another recce two weeks ago the ‘crux’ gate was relatively clear of

wire and string. President Wendy has offered to bring her ‘artificial aid’, a portable stile! We’ll try that and if it doesn’t work we’ll do the Mastiles Lane option.

Some features of this walk:

· Mostly off-piste but almost all in open access land – some quite bumpy bits but no real “yomping”

· Flowers – look out for hillside pink with Birds’ Eye Primrose/ Primula Farinosa and orchids galore – we hope!

· Wide, spacious views in all directions

· The ’Inukshuk’ at Lee Gate High Mark

· Limestone pavement more fun than Malham Cove and with no people or litter either

· Put your swimming togs in the car for refreshing dip in Cowside Beck at the end. 5+ minutes walk from the village green in Arncliffe. Skinny dipping? No, it’s too public.

Contact: please tell Richard and Jane if you are interested and confirm later.

Strand House, Hawkswick, Skipton BD23 5QA – 01756 770346 – strand@hawkswick.net