Yorkshire Dales Trip 05-09 September: Leeds, Settle, Carlisle or anywhere in-between - 4 Nights, 4 ½ Walks

Here is what to expect (in random order): 

• Infrequent train service (broadly every 90 minutes), but pubs at the end of all walks. 
• Stay anywhere in the area if you have a car, stay anywhere along the Leeds – Settle – Carlisle line if not, but there are limited accommodation options in the villages within the walking area as they are small. 
• Leeds (or other large towns at that end of the line, or Carlisle on the other end of the line) may well make the best option for staying especially if you are thinking about leaving luggage behind on departure day due to the infrequent train service. If taking the train to the start of the walk from the direction of Carlisle, you will arrive ahead of or behind the main group depending on the day (see below for details). 
• The early trains to the Dales from Leeds or Carlisle are classed Off Peak for the purpose of applicable Railcards. 
• The weather can be wet, sometimes very wet, and the tops are very exposed to incoming wind, clouds and rain from the nearby coast (Morecambe Bay area); views from the tops can be non-existent in that case, and two of the routes featured on this trip (Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent) would be more affected than the other two (Settle and Great Knoutberry Hill (to a degree)). 
• All eight SWC walks in the area avoid the busy Three Peaks Route wherever sensible. 
• Malham is mega-busy at all times but a Saturday posting at least avoids school classes and means buses can be used for shortcuts.

 

The walks in their likely order, with their likely start times

05 September (Thursday) – SWC City Walk 7 Leeds City Centre

9.0 km, 2 hours of walking

Late afternoon start, so that anyone who will take a train on to the Dales can still catch the last one of the day (19.49), so probably a 17.00 hours start? Route starts and finishes at Leeds City Train Station. Luggage storage options in the station (dearer) or via stasher.com nearby (cheaper).

Passes sights, churches, markets, converted industrial buildings, the financial district and shopping precinct, the River Aire, as well as plenty of pubs (especially near the end).

 

06 September (Friday) – SWC 437 Great Knoutberry Hill (Dent to Ribblehead)

18.2 km (11.3 mi) with 601/636m ascent/descent, 5 hours net walking, 6 out of 10 rating, with longer and shorter options. 9.20 train from Leeds (10.21 Settle), arrives Dent 10.47. [From Carlisle you arrive 68 minutes earlier] Picnic lunch.

 

07 September (Saturday) – SWC 443 Settle Circular via Malham

22.8 km (14.2 mi) with 800m ascent/descent, 6 hours net walking, 7 out of 10 rating, with longer and shorter options. 9.20 train from Leeds arrives Settle 10.20. [From Carlisle you arrive 45 minutes later] Pub/restaurant/tea room lunch. Bus Shortcuts (at the start or in the afternoon).

 

08 September (Sunday) – SWC 440 Ingleborough via Moughton Scars and Gaping Gill (Horton in Ribblesdale to Ribblehead)

20.7 km (12.8 mi) with 670/600m ascent/descent, 6 hours net walking, 7 out of 10 rating, with shorter options. 9.09 train from Leeds arrives Horton 10.28. [From Carlisle you arrive 28 minutes later] Picnic lunch.

 

09 September (Monday) – SWC 441 Pen-y-ghent and Plover Hill (Horton in Ribblesdale Circular)

17.2 km (10.7 mi) with 559m ascent/descent, 4 ½ hours net walking, 5 out of 10 rating, with shorter options. 9.20 train from Leeds arrives Horton 10.30. [From Carlisle you arrive 36 minutes earlier] Picnic lunch.

 

 

Definitive walk posts will go up by mid August.