AN easy walk taking in fields, tracks and a canal towpath

THIS is an easy walk of about seven or eight miles, setting off and finishing in Gargrave and taking in fields, tracks and a long section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Much of it is along the well-used Pennine Way, and can get quite muddy. There are quite a lot of gates and the route crosses a number of fields with livestock.

Dogs should be kept on leads when crossing fields, and beware, some stiles are not particularly dog friendly; it took me a while to encourage my heavy English Pointer to clamber over a stile, although the whippet was fine.

Step by step

1. From Gargrave, walk past the parish church and shortly afterwards, turn off to the right, following the sign marked Pennine Way, Trennet two miles. Cross over the stile, and pass the Old School House on the right. Cross the field, keeping to the well used track. At the far end of the field, which is bordered by the railway on the left, pass through a gate and onto a track.

2. Turn left along the track, crossing over a railway bridge. Continue along the track, and almost at the brow of the hill, turn off to the left, passing through a gate with a cattlegrid on the right, and into a field. Take a few minutes to pause here, catch your breath, and enjoy the lovely view of Gargrave.

3 Cross over the field, passing through some gates and over some stiles. Some of the stiles have dog gates, but not all. The path is pretty easy to follow, as its well used.

4. You will see a sign to Newton Grange on right, pass it, and immediately afterwards, cross a footbridge and into another field. Sharp climb up and down again to a metal gate onto a lane that goes between Bank Newton, to the right, and East Marton, to the left.

5. Join the bridleway and turn left, a short way, over a small bridge, and you will see footpath off to right leading to the canal towpath. Climb up to the towpath and turn right.

6. Continue along the towpath as it winds around. Take some time here to enjoy the varied birdlife off to the right, last time I was here, I saw a kestrel. Continue along until it goes under a bridge and shortly afterwards, comes out onto the same single track road/bridlepath that you crossed earlier.

7 Join the road, cross over the canal bridge, and immediately after, rejoin the towpath down to the left, passing under the bridge.

8 Continue along the towpath, passing Bank Newton Lock, with its newly replaced lock gates. Continue until you once again join a road. Walk along road for a short distance, cross the canal bridge, and immediately after, rejoin the towpath to the right, passing under bridge.

9. Continue along the towpath, cross over the river bridge, and continue into Gargrave. You will pass the Anchor Inn on the left, go under a road bridge, pass Gargrave Primary School on right.

10 Continue along the towpath until Gargrave Locks and service station on right. Go right at the bridge, and walk back into the village.

Notes:

Starts and finishes in Gargrave, where there is ample free parking, toilets, shops, pubs and tearooms.

About seven and a half miles, easy, with a couple of steepish climbs.

Lots of sheep about, keep dogs on leads and make sure gates are shut after you.