START DAY 1 Settle. Market town on the A65, 16 miles (25.6 km) north-west of Skipton. Pay-and-display car parks, railway station and Market Place (check if parking overnight allowed).

Finding the way Day 1  1 Leave Market Place past National Westminster Bank and climb Constitution Hill (1 in 7, No Through Road). About 110 yards (100 m) after road curves left, fork right up stony track, then where double-walled lane ends, keep alongside wall on left. Pass through gate into another section of walled lane. and follow another wall on left, but soon bear slightly right away to gate at top corner of wood. Walk along top edge of wood, then follow wall on left down to road at Langcliffe. Head for village, but in 90 yards (80 m) at end of car park turn right along waymarkedtrack. Keep right at fork along walled lane out of village. At its end 770 yards (700 m), keep ahead beside wall on right to gate, then keep straight up facing slope (clear path) to pass through broken wall to reach gate in top corner of large field. Carry onthrough hawthorns, pass between two wall corners and follow wall on left to stile.

Bear half-right over field, passing to left of power-line pole to stile on far side and turn left down track to Lower Winskill Farm. Pass between farmhouse and barns to ladder-stile, then turn half-right and follow marker posts to stile. All Three Peaks are visible: Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent. Turn half-left, descending towards Stainforth, keep along edge of steep drop to stile and follow clear path down through wood, then alongside fence, from where marker posts lead down to track and through gate. Bear slightly left down next field, ignoring gate opposite, and follow track down to stile, from where it turns left down to lane in Stainforth. Turn right then immediately left and soon turn right over bridge, then take next road on left (passes car park – WCs) to reach B6479. Turn right and in 220 yards (200 m), take first minor road left, which leads over railway and down to 2 cross River Ribble, (17thC packhorse bridge, a favourite picnic spot). Continue up road to Little Stainforth, passing Hall and Edward VII postbox. Keep straight on at crossroads, go through gate and up track, soon to cross ladder-stile at fork, then rejoin track further uphill. Where track ends, keep forward along smooth grassy path through hummocky terrain. After crossing stile and breasting rise, the triangulation point on Smearsett Scar and the line of Pot Scar come into view, and halfleft on skyline is Celtic Wall, thought to be more than 2,000 years old. Follow path parallel to scars on right, and on descent to Feizor. After crossing stile follow wall on left down into remains of walled lane, then cross farm track and go through small gate to follow path down to stile and road in Feizor. Turn left, cross ford, and after road curves right take first track on right, leading into another walled lane. After 0.75 miles (1.2 km), by barn, merge with walled lane from left, pass Wood House and reach crossing of tracks. For detour to Austwick (refreshments!), adding 1.25 miles (2 km) to walk, take track straight ahead. Main route turns sharp right (still in walled lane), keep left at fork, then at Wood End Farm turn left along farm road. Turn right at road, then in 165 yards (150 m) turn left at next minor road by barn to reach hamlet of Wharfe. Follow track forward between two houses, turn left and shortly fork right up stony bridleway. In 0.75 mile (1.2 km) keep left at fork, cross Austwick Beck by clapper bridge (picnic spot), then 3  at T-junction turn right but when track swings right towards wood, with Crummack Farm beyond, keep forward through two gates and follow right-hand wall up field. About 90 yards (80 m) before ladder-stile at far end, follow arrowed bridleway left up slope. Track curves gently left, following edge of gulley, before becoming more defined. When slope eases,do not take track forking off left, but keep straight up. The track soon bears right (views). At top (Ingleborough half-left), soon reach cross-track (old route from Clapham), turn right and keep immediately right at fork towards cairn. After almost 0.75 miles (1.2 km) follow wall on right, cross ladder-stile by gate (Sulber Gate) and keep forward along track for further 330 yards (300 m) to meet clear cross-track at wooden signpost. Turn right, follow path (Three Peaks Walk) all the way (1.5 miles/2.4 km) to railway station at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, with village beyond.

Return Either catch the train (Settle to Carlisle Line) back to Settle (timetable information 01228 44711), or use the frequent bus service from the village centre.

Essentials Day 1 6–7 hours; several quite stiff climbs. Day 2 5–6 hours; undulating with some steady climbs; Terrain Historic tracks and well-used foot-paths, with much of Day 2 following designated long-distance footpaths, also a section of metalled road through Dentdale. Some sections can be wet. Planning You have a choice: either a two-day walk starting in Settle with overnight accommodation in Horton-in-Ribblesdale and returningfrom Dentdale via the famous Settle to Carlisle railway; or two separate day-walks, again using the railway to return to the respective starting points. Day 1 Settle to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Day 2 Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Dentdale. Food and drink Day 1 Full range in Settle and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, notably the walkers’ café (Pen-y-ghent Café) in Horton, plus Craven Heifer in Stainforth and the Game Cock in Austwick (short diversion). None along the route on Day 2 except the Sportsman Inn near Dent Station at the end of the walk. Take food and drink.

START DAY 2 Horton-in-Ribblesdale, on the B6479 N of Settle. Pay-and-display car park and station car park in village.

Finding the way Day 2  4 From bridge over River Ribble in Horton, walk past front of Crown Hotel and into walled lane (Pennine Way – old packhorse route from Settle to Langstrothdale in Upper Wharfedale). After about 1 mile (1.6 km) track curves left to gate and crosses stream bed by natural bridge. Here are  5 Sell Gill Holes, two well known potholes into which Sell Gill Beck disappears. Almost 1.25 miles (2 km) further on, track is crossed by clear path (Three Peaks Walk), and in further 0.25 miles (0.4 km) ford stream, go through gate, then immediately after gate in next crossing wall fork left off track up well-trodden path. Follow it (wet in places) to ladder-stile by gate and near stone shed, then follow wall on left to well-made track and bear left along it. Cross stile with Old Ing Farm left and follow track forward, but when it goes through gate ahead, turn right along another track leading into walled lane (old packhorse route from Settle to Hawes). At end of walled lane look over wall on right to see Calf Holes, another well-known pothole, then continue along track with wall on left. In 1 mile (1.6 km) reach spectacular limestone gorge of Ling Gill. Cross stream by 16thC packhorse bridge, then after further mile (1.6 km) track reaches Roman Road on Cam Fell.  6 Turn left, leaving Pennine Way for Dales Way. Superb views: the Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, also Pendle Hill away down Ribblesdale and famous Ribblehead Viaduct on Settle-Carlisle line. Follow track to next road (1 mile/1.6 km), crossing infant Ribble just before reaching it. Bear left along road for 220 yards (200 m) to farm access road on right (signposted Dent Head – Ribble Way). Follow road to Winshaw Farm, pass to left of buildings and head uphill with wall to right. When wall turns sharp right follow it, and after 0.5 miles (0.8 km), when wall turns sharp right again, keep straight on to join track coming up from right. Follow this track (wet in places) to next road (1.25 miles/2 km). Remainder of route is on tarmac. Turn left along road, pass under Settle-Carlisle line at Dent Head Viaduct 0.5 miles (0.8 km), then after 1.25 miles (2 km) reach Sportsman’s Inn. Shortly, recross River Dee at Lea Yeat and take road on right (signposted Dent Station), for a stiff ascent of about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) to catch train back to Settle.

Return to Horton-in-Ribblesdale or Settle by train. Regular train services between Settle and Carlisle (timetable information – 01228 44711).

POINTS OF INTEREST

• SETTLE is a classic little town in the western Dales, boasting a market charter dating back to 1249. • SETTLE TO CARLISLE RAILWAY This is probably the most famous stretch of 72-mile (115-km) line in Britain. Passengers are treated to breathtaking Pennine scenery. • STAINFORTH The village comprises an interesting collection of 17th to 19thC cottages and a fine 17thC packhorse bridge (NT) crossing the Ribble.