Last Sunday we decided to take Hugo on a proper long walk ie somewhere different to the usual trudge down the fields and back. After checking the weather forcast we grabbed our walking boots and headed for the Dales, where it was meant to stay dry until at least after lunch. 😉
I had found an 8km ( 5 mile) walk starting from the village of Stainforth near Settle in a Northern Eye book called Top 10 walks to WATERFALLS. The route takes in two waterfalls Catrigg Force and Stainforth Force as well as moorland and riverside. We parked at the pay and display car park in the village and followed the ‘Pennine Bridleway’ up the fellside.
It wasn’t long before we came upon Catrigg Force, tumbling 50ft down into Stainforth Beck. The falls and surrounding area were explored often by composer Sir Edward Elgar, who would stay in nearby Settle when visiting his friend and fellow musician Dr Charles Buck. Maybe the peaceful Yorkshire Dales inspired his compositions…
You may be wandering why I am dangling a pink and green toy dog over a waterfall?? This is Sybil and these cute stuffed dogs are made by a group on facebook called Hounds4Huntingtons in exchange for donations to the Huntington’s Disease Association. Sybils love adventures so I shall take her on a few of mine. If you like , check out their facebook page or Sybil_On_Tour on Instagram. 😁
After admiring the waterfall we continued on until Higher Winskill Farm where we had to walk through a field of these magnificent beasts! They seemed quite interested in us but pretty friendly.
I think we took a wrong turn at Higher Winskill and we ended up on the moorland road that leads into the village of Langcliffe , instead of taking a footpath there. Luckilly the road was quiet and the scenery lovely. The rain was moving in however and by the time we got to Langcliffe it was pouring down.
Langcliffe looked a nice village but disappointingly there was nowhere to shelter from the bad weather. No pub, no cafe and no shop. 😦 We persevered on , crossing a railway and a weir over the river Ribble.
The rest of the walk followed the Ribble, a river that flows through my hometown of Clitheroe as well. We continued on past a caravan site and eventually we were rewarded with the cascading Stainforth Force and an old pack horse bridge. Happilly by this time the rain stopped long enough to pose for a few photos. 😁
After crossing the old packhorse bridge we followed the short road back to Stainforth itself to complete our waterfall walk.
Have you any waterfalls near you? What is your favourite waterfall walk?
sunshine and celandines 
Shame about the weather! I love a waterfall walk. 🙂 🙂 (I’ve put it in on Monday)
Thanks Jo. I love waterfall walks too . I still need to visit that one you go through a pub to, that you did. X
I should wait till the weather warms up. 🙂 🙂 It was bleak when we did it (and it’s snowing here at present)
Oooh snow! Cold here too..x
I like the sound of that book! We don’t have the time to go out walking at the moment but I do hope to make it up for it once we’ve moved house! I’m sure we did a walk past Higher Winkskill once and we’ve definitely walked to Stainforth Force on a different occasion but haven’t ever visited Catrigg – one for the list!
The book is very handy. Will definitely look into doing some more waterfall walks! X
My favourite waterfall walk is probably a walk here on Dartmoor to the East Dart Waterfall, the waterfall is tiny but the walk is lovely. https://treksandtors.co/2015/11/29/east-dart-waterfall-3/
Thanks for taking us on the walk, & although your probably don’t know, but that is my favourite place, The Dales. We did a walk in Gargrave last year & I’ve lots of DVD’s, books & literature on Yorkshire. I get quite homesick for there, even though I’m Australian, & the walk brought a lot of smiles from me. Have a great weekend & take care.
Thats so nice to know Susan. We love the Dales too. So great for walking and camping. Xx
Looks a lovely walk. David and I take wrong turns all the time. Think we need to take an orientating course lol Lovely photos as usual, and a shame Langcliffe didn’t have any shops! x
So do we! Always take a wrong turn. It was definitely a shame that there was no where to take cover from the weather. X
That church! Just beautiful.
It did look a nice little church. X
Lovely walk – although, even though I’m a country girl, I’m not a fan of cows – have been chased by them far too many times. Had to smile at Hugo and the stone style. I know it can can be difficult with a big do when you find a fence with a style in it – especially if it’s slippy – but he looks to have licked that one 🙂
Cows never used to make me nervous. Having grown up on a farm I always took walking through a field of cows in my stride. Nowadays I’m usually a little nervous……but only because of stories in the media, not through experience. Hugo has always been rubbish at stiles but is getting better. Xx
Then I’d better shut up or I’ll make you worse.
Bless Hugo xx
Tee hee. I am better than alot of people. But I guess its better to be cautious. These cows were just curious and totally fine. X
Great blog! 🙂
Thank you so much. 😁
Nice looking countryside. Cheers