SETTLE

UPSTREAM - DOWNSTREAM 7 Miles

WALKERS :- Anthony, John R, Vic, Martin, John W
                       Paddy, Danny, Mick C, Mick K, Mike.

We parked a short distance from the centre of Settle where a Flowerpot Festival was still evident on the streets.

and of course we couldn't pass by without taking a photograph of one of the most famous cafés in the country,

Through the busy high street and out towards Giggleswick. We soon arrived at the bridge over the River Ribble.

Immediately across the bridge we crossed the road and took to a narrow footpath which led us between school playing fields and eventually to the banks of the Ribble.

Even more than Lancashire, Yorkshire is a county of drystone walls and here we are following one of them.

Throughout our walk the stiles we met were an interesting mixture of styles - gated gaps,  kissing gates, ladder stiles and the rather old fashioned but charming narrow gaps between upright stones.  

This one was upright stones AND a gate !

It was not only on the roads that we encountered 

"Traffic Jams"

Just beyond the last of the stiles pictured above we found ourselves on a sunny bank overlooking the river and the distant fells. We had started late after a longer than normal drive so we stopped for coffee.

As  we sat in the warm sunshine we could see on the distant horizon the flat topped Pen-y-ghent, one of the "Three Peaks , rising above the surrounding lesser fells.

From here our path turned briefly away from the river to follow a short stretch of the highway before returning to the river bank.  On leaving the road we came across a remarkable and probably accurate weather forecasting device.

It was a stone attached to a post and the notice below it informed us ………

     Stone wet...It is raining
     Stone dry... It is NOT raining
     Stone with shadow...Sunny
     Stone white on top...It is snowing
     Stone can't be seen... It is foggy
     Stone swinging...It is windy
     Stone bouncing up and down...Earthquake
     Stone gone...Tornado.

     Harry !   you have been usurped . Sorry !

As we arrived at the river a bridge allowed us a view of a weir and a fish ladder. The former almost certainly built to provide power to a nearby mill.

We did not cross the bridge which would have taken us to Langcliffe Village (a later target) but returned to continue our upstream progress close to the river bank.

Here we cross a SHALLOW ford....

…..but as I said last time  "There's always one !"

 (and it's the same one !)

We were now nearing the bridge which would carry us over the river towards Stainforth. Just ahead of us, however, we could hear the roar of troubled waters. and as we rounded a wooded bend,  Stainforth Force came into view.

Here the limestone bedding planes provided copious excellent seats so here we sat to have lunch and admire the the series of cataracts before us.

The two "Blackpool Belles" contemplate the possibilities for a future walk.

Just a little way up stream was the bridge which marked our turning point after which we would be following the river DOWNSTREAM back to Settle.

Such a pretty bridge could of course not be passed by without the ubiquitous "Bridge Photo" being taken.

N,B, Danny and Mike were BOTH taking photos.

The afternoon was by now well advanced so we did not linger to admire Stainforth village but quickly passed through and headed downstream following the highway for about half a mile before leaving it to take to the fields.

Perversely, although we were going down river, the walk became somewhat more strenuous with the path leading steadily uphill and away from the river side. The stiles, too, became rather more challenging.

To our left, as we walked, was a long cliff in parts hidden by thick woodland which after, crossing several fields, we entered. The long cliff would seem to be the reason for the next village's name "Langcliffe".

Once in the wood we began to encounter information boards and warning signs. We were in a conservation area which had once been a major industrial site for the production of lime.

The path suddenly dropped steeply down,

to where a long mound of a building stretched for a considerable distance next to the path. The mound had entrance doors at regular intervals along it's side. This was the famous Hoffmann Kiln. We have encountered lIme kilns on other walks but nothing like this enormous one. we stepped inside and walked its length.

It was exceptionally dark and walking was difficult as we could not at times see our feet.

When we got to the far end another information board told us about it and pointed out the numerous holes in the roof through which "Pellets" of coal were dropped to feed the fires.

This must have been a fearsome place to work. Visions of Hell spring to mind. It was closed down just prior to the start of the Second World War.

Behind the works loomed the massive cliff face from which the limestone was quarried to supply the furnaces.

We continued our walk eventually leaving this fascinating industrial heritage behind.  After rising up through fields ……….

........ we arrived in the very pretty village of Langcliffe. The threatened wet, chilly weather had not materialised and in fact we had walked mainly in warm sunshine so a drinks break was welcomed.

The village's rather striking war memorial.

We left the village and followed an extremely narrow lane down to the railway which we crossed by a worryingly ancient metal bridge.

The tight sided lane continued on the other side of the bridge.

Back now onto the highway which would soon take us back into Settle and the end of our walk  but not before a quick look back at the  characterful bridge we had just crossed.

….and so down into Settle where we were "Snakily" reminded of the Flowerpot Festival.

Then a final look at the River Ribble

…….. and back to the cars where "DANDELION & BURDOCK" had replaced shandy in Martin's Cool Bag.  A great wave of childhood nostalgia engulfed us.

Well done all on a fascinating walk which was also quite tiring.

THE END