Langcliffe, Stainforth, Nappa Cross, Rye Loaf Hill, Settle, Yorkshire
[ 23.3 km] Wed  02 Sep 2009

SD 8231 6522.
The roads were fairly quiet as I drove to Langcliffe so I was there about 7:20am. I left the village along a narrow wet track with the intriguing name of Pike Lane. I soon left the track and headed off across wet fields to the old abandoned Craven Lime Works by the Settle – Carlisle railway. I wanted to have a look at the old Hoffmann lime kiln that Eric and Steve had told me about. I had no idea what to expect and even as I approached it there was no indication of scale. It wasn’t until I ventured inside that its size became apparent. The word huge doesn’t begin to describe it. Unfortunately the undergrowth and trees prevented me appreciating the full size of the area and I must return in the winter. There were plenty of excellent information boards about to tell the visitor what industrial process used to take place.

Inside the Hoffmann kiln.

A Tripple Draw Kiln

I left the quarry and continued north across fields to Stainforth where I headed up Goat Scar lane to Catrigg Force waterfall.

As with the quarries there were too many leaves on the trees to appreciate the waterfall so this will have to be re-done in winter. The bright morning was now heavily overcast and rain threatened as I set off across very wet fields to the Henside Road. I turned right and followed the tarmac for just under 2 miles to Capon Hall. To the right was a path into the field but once over the wall I couldn’t see any sign of it continuing. I headed in the direction where it was supposed to be and eventually came to a track. I soon left it and headed due south over Black Hill until I could see the way ahead. Below was a faint and very wet path to the main path down to Langliffe.

When I reached the main path I turned left and headed SE towards Langscar Gate but turned off it before I got there to cross open ground to pick up the path to the restored Nappa Cross. The cross base is probably original and had been lifted up and set on the top of the wall with an old stone lintel stuck in the top to replicate the original cross. I crossed the main Settle to Malham path and headed over the pathless Kirkby Fell. My next objective was the trig point on Rye Loaf Hill which I could see it in the distance. It was a bit of a slog getting there but as I descended the hill there was a stile over the wall and a faint path towards the radio mast on High Greet. The mast and its associated buildings looked very old a deserted. The metal structures were all rusty and vandalised. A good track took me down to the tarmac road where I walked the next mile to Scaleber Force where I climbed through the gate over the wall to have a quick look at the waterfall before continuing down High Hill Lane into Settle.

In Settle

‘The Folly’ was built for Richard Preston, a tanner, in 1675

The Blacksmiths in past times

The site today.

The weather had improved a bit and there was some sunshine. I walked through the narrow streets and searched out the location of the old blacksmith’s to take a photo before continuing to the lane at Castle Hill then on to Langliffe.

The War memorial in Langcliffe.