In the first of our series of walks, we detail a beautiful 7.5 mile circular route starting from Burnsall

Fact File

Start: Burnsall pay and display car park
Distance: 7.5 miles
Total ascent: 533ft
Map: OS Explorer OL2, Southern & Western Areas
Toilets and refreshments in Burnsall

On leaving the car park turn right, cross the bridge over the River Wharfe and then go through the gate on the right which is reached in a few yards. Here you will see a noticeboard giving charges for using the field – please note that the charge for pedestrians does not apply to walkers using the footpath, which is a right of way.

Turn half left and cross the field towards a footpath going through the three opposite. Follow the path by the river and after passing through three gates the path goes across a field to reach a small wooden bridge over a stream. A Dales Way sign points the way to Appletreewick.

After passing through a farmyard, followed by some gates, the path soon takes you back to the riverside. Stay on the path and do not turn left at the fingerpost to Appletreewick, but instead follow the sign to Barden Bridge on the riverside path. This brings you to a high flight of steps. At the top and again in open fields, you will gain a fine view of Simon’s Seat (at a height of 1,520ft you can get a wonderful view over much of the area of the Dales to the north – perhaps on another walk!).

Carry on walking by the river and after crossing a small plank bridge, pass through a gate to enter a delightful wooded area. Initially an abundance of tree roots can make it a little difficult to find the path, as walkers over many years have chosen their own way through the roots. A few wooden steps on the left indicate a proper path, but whichever way you choose, all paths soon join up to continue by the river.

After passing through another gate, you leave the wooded area and the path crosses over a field to reach a road. Turn right here for a few yards, then cross the road to enter a wide track, with a finger post pointing to Howgill Lane. Climb steadily along the track, ignoring any side turnings, until a cross road of tracks is reached. Turn left here and continue along another broad track, passing the entrance to Howgill Lodge Caravan Site (if the shop is open you can buy refreshments if required).

A converted low stone barn is soon reached and approximately 50 yards after that, go through a gate on the left. A finger post to Skyreholme points the way. Follow the path with a wall on your left, until after passing through a gap stile, the path continues with the wall on your right. When the wall turns to the right, cross another field to climb a ladder stile in the far wall. The path now aims diagonally left, to reach a wide gap in the next wall at the bottom of the field.

Cross a stream running through the gap, aiming now for another wall ahead and when reached keep it to your left (on the right there is an old lime kiln, which is well worth a closer look).

The wall soon gives way to a wire fence and eventually reaches a footpath sign pointing left. Cross a small bridge and go up several steps to reach a road. Turn right here to walk through the small village of Skyreholme. After a stretch of road walking, turn left at a T junction with a signpost to Parcival Hall. Follow the road round to the right and just before the entrance to Parcival Hall and gardens, look for a fingerpost on the left to ‘New Road 1 mile’ by a wide gate and small gap stile.

Squeeze through the stile and follow the path by a stream, to eventually reach a ladder stile alongside a gate. Shortly after crossing the stile, look right to see the remains of an earthworks dam. Crossing a double stile gives access to an open area where remains of mining can be seen. A path leading to the right goes to Trollers Gill, but our way is to the left along the miners’ track, which soon begins to climb quite steeply. Trollers Gill is a rather narrow and very stony limestone gorge. There is a legend that it is the haunt of a spectral hound, together with a troll, but fortunately I have never encountered either on many ascents and descents over several years!

After passing through the gate on the ascent, note the mine workings on the left. Continue to climb the winding track to eventually reach another track coming in from the right. Turn left along it, but after approximately 12 yards, leave it on the left to climb a small hill.

A yellow topped post on the top shows the way. This area can be rather boggy after rain and some small diversions may be necessary. When a cross wall comes into sight, aim for a small gated stile giving access to the road. Flagstones have been laid along the last few yards of the path.

Turn left along the road and follow it when it bends quite sharply to the left, ignoring a track and fingerpost on the right. A little less than 200 yards of walking from the bend in the road brings you to a gate on the right, with a fingerpost to Hartlington. Take this broad track which descends gradually through gates, until some farm buildings are reached. Bear slightly to the right here, passing through two gates to a walled green lane. This is Kail Lane.

Follow it between walls until the left wall disappears and then stay on the track, with a wall or fence on the right. The track descends ever more steeply and becomes rather stony. However, you do get a lovely view of Hartlington Hall in the trees below on the right. There is no mistaking the way of this clear track and eventually a wide gate opens on to the road between Burnsall and Appletreewick.

Cross straight overm to enter a short track which leads to the farmyard you walked through earlier on in the walk. At this point turn right, cross a small bridge and retrace your steps on the Dales Way back to Burnsall and the end of the walk.