THIS is a lovely circular route for horse riders, devised by Ride Yorkshire that can also be enjoyed by walkers.

It starts and finishes in Malham, where there are pubs and cafes, and a spacious national park car park. It is all along quiet roads and tracks and follows a route out of Malham up onto Grizedales from where there are fantastic views of Malhamdale.

You circle the beautiful Malham Tarn nature reserve and pass the field studies centre, with some good canter stretches, before descending quite steeply back into the village.

Ride Yorkshire is an information service for horse riders. To find out more and to access more of its rides, go to rideyorkshire.org

Step by step

1 Turn left out of the car park and ride up the village street. After 300m, a bridleway sign to the left (opposite Beck Hall) points up a stony track. If you don't want to tackle it, continue along the road to the left turn to High Top Farm Bunk Barn. Ride through their yard and along a good track above and parallel to the main village street for 300m. Then, turn right and follow the track uphill. Immediately after the water treatment works ignore the left fork and go straight ahead on a beautifully grassy lane between stone walls. The walled section ends at a gate - go through this and straight ahead across the pasture to the gate at the top - you can also reach this point by following the road out of Malham, which is pleasant when not busy.

2 Turn left onto the road. After 350m, turn left on the bridleway and follow it uphill across Pikedaw (through several gates) to a fingerpost for the Pennine Bridleway, turn right here.

3 Soon after, you see the remains of the medieval Nappa Cross embedded in the wall on your right. Follow the bridleway gently downhill for almost a mile until it meets a track coming in from the left. Turn right and ride down to the gate and back onto the road at Langscar Gate.

4 Turn left onto the road, passing almost immediately through a gate, then veer right off the road on a track between two outcroppings of rock. Pass through the gate at the top and continue over Dean Moor. There are sometimes cows grazing here, but they will not usually bother you as long as you don't get between cow and calf, and your horse is happy with cattle. Continue down to the road, veering to the gate at the left-hand corner of the field.

5 Once through the gate, turn left and ride along the road for a mile.

6 At the crossroads, turn right and proceed for half a mile past High Trenhouse to join a lane coming in from the left - take care as this section of road can be busy.

7 After another 200m, go through a gate on the right onto a green lane and follow it straight ahead for 500m to a T-junction. Turn right here and follow the lovely tree lined lane for half a mile, passing occasional farms, with views of Malham Tarn to the right. You are now on the Pennine Way. You will reach the Malham Tarn Field Studies Centre.

8 Follow the track around the left of the centre, pass the Orchid House then veer left to follow the track through the trees.

9 After 400m, the track emerges beside the tarn - here you will have to negotiate a narrow gate and dismounting is advised. Follow he edge of the tarn through another gate and leave the Pennine Way to continue on the main stony track. You reach the road a mile after coming out beside the tarn.

10 Go roughly straight ahead on the road - do not turn left or right - and follow it away from the tarn.

11 After a mile or so, the road begins a series of twists and turns and descends steeply into Malham. Keep an eye open for traffic and cyclists and remember, walkers can suddenly appear from behind dry stone walls as footpaths cross the road.

12 Turn right at the T-junction in the village. When you see the pub on your right, there is a natural drinking place on the left for horses, before going over the bridge. After the bridge, turn left, and return to the car park.