Tag: UK Hiking

Simon’s Seat Circular Hike

August 12th, 2025

Simon’s Seat, an excellent walk in the Yorkshire Dales, can be approached via the Valley of Desolation. This alternative, 14km circular route starts from nearby to Stump Cross Caverns and takes walkers through a changing landscape. You’ll see rolling moorland, hidden valleys and gritstone outcrops, ending in panoramic views from the summit of Simon’s Seat. Read the full guide below and download the route.

😮Difficulty: Moderate – some steep sections leading up to Simon’s Seat and boggy terrain along the moorland. Otherwise clear paths with some sections of well maintained track. Good confidence with route needed.

⛰️Terrain: a mix of road, stone tracks, moorland, paved paths

↔️Distance: 14km/8.7miles

⌛Time taken: 4-5hrs

📈Ascent: 455m

Start point: Lay-by parking near Stump Cross Caverns

🗺️Click here for the OS downloadable route

🗺️Map needed is OS Explorer OL2

🗺️Click here for the Komoot downloadable route

Car parking and starting the route

The route starts at a free layby on the B6265 near Stump Cross Caverns

Public transport option:

Public transport is limited but there is a bus that stops at Stump Cross Caverns. The Dales Bus 822, runs from Pocklington, York, Boroughbridge and Ripon. Find out more and get the bus timetable here.

Simon’s Seat circular hike details

Begin your hike by parking in the layby just below Stump Cross Caverns on the B6265. This is a great showcave that’s worth a visit, with plenty of underground passages to explore. They also have a fabulous cafe that serves a delicious afternoon tea too. From the layby, follow the road downhill for a few minutes to join the bridleway on the left. Head through the gate and follow the stony track called Black Hill Road. The climb is gradual and as you gain height, the landscape opens up to reveal Simon’s Seat directly in front of you, towering over the valley.

This is an area of disused mines and shake holes but you don’t have to worry about them as you’ll just continue following the track. Soon you’ll descend via a tarmaced road on your right into the tiny hamlet of High Skyreholme. There are a few houses here and route takes you through a gate on the left between two buildings. This feels wrong, and like you’re trespassing, but I promise this is a public footpath! Head through a second gate and over the river via a bridge, into open farm fields.

After crossing the fields diagonally and over a stile, you’ll meet the main track where you switch back towards the farm and follow the public footpath, signposted to Simon’s Seat and Barden Moor.

The ascent is short but sharp to the summit of Simon’s Seat, zigzagging up through moorland thick with heather and rocky outcrops until you emerge onto the open summit plateau.

The Summit of Simon’s Seat

At 485 metres, the trig on Simon’s Seat is set on a jumble of giant gritstone boulders perched on a high ridge, offering spectacular views in all directions. On a clear day, you’ll see down into Wharfedale and Nidderdale. As for the name Simon’s Seat, legend has it that a local shepherd named Simon would rest here and one day found a baby on the summit. The summit is a great place to explore, hopping across the rocks and choosing the perfect location for lunch, sheltered from the wind that frequently buffets the summit.

The route back to Stump Cross Caverns

From Simon’s Seat, follow the paved moorland track heading towards Lord’s Seat and Little Simon’s Seat, two rocky outcrops you can’t miss in the distance. One you reach these outcrops, the path becomes grassy and faint and in wet weather, very boggy underfoot. However, depending on the time of year you visit, swathes of cotton grass or purple heather, will make this section of the walk slightly more bearable if you end up having to dodge the bogs.

Continue along the same path toward Great Pock Stones, another cluster of weathered gritstone boulders rising from the moor. These formations are often overlooked, but they’re a great spot for a second break and provide a last glimpse back at Simon’s Seat before you begin the descent.

From Great Pock Stones, follow the bridleway that curves gently downhill.. The route gradually changes from a stony track, with Simon’s Set now in front of you and to your left, back to farmland. Be sure to check your route or map here as it can be easy to take the wrong path at a junction with three choices. Head through the hate but instead of following the tract, head off on a slight right to take you through farmland, over a stile and back down Craven Moor to the main road in the distance.

Eventually, you’ll rejoin the road near where you began with just a short walk back down the road to your car.

Is Simon’s Seat suitable for beginners?

Simon’s Seat is a moderate hike and good fitness is required. The elevation to the summit can feel steep but once you’re up, the rest of the route is relatively flat and downhill. Some navigation skills are needed here so either have the route on a map or download it to your phone using either the Ordnance Survey App or Komoot.

Are there facilities for the Simon’s Seat circular hike?

The only facilities are at Stump Crosss Caverns, near where you park. They have a cafe and toilets on site.

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Be sure to let me know if you do this hike or if you have any questions. Just leave them below and I’ll be happy to help, where possible!
Moel Siabod via the Daear Ddu Ridge; a spectacular grade 1 scramble

June 7th, 2024
Moel Siabod, pronounced “Moil Shabod”, sits alone just above the village of Dolwyddelan in the Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). At 872m high, it’s an imposing sight as the main path winds up out of the trees. At first glance, hiking up it can seem a daunting task. This 9.4km route will lead you up the grade 1 Daear Ddu ridge onto the summit before heading down the crest of the mountain. It also includes two fabulous wild swimming spots.

Moel Siabod start point and parking location

To start the hike up Moel Siabod, park your car in either the free roadside parking just outside Capel Curig or in the car park next to Bryn Glo holiday home.

How difficult is the walk up Moel Siabod?

Moel Siabod isn’t too difficult if you’re a regular hiker and used to the hills. The incline is gradual for the first section to the start of the ridge and the paths are well maintained. The ridge is a grade 1 scramble which means you may need to steady yourself with your hands at times. There isn’t an obvious path along the ridge but there aren’t any technical moves either. If you have done other grade 1 scrambles such as Helvellyn or Sharpe Edge, then this will feel much easier.

How long is the hike up Moel Siabod?

Expect this route to take around 4 hours to complete however this doesn’t take into account rest stops. There are also a couple of wild swimming spots on Moel Siabod so add this onto your total time too.

The Daear Ddu Ridge hiking route and map

Moel Siabod route on OS Map App – download it here.

1: Parking at either the roadside layby outside of Capel Curig or larger parking area next to Bryn Glo holiday home

Following the road alongside the river, turn left over the bridge that crosses the river and follow the road. As soon as you reach the few houses of Pont Cyfyng, cut up the track on the right. This will take you through the woodland.

The first section is a steep shock but it’s over with quickly and then it’s a nice gradual incline for the rest of the way. The path takes an obvious left turn with some PRIVATE KEEP OUT signs you can’t miss. Eventually, you’ll make your way out of the tree line and see Moel Siabod for the first time.

It really is a beautiful mountain – rocky outcrops burst out from the side of the mountain and she stands so tall, dominating the surrounding view.

2: Lower reservoir/lake – perfect swim spot!

Follow the obvious path over a stile and keep left when the path splits. You’ll quickly reach the lower reservoir, which I confused to be a lake at first. The quarry workings are visible above and that’s where the path leads you to next. I recommend stopping for a swim here. The water warms up under the sunshine and right next to the path are a few safe entry points.

3: Disused quarry with ruined buildings and quarry pool for another wild swim

Continuing to follow the path you’ll soon meet the disused slate quarry buildings. It’s worth a little look around the buildings here before carrying on up, past the left side of the flooded quarry pit. This is another great wild swimming spot.

4. Start of the ascent up the Daear Ddu ridge

Gradually the path will rise leading you to Llyn y Foel – a beautiful mountain lake. This is made even more spectacular with the imposing Daear Ddu ridge alongside it. It may look challenging but it is much easier than it looks. As the path curves round to the left, look out for a little path showing the obvious starting point for tackling the ridge.

The Daear Ddu ridge is an exciting route and the views get more and more spectacular the higher up you get. There aren’t any tricky moves on the ridge but be sure to have a head for heights and confience with your balance and scrambling abilities.

The scramble is short and the path disappears at times meaning you have to choose the best route yourself so confidence in route choosing is a good skill to have for this one.

5: The summit of Moel Siabod

As you reach the top of the ridge, the view is spectacular with 360 sweeping views. The trig will reveal itself on the summit and in the distance, on a clear day you can see Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

6: The ridge descending down from Moel Siabod

There are a couple of options for heading back down but this route follows the crest of the mountain. This section is made up of large boulders but there is no scrambling involved and a faint path appears every now and again. Eventually you meet a short scree path section and the path descends quickly heading back towards the first reservoir.

Eventually, you’ll reach the starting point just below the reservoir and from here it’s as simple as retracing your steps back to the car park.

Is the Daear Ddu route good?

This is a fabulous route if you enjoy a scramble and one which is away from the crowds. I really enjoyed it and had a fabulous day, and the weather helped too! The views are stunning and the route is really varied. Plus, having two options of a swim spot is always a bonus, right?

Moel Siabod on the Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for hiking the Daear Ddu Ridge
- Although this is a much quieter area of Eryri, the parking areas can still fill up quickly so arrive early to secure a space
- There are no facilities on this route
- You can avoid the ridges if you wanted to by continuing past the first ridge and following the path up then from the summit, following the path down to the tree line and the river instead
- The scramble up the Daear Ddu ridge is a grade 1 scramble which you will have to self-navigate as the path disappears for the scrambling sections
- If you choose to wild swim in the quarry pool, be mindful that it’s deep and cold. Quarry pools aren’t always the safest places to swim in due to hidden machinery, dead animals or hidden currents/tunnels
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A quiet Lake District hike with big views; Allen Crags and Glaramara

April 17th, 2024
Popular with walkers tackling England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, this part of the Lake District is notoriously crowded on a nice day with hoards of people heading for the country’s highest point. However, hidden in plain sight is the wonderful Glaramara which provides stunning 360 degree views of the nearby popular peaks, a variety of terrain and a feeling of wildness and remoteness. This is a beautiful area of the Lake District and if you enjoy a big mountain hike with some challenging ascent and the reward of some of the best views around then this Lake District hike isn’t one you’ll want to miss.

Route details for Glaramara, Lake District

The hike starts in the idyllic Borrowdale Valley area of the Lake District, known for being popular amongst climbers for its lower level crags, the stunning shores of Derwentwater, tiny, picturesque hamlets, wild swimming locations and its fabulous hiking. Regardless of whether you start at Seatoller National Trust Car Park or Seathwaite Farm, your first aim is to head out the back of the farm following the stony track and up the valley towards Stockley Bridge.

Stockley Bridge, an 19th century packhorse bridge, takes you across Grain’s Gill and the beautifully clear blue-green water. It’s also a great place for a wild swim here FYI – either in the pool just down from the bridge or just behind the bridge is what, if you really use your imagination, could be described as a jacuzzi (but just much colder).

After crossing Stockley Bridge, head through the game and turn left following the stepped stone path up the hillside tracking Grain’s Gill to your left. If you have time, there are some incredible plunge pools, waterfalls and swim spots along Grain’s Gill that are well worth seeking out if you have the time! If not, then the path gradually winds its way uphill towards the looming mountain in the distance. It gets steeper the higher you rise but eventually it flattens out at the top revealing the most stunning view back down the valley the way you came and further out towards Derwentwater.

Once you reach the head of the valley, following the path left will lead you to another set off crossroads. Take a time to really reflect on your surroundings here. Behind you, you’ve got Great Gable, to your right, Great End and Ill Crag as well as Scafell Pike behind them all, in front of you is Bowfell and down into the Langdale Valley with the iconic rounded top of Pike of Stickle and to your left, the way you’ll be heading is up to Allen Crags and Glaramara. Once you’ve enjoyed taking in your surroundings, head up the path to your left and you’ll soon be on the summit of Allen Crags, marked with a small rocky cairn and with views down to Great Gable and Sprinkling Tarn.

After leaving the summit of Allen Crags, you’ll be able to see the long path ahead of you. The path here isn’t obvious and occasionally seems to disappear so if the bad weather came in here, this is something you’ll need good navigation skills for. The walk along the top here is rocky in patches but also boggy as it passes smaller tarns and winds its way along the top. Eventually, you’ll reach a small scramble bringing you out towards the summit of Glaramara.

The views from Glaramara are once again spectacular so it’s worth enjoying a stop here for lunch. It feels isolated here and the views down to the Borrowdale Valley are spectacular. There’s then a small rocky scramble down the mound of rocks on the summit of Glaramara before following the path over towards Raven Crag and Thronythwaite Fell. The path leads down the ridgeline of Thronythwaite and towards Combe Gill. There is a lovely little waterfall to enjoy here before the path leads you back to the main road where you can either head back to your car at Seatoller or walk down path behind the back of the campsite back down to Seathwaite Farm.

Map and key locations for Glaramara hike

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Parking at Seathwaite Farm to start the hike. Additional parking also available at Seatoller National Trust Car Park.

2: Stockley Bridge and the start of the ascent up Grain’s Gill – some great wild swimming spots here

3: Meeting point of paths – turn left

4. Path veers off to the left taking you towards the rocky summit of Glaramara

5: The summit of Glaramara

6: The ridge descending down from Throneythwaite Fell

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for hiking Glaramara
- Parking at Seathwaite Farm can be tricky on a nice day as it fills up quickly. There are also roadside parking places along Styhead Pass on the way to the farm but these also fill up quickly. Arrive early and park respectfully to allow other vehicles to pass
- Optional start point is at Seatoller Car Park.
- There are toilets at Seathwaite Farm but these are the only facilities on the route
- The Borrowdale Rambler bus service runs from Keswick to Seatoller so you can access this hike via public transport
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Lake District sunrise hike; Yew Crag

April 2nd, 2024

Yew Crag should be a Lake District walk that’s on sunrise walk list. The walk is an easy and short but the views are spectacular over Ullswater. It can also be easily be extended into a longer one or tied in with the beautiful Aira Force waterfall. Read on for all the route details for this Lake District sunrise hike up Yew Crag, how to get there and how to extend your walk.

Where is Yew Crag in the Lake District?

Yew Crag is a small but stunning viewpoint which overlooks Ullswater and the Eastern Fells. It is best reached from the National Trust Car Park for Aira Force with just a 45 minute walk. On a calm and sunny day, the water sparkles and the mountains loom in the distance; it really is absolutely beathtaking.

Lake District sunrise hike; Yew Crag route and maps

From the car park, head out the back past the visitor centre and through the woodlands. Be sure to keep the river on your right. Eventually, you reach a wooden bridge; cross over the river and head up through the woodland. Keep slightly right and pass through a wooden swing gate.

The path then heads right before meeting a junction where you need to take the higher path to the left. This rises gradually onto the hillside. Stay on this path and eventually you’ll reach Yew Crag. You’ll know you’re there because there’s a little gate to go through to get onto the rocky viewpoint. Be sure to regularly look back behind you to take in the views!

From here, you have a couple of options; head back down the same way or follow the path underneath Yew Crag. This will take you back to the car park.

Downloadable map routes for Yew Crag

Here’s the loop on OS maps and the link to download the route;

Or, if you have time, I would instead recommend a slightly different route. From the car park head up through the woods to Aira Force waterfall following the signs for Gowbarrow Fell. From that summit you can loop back down, past Yew Crag and to the car park. This is a longer 7km ish walk. Here’s the route on OS maps with the link to download the map.

For an incredible Lake District sunrise hike, Yew Crag should definitely be on your list! You can easily spend half a day in this area and Aira Force is worth a visit to see the waterfall. You can even swim in the higher falls; check out my previous blog post for how to find the swim spot here.

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Jubilee and Victoria Cave from Langcliffe

March 19th, 2024
Looking for some of the best caves to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park? Jubilee and Victoria Cave are both free to visit and are in a wonderful location on Attermire Scar. The caves are family friendly and easy to access from multiple start points. This 6.8km walk starts in Langcliffe and visits both caves but be sure to keep an eye out for other hidden caves. Get the full route and downloadable OS map here.

Jubilee and Victoria Cave overview

Jubilee and Victoria Cave from Langcliffe route details

Starting in the village of Langcliffe from the parking area, the route starts with some steep uphill walking all the way towards Jubilee Cave. Turn left out of the parking area and head uphill until you see a path through a wooden gate. It is signposted so follow this path uphill following the wall.

The path winds its way to the right before heading higher up the hillside towards some trees in the distance. Eventually, you’ll meet up with the road again but it’s a right turn here and onto a maintained farm track.

Carry on walking and head straight past the farm buildings on your right until you reach a gate. Head straight through the gate and towards the rocky outcrop ahead of you. You’ll need to retrace some of these steps later so remember this gate! Keep an eye out for a ladder stile on the left as just ahead of this is Jubilee Cave, slightly up the hill. The right hand entrance is just in sight and you’ll need to detour off the path to reach it.

How to find Jubilee Cave

Jubilee Cave has a double entrance and the main passage is split into two parallel tunnels separated by a wall. The right hand entrance is easy to walk straight into and goes back around 20 metres or so until you reach a dead end. Look to your right and you’ll see some sunlight creeping through and if you look to your left there’s a little “window” in the rock which allows you to see through into the other passage. The left entrance requires a bit of a duck down to avoid hitting your head on the rocks as the roof is a little lower in there. It’s only small but it’s still a fun place to explore and the photo opportunity from inside the cave looking out onto the countryside is one not to be missed.

One of the things I geek out over with caves is the history behind them and Jubilee is a right corker of a history lesson! In the late 19th century, archaeological excavations took place in the cave and the findings were impressive; not only were artefacts from when the Romans ruled found here but there were also materials from as far back as the Iron Age and Mesolithic era discovered in the cave! It’s crazy to imagine how this landscape was used all those years ago.

How to find Victoria Cave

Once you’ve explored the cave, it’s time to head back the way you came, down the track and back towards that gate I told you to remember. Once you reach the gate, the path heads left up the hillside and through a wooden swinging gate before following a stone wall on your right hand side. After a few minutes, you’ll see a step, well trodden path cutting up the grassy bank to the left. Follow this and you’ll reach Victoria Cave.

Victoria Cave history

Its huge entrance was discovered by chance in 1837 and got its name from the then Queen Victoria. Its discovery is quite a story. A man named Michael Horner discovered it when he crawled inside a small hole in search of his dog. As he squirmed through, he discovered the bones of animals, coins and metal objects. After further excavation years later, archaeologists found the fossilised bones of elephants and hippos as well as more Roman artefacts. This whole area would have once been covered in a tropical sea near the equator!

The entrance we go through today is actually an excavated one and the original entrance first discovered is up to the right of the cave. The main chamber inside is huge but completely natural; it’s just the entrance that has been opened up.

Once you’re inside the chamber, be sure to look up and back behind you to really get a sense of the scale of this place. There’s a sign and a metal bar about half way in the cave advising you not to go further; this is because of the risk of falling rocks.

To leave this cave, head back out and this time look for a path heading down the slope to the left. Follow this path all the way until there is a gap in the wall where you turn right.

Attermire Scar

The section you’ve just walked under is Attermire Scar – also known for lots of hidden caves. One of the most well known is Attermire Cave, the keyhole in the rock race high up on the scar.

I ventured up there once with my dog Ricoh and the views are insane from up here. However, this isn’t a cave you should venture into without a professional so best to admire it from a distance.

The route back to Langcliffe

The way back is relatively straightforward and you just need to follow the path alongside the wall before it cuts right slightly towards the rock face and carries on downhill until you can see the town of Settle in the distance. Be sure to follow the path right when you meet a wall with the option of only going right or left. Left will take you into Settle and right is what you want – back to Langcliffe. You’ll come out exactly where you started, just up from the car park.

Map and Key locations for Victoria and Jubilee Caves

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Starting location for the walk from the parking area in Langcliffe

2: Jubilee Cave

3: Victoria Cave

4. The base of Attermire Scar

5: Optional trig point

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

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Top Tips for Jubilee and Victoria Cave
- If the parking area is full in Langcliffe there are a couple of other options; there’s a small parking lot at Winskill Stones Nature Reserve which starts higher up and closer to Jubilee Cave or there’s also ample parking in Settle at Greenfoot Car Park although you will have to adapt your route slightly if you choose to park in either of these
- Please be mindful that caves are dangerous places and even though these are open to the public, be sure to adhere to all warning signs and not to cross any safety barriers
- Remember to take a headtorch!
- There are no facilities on route
- There is a trig point that you could make an optional visit to – the best way to do this is after visiting Victoria Cave by following the fence line up for a short while and then using your navigation skills to reach the trig.
For more UK hiking routes check out the rest of my website or check out my Instagram page.

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Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss walk

February 14th, 2024
It’s highly unlikely that you’ve never heard of the Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, and Janet’s Foss walk. Amongst the top ten geological wonders of Britain, it’s no surprise that people revisit over and over again. This 14km loop takes in all the main sights. From the limestone pavement of Malham Cove, onwards to Malham Tarn, down to the huge ravine of Gordale Scar and finally to the waterfall known as Janet’s Foss. You can get the full route and download the map here.

Walking route for Malham Cove

Depending on where you choose to park to start the hike, the towering limestone cliffs of Malham Cove will be your first stop. After heading along the main road through and out the village, you can’t really go wrong here; there’s a few different paths to Malham Cove but I prefer to take the Pennine Way path that cuts in front of the YHA; even on a busy day this route always seems to be quieter and I enjoy being higher up than the main path which runs along Malham Beck. This part of the Pennine Way is a short section making up part of the 268 mile route which runs from the Scottish border all the way down to the Derbyshire hills and as you get closer to Malham Cove, the huge curved limestone cliff dominates the view.

Malham Cove

The limestone cliffs that make up “The Cove” as it’s affectionately known in the Yorkshire Dales, tower 80m into the air and span a whopping 300m wide. It’s no wonder that Malham Cove appears in the top ten geological wonders of Britain and this route will take you right to the bottom of it. Look up (but not for too long because that neck strain will start to kick in) and keep an eye out for climbers here too. This spectacular limestone cliff is well loved and a popular spot with hikers so don’t be shocked if you have to share the view with a rather large crowd but even with others around you, it’s impossible not to stop and appreciate the sheer size and beauty of The Cove.

From the bottom, it’s not obvious the treat which awaits you at the top of the cliffs. Once you’re ready, follow the path that leads around to the left to a set of around 400 stone steps heading uphill. I know, I know – 400 steps! They’ll get your heart racing for sure but take your time and I promise you that what’s at the top is worth every single step.

The limestone pavement of Malham Cove formed after the last ice age by meltwater mostly from Malham Tarn. A large waterfall would have once flowed over the edge of the cove but today, any water disappears into the hidden cave systems and the stream from Malham Tarn disappears around a mile from here. The limestone blocks make up this pavement which has been characterised by erosion and weathering from the elements and you might recognise it if you’re a Harry Potter fan as it appeared in The Deathly Hallows film.

Heading to Malham Tarn

The view down the valley back towards Malham from here is spectacular on a nice day and as you hop, skip (or simply walk) along the limestone blocks, you’ll see that the path of The Pennine Way heads away from the top of the cove. Following this will lead you through a rocky area known as Dry Valley and between Ing Scar, the site of a settlement which dates from the Iron-Age onwards. Once further along, the path cuts to the right and around the side of Comb Hill and brings you out onto more open ground with Malham Tarn not too far ahead of you.

Malham Tarn

Malham Tarn, a glacial lake and officially classed as a nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to an abundance of wildlife and plants, is rarely busy. A road runs right near the tarn with a large parking area so you might see a few fellow walkers but on the whole, this is a peaceful area perfect for a lunch stop. If you do stop here on a nice day, please don’t be tempted to enter the water for a swim; this is a protected site and wild swimming is prohibited.

Malham Tarn is an incredibly important historical site with fascinating history behind it particularly during the Stone Age. As open water is rare in the area, it naturally attracted wildlife so hunters of the Stone Age descended on here to hunt. Along the shoreline, the remains of campsites and stone tools have even been found!

Take some time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings here before retracing your steps and following the footpath (it can get boggy here so be careful) along the grass opposite the car park for Malham Tarn.

Walking route to Gordale Scar

The path back down towards the other side of the top of Malham Cove won’t take you long however this is an area of water sinks so it can get extremely boggy in places. The path heads gently downhill alongside another rocky scar before bringing you out at the top of Malham Cove once again. It’s worth stopping here as the view over the whole of Malham Cove is breathtaking and you can really get a sense of the size of this natural wonder from here. Just don’t get too close to the edge as it’s quite the drop!

Heading away from Malham Cove, you’ll cross a road and traverse along the edge of a hill before reaching a road. There’s often a snack hut here so you can easily grab a little snack or a drink if it’s open before heading left and following the well maintained footpath just off the road which follows Gordale Beck. After roughly ten minutes you’ll reach the gorge known as Gordale Scar.

Gordale Scar

Formed during the ice age when glacial meltwater cut down through faults in the rock which carved it deeper and deeper over time. The gorge is incredibly deep and a waterfall rushes over the end finishing off the dramatic look.

The gorge dominates your viewpoint as you get closer and closer to the entrance and it’s easy to see why this is a place much loved and has been the source of inspiration for many pieces of literature and artwork.

The waterfall here provides a fun, and slippery, grade 1 scramble if you fancied it but for this route you’ll need to retrace your steps back out of the gorge towards the main road once again. It’s just a short walk to the beautiful waterfall of Janet’s Foss.

Walking route to Janet’s Foss

If you love a legend, then Janet’s Foss will be right up your street. If not, it’s a beautiful waterfall nestled in the woodland worth stopping at and is an excellent place for a wild swim so there really is something for everyone.

The waterfall, maybe unsurprisingly, gets its name from a local folk tale that claims the small waterfall is home to Janet; also known as Queen of the Fairies. Although the waterfall may seem at first peaceful and magical, dark secrets of witch craft and black magic lurk in the water. Some visitors claimed to have encountered an evil force which appears as a green mist on the water and and feeds off the aura of anyone in its path.

Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any evil forces on our trip here but I can confirm that the water was breathtakingly cold!

Your visit to Janet’s Foss marks the end of this circular route around the gems of Malham and all that’s left is to head away from the waterfall through the woodland and following the path which eventually leads you out to the bottom end of the village of Malham.

Map and key locations for Malham Cove walking route

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Parking in Malham

2: Base of Malham Cove with steps to left side leading up to the limestone pavement at the top

3: Malham Tarn

4. Gordale Scar

5. Janet’s Foss waterfall

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for Malham Cove, Goredale Scar and Janet’s Foss
- This is a very popular destination for hiking so the car park fills up quickly; get there super early or go during the off season.
- There’s some lovely little cafes and pubs in Malham which are worth visiting after your hike
- Take care on the limestone pavement at the top of Malham Cove; they can be very slippery in the wet and require sure footedness to cross
- Malham Tarn is home to a unique variety of plants and wildlife. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to internationally rare species so wild swimming is not permitted.
- Scrambling over the waterfall is Gordale Scar is an excellent route but it can be slippery and dangerous in the wrong conditions.
For more UK hiking routes check out the rest of my website or check out my Instagram page.

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Happy adventuring and here’s a bonus video of the walk…

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Family friendly walk in West Yorkshire; Hardcastle Crags, Gibson Mill and Lumb Falls circular

December 28th, 2023
A popular location for a beautiful Yorkshire walk is Hardcastle Crags, with over 15 miles of footpaths to choose from taking you through peaceful woodland, alongside flowing rivers, past a 19th century cotton mill, across moorland, through rugged valleys and to the beautiful Lumb Falls. This 9km circular route takes in all the best sites on this Yorkshire walk and can be done in either direction. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, solo explorer or a busy parent looking to take the kids somewhere, I guarantee that you’ll have a great day out at Hardcastle Crags. Just don’t forget to stop at the cafe on the way round for a cake and a cuppa.

Where is Hardcastle Crags?

Hardcastle Crags is located in West Yorkshire in the South Pennine Moors. Not far from Hebden Bridge, public transport links makes this walk a good option if you don’t drive or have access to a car although this will increase the distance of your overall walk. With over 15 miles of trails for you to explore, the National Trust have made it easy for you by providing a waymarked map with colour coded paths and ideas for different routes you can follow.

With so many beautiful sites to see in this area, I wanted a route that would combine a few routes together and allow us to see lots of the best sites in one go so keep reading for the route I followed and don’t forget to download the map.

Route Details for Hardcastle Crags walk

Leaving Midgehole Car Park, head downhill to the river as the first part of this walk takes you through a woodland paradise, which during Autumn is home to all the beautiful colours you would expect. The path follows alongside Hebden Water in the valley where the path is well maintained, although maybe a little muddy after some rain. It’s not long until you’ll reach the mill (around just 30 minutes) so enjoy your time in the woodland here – look out for squirrels and deer playing in the woodland too.

Gibson Mill

As you reach the mill from the woodland, you’ll see the back of it first (along with the cafe) and the old toll bridge used to cross the river. If you walk around the side to the mill pond, there’s a little path on the edge of the water that you can follow to get the beautiful reflection of the mill. Unfortunately it was covered in scaffolding when we visited but it’s still a beautiful site nonetheless.

Built in 1803 and used as a cotton mill with an internal water wheel, Gibson Mill has been through quite the transformation over the years. After the production of cotton ceased in 1890, the mill then became an entertainment venue before World War II offering visitors a dance hall, roller-skating and boating on the pond. Now, the National Trust maintains it while also providing an educational visitor centre where you can learn about its history.

Heading to Hardcastle Crags

From out the back of the mill, it’s a short ten minute stroll to Hardcastle Crags, a unique rocky outcrop which is signposted to the left. One thing that shocked me is that there was nobody else who had ventured further than the mill, with most people turning back around, maybe unaware of the crags not too much further along the path. Maybe they’d visited before but either way, we had this and the rest of the walk all to ourselves, which was a real treat for a nice Friday in the school holidays. The views from up here are beautiful and worth a quick stop before continuing with the walk.

Making your way to Lumb Falls

When we first arrived at the car park, the NT staff working there told me that they didn’t think there was a way to get across to Lumb Falls without coming back to the car park but I can assure you there is. Following the forestry track uphill through the woodlands we eventually reached a quiet road which we followed for just a few minutes before cutting right, following the public footpath towards Turn Hill. Navigation on this section is down to you as the path isn’t marked so I recommend downloading the Ordnance Survey or Komoot route or getting your map out to find your way.

This section really opened up the views for us and as we wandered across the boggy, squelchy moorland we couldn’t help but remark how wild this little section felt compared with the enclosed woodland we had just come from.

Eventually, after some successful navigation back to the path, we headed downhill and then down a steep grassy bank which led directly to Lumb Hole Waterfall.

Lumb Hole Waterfall

This little gem isn’t a hidden one and has been enjoyed by many for years as well as lots of wild swimmers. The two waterfalls cascade down over the slabs into a deep pool below and with the moss and fern growing around the outside it could be mistaken for somewhere more tropical (although the weather really ruins that thought).

During the summer months, Lumb Falls becomes crowded as visitors flock to this accessible waterfall so I’d definitely recommend leaving this one for out of season.

Returning to the car park

Heading back to the car park couldn’t be simpler. Retrace your steps away from the waterfall and follow the path along the hillside which leads you directly down the valley and back to where you started.

Map and key locations for Hardcastle Crags

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Parking at Midgehole National Trust Car Park

2: Through the woodlands alongside Hebden Beck

3: Gibson Mill & cafe

4: Hardcastle Crags and through the woodland

5: Following the path along Turn Hill

6. Heading back downhill towards Lumb Falls

7. Lumb Falls and a great swim spot if the river isn’t too fast flowing

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for walking around Hardcastle Crags and Lumb Falls
- The parking area fills up quickly at weekends and on nice days so arrive early
- There is a larger car park slightly further up the hill if the lower one is full
- There are visitor toilets nearby to the car park
- Collect a map from the welcome hut as you arrive – some of the popular routes are colour coded with matching waymarkers so you can choose your route and easily follow it.
- The cafe at Gibson Mill serves delicious cakes and food and a variety of hot and cold drinks and is the perfect place to stop
- The middle section of the route isn’t signposted so confident navigation will be needed – don’t forget to download the route to your phone before you go or use your map
- Lumb Falls is a great place for a swim but be careful if the river is in full flow
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Happy adventuring!

Izzy

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Peak District hike: circular route of Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

December 9th, 2023
If someone suggests a “scrambly hike” as a day out, you’d be forgiven for not first thinking of the Peak District as the obvious destination but the Peaks is actually home to some of the best UK hikes and scrambles of different grading thanks to the endless supply of rocky, bouldery brooks and cloughs which are often running dry. Although not as high or exposed as scrambles you might have seen or experienced in the Lake District, Snowdonia or Scotland, scrambling in the Peak District can actually be a much more fun, alternative way to explore the area. Plus, these routes are often quieter so you can really hone in on your explorer skills and feel at one with the outdoors amongst the tranquility of vast moorland. The circular route of Fairbrook Naze, The Edge, Nether Red Brook and Black Ashop Moor is what feels like a remote one and will keep you on your toes (literally and figuratively) throughout the day; enjoy wild swimming spots, slippery scrambles, bizarre rock formations, vast boggy moorland, river crossings and friendly sheep – this Peak District hike really has it all!

*A grade 1 scramble is classed as an easy scramble with simple route finding and no requirement for technical skills or ropes but you may need to use your hands and this route definitely requires that. The route is slippery over the rocks and sure footedness is required as a slip could easily result in injury.

How to hike Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

Starting at Snake Woodlands, the Nether Red Brook scramble can be done a couple of ways but is best tied in with Fairbrook Naze, a hike which I wrote about here. After scrambling up Fairbrook Naze and reaching the summit plateau famed for its fascinating (and totally random) rock formations, the walk from here along what’s known as The Edge (sounds like a budget rate horror film to me), takes you alongside many of these weird and wonderful formations including this one, which I tried, and ultimately failed, to climb.

After admitting defeat and soothing my bruised ego while my hiking companion giggled and rolled her eyes with that knowing look of “I knew you couldn’t do it”, we set back off along The Edge, a quieter part of the Kinder Scout plateau, making our way through more funky rock formations and along a well maintained path.

Glancing to the right, the views down towards Black Ashop Moor are ones that make you really feel like you’re deep in the wilderness (not just an hour or so from your car) but still, this area isn’t to be underestimated and it’s really important to understand that navigation in this area, when the weather comes in, can become incredibly challenging, especially if waymarkers disappear quicker than the white walkers in the fog (sorry if you’re not a Game Of Thrones fan – sorry that you’re NOT a fan that is).

Passing some more formations to make you go oooh, ahhhh you’ll eventually reach the top of Nether Red Brook where the path makes a turn left away from the edge and a right turn back towards it. There are no signs to mark this path which is why navigation is important or be sure to download the offline route to your phone from OS maps or Komoot. At the top of Nether Red Brook, the way down can seem unlikely but this scramble effectively follows the stream bed straight down.

Standing at the top of the rocky outcrop, not being able to see an obvious route down I questioned whether my map reading skills were really as accurate as I thought they were. Here I was, standing at the top of Nether Red Brook with my mum, who had already set off in front of me shimmying her way down a steep drop between two rocks after a fleeting, “this way is it?” but after one more quick check of the map I took a sigh of relief; it was definitely the right way.

The scramble isn’t technical but good balance, strength in your legs and arms and confidence over rough terrain is a must. There is a small path every now and again to hop onto but the majority of the route is over large boulders and you’ll have to navigate your way down over these.

Looking back up towards the way you’ve just scrambled down…

Eventually, you’ll find yourself in the base of the Valley known as Black Ashop Moor with no path to follow; not even the faintest glimmer of one to be precise and this is where your navigation skills will come in handy.

You’re heading for the small steam at the opposite end which will lead you back to wards Snake Woodlands but be prepared to lose a foot or even a whole leg to the boggy moorland swamp monsters which will try to suck you down to their peaty home if you make a wrong choice of step. At least if you get sucked into the pool of peaty mud, the view back up to where you came from is a nice final view.

After navigating through the moorland, the next obstacle you’ll face is the river crossing. I hope in your mind you’re picturing a whirlpool and rapid-ridden force of nature but actually it’s just a small one which, if your legs are long enough, you’ll be able to leap across in one foul swoop to the safety of the path on the other side.

Following the path downstream will lead you back towards Snake Woodlands and the view back is stunning during heather season with all the purple hues.

Eventually, you’ll reach the edge of Snake Woodlands and will continue following the path through the woods and back up towards your starting point. There is another wonderful little spot for a swim in Snake Woodlands which the path will take you next to.

Map and key locations for Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Roadside parking at Snake Woodlands

2: Footbridge below end of woodlands to cross over the river

3: A series of waterfall pools

4: Beginning of the steeper, rocky scrambling section of Fair Brook

5: Top of Fairbrook Naze, rock formations and the beginning of The Edge

6. Top of Nether Red Brook marking the scramble down

7. Boggy moorland crossing across Black Ashop Moor and river crossing (you’ll need to find a suitable crossing place yourself)

8. Path back towards Snake Woodlands

9. River running to Snake Woodlands and extra swim location

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for scrambling Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook
- The parking area in Snake Woodlands fills up quickly on a nice day so be sure to get there early or late in the day for any chance of parking
- There are no facilities on this route or in the car park
- The scrambles are slippery in places and require sure footedness and confidence on rough, scrambly terrain.
- The scramble down Nether Red Brook has a steep and relatively high drop to navigate
- Navigation across Black Ashop Moor is pathless so strong navigation skills are needed
- This route includes a small river crossing
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check out my other blog posts and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new UK routes, the best swimming spots, international adventure and ideas of things to do for your next adventure.

Happy adventuring and don’t forget to subscribe!

Izzy

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Short Yorkshire Dales hike; Troller’s Gill

November 7th, 2023
In an area of abandoned mines, in the Wharfedale area of the Yorkshire Dales, lies Troller’s Gill. It’s a collapsed limestone cavern shrouded in history, myth and mysterious inhabitants. Troller’s Gill is home to naughty trolls, hideous goblins and cheeky pixies but is also haunted by a fearsome barghest. This monstrous black dog with razor sharp teeth is said to have the power to turn unsuspecting hikers to stone. It’s even said to have possibly inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. So, if you’re feeling brave enough to take on these haunting creatures, read on!

Troller’s Gill – key details

Difficulty: Moderate due to some scrambling sections

Distance: 2.6km

Total ascent: 126m

Est Time: 1 hour

Starting location: Roadside parking on New Road. Find location on Google Maps here.

Parking Cost: Free but please be mindful of not blocking access.

Dog friendly: Yes if capable of scrambling sections over rocks

Key features: an abandoned mine to explore, a stream that appears as if from nowhere and a wonderfully rocky ravine.

*Please note: this route is impassable in and immediately after heavy rain.

A quiet walk around Troller’s Gill

Troller’s Gill is near the villages of Appletreewick and Skyreholme but as we drove closer to the roadside parking I really started to question whether the photos I’d seen online were real or not. The ravine is completely hidden from the roadside and impossible to spot unless you know where you are looking. Fortunately, this makes Troller’s Gill a quiet place to explore and on a sunny Spring day, we had the whole place to ourselves. The dark history of this ravine though is what makes your visit here exciting; amongst the nooks and crannies of each towering side of the ravine wait trolls ready to hurl rocks down on passing hikers, evil pixies who stalk those who enter the ravine and bloodsucking gnomes to name but a few.

It’s really not a place to visit alone…

BUT if you manage to escape all these without harm then you’ll be rewarded with a stunning, albeit eerie, walk.

Where is Troller’s Gill and how do I get there?

From the roadside parking, take the track through the gate which cuts across the field. This path winds gently downhill until you’re in a small valley with hills on either side of you. Within about 15 minutes of leaving your car, look to your right and you’ll see the disused mine workings of Gill Head Mine. This was abandoned in the early 1980’s when mining for fluorite ceased.

Gill Head Mine

The entrance to the mine is behind a large metal gate with collapsed rockfall in front of it.

Entrance to the mine is not recommended as it is not maintained and the chance of sudden collapse is high. However, being the danger mouse that I am, I checked it out for you! Once past the gate, the huge echoey and incredibly slippy tunnel leads down to a flooded section and a ladder. Up the ladder and further into the mine are more flooded chambers.

Be aware that there are other abandoned mine workings and caves in this area and they should not be entered. Exercise caution while exploring as there may be hidden potholes and dangers.

Troller’s Gill route

Fom the mine, the route takes you further down towards the beck which flows down to the village of Skyreholme. This is a picture perfect place for a lunch stop if the weather permits and feels like the perfect place for pixies and trolls to be hiding!

As you head back upstream, keep a beady eye out for another stream that seems to appear from nowhere beneath your feet! This is where the river at the head of the ravine disappears underground before reappearing again at the foot of the ravine. In wet weather, the river will be in full flow through the ravine which is why this route becomes impassable in wet weather.

This is where the fun starts; you’ll need to find your way up and over rocky, scrambly sections following the river upstream to get out of the gorge. Be sure to look up to check that those pesky trolls aren’t aiming rocks at you! There is no escape route so once you commit you’ll either need to retrace your steps or continue your route. The scramble is relatively straightforward and you’ll wind with the river through the gorge but it can be slippery and it’s a good idea to be prepared for wet feet!

At the end of the gorge you need to keep walking until you reach a small waterfall with a footbridge crossing the river. Cross the river here and take the path uphill which will lead you back onto the top and you’ll be able to see your starting point in the distance. Eventually, you’ll join up with the wide, stoney path that you started on, taking you back to the safety of your car and free from the watchful eyes of the creatures lurking behind you!

Map and key locations for Troller’s Gill

Access the downloadable route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Roadside parking in a small layby on New Road.

2: Access to the disused and abandoned Gill Head Mine.

3: The point at Skyreholme Beck where you head back towards Troller’s Gill.

4: The ravine of Troller’s Gill.

5: The end of the ravine where you cross the river over a small footbridge.

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the downloadable route for his walk here.

Top Tips for Troller’s Gill
- Parking is limited in the closest layby but there is another layby slightly further down New Road and additional parking on the B6265 down from Stump Cross Caverns. This additional parking will increase the length of the route.
- In particularly wet weather or immediately after wet weather, this route will be impassable as it follows the river upstream.
- There are no facilities on this route.
- The abandoned mine should not be accessed without caution; it is not maintained and the passages at the end are flooded. The track down is slippy and rocky and there is a high risk of a trip or fall here.
- Appropriate footwear is needed for this route; waterproof walking boots highly recommended
- The scramble is slippery in places and requires sure footedness and confidence on rough, scrambly terrain.
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new UK routes, the best swimming spots, international adventure and ideas of things to do for your next adventure.

Happy adventuring!

Izzy