I SET off on this walk from lovely Austwick on a chilly but bright spring day with the intention of finding the famous Norber Erratics - the weird and wonderful rock formations.

I missed the Erratics, but had a lovely walk anyway.

Once out of Austwick, the scenery quickly gets dramatic. There are some stunning views, with some nimble footwork required over limestone pavements - be careful not to turn an ankle.

On the route, you catch sight of Penyghent and as you drop back down into Austwick, Pendle Hill.

As always, if you have a dog in tow, make sure it is under control, there are plenty of sheep about.

Step by step

1. Head through Austwick, passing the village school on left to join Thwaite Lane (bridlepath). Just before a bridge over a beck, and before you reach a farm on the right, take the left bridlepath, signed to Wharfe, half a mile. Follow the lovely, narrow wall lined track as it goes over a packhorse bridge before going gently uphill, passing some farm buildings and into the hamlet of Wharfe.

2. At fork in the road, take the left fork, and after a short way, take the unmarked grass track off to the left. If you miss it, you will shortly come to another track off to left, which is marked as a bridlepath. They both end up in same place. At the junction of the two paths, there is a wooden walkers' gate to the right, leading to the fell and with a map on it. Go through gate and follow path, which bears off to left and eventually over a ladder stile. Follow the track as it goes right through a cleft in rocks, uphill for a while and then over a small beck and over another wall stile. Follow the path as it goes straight across a field with Stud Rigg Scar on right. Just before the end of the field, go through the walkers' gate in wall on the left and onto the wall-lined track. Go right and continue along track as it bends to right, ignoring ladder stile on left. The track continues for a fair way, climbing gently uphill.

3. At the end of the track, go through the farm gate into Crummack Dale and follow the path as it bears to the left and sharply uphill.

4. At the top, take sharp left and head for ridge. The track gets a bit indistinct, but stick quite close to ridge and follow the cairns. There is a fair bit of scrambling over the limestone pavement. At the point you think you may just be lost, you'll see a well trodden path coming up from the left.

5.Turn sharply left to join the path and enjoy the nice, grassy downhill route, with far reaching views. Over ladder stile and continue to drop down to gate with yellow waymarkers. follow yellow waymarkers through gate and join the bridlepath to a lane. The Norber Erratics are here off to the right.

6. Continue along the lane, crossing over cattle grids and slowly back down into Austwick. You can either stay on the quiet road. or take the signed footpath off to the left marked Austwick.

Factfile

Location: Crummack Dale, Yorkshire Dales National Park

Start/finish; Austwick

Distance; eight miles, allow three and a half to four hours

Difficulty level: easy to moderate.

Terrain: quiet roads, bridle paths, tracks and moorland, limestone pavement

Refreshments; Austwick

Parking. Austwick, on road.

Livestock: sheep and cattle, keep dogs under control.

Gates/stiles: quite a few, some ladder stiles may present problems for larger,less nimble dogs.

OS Map: Landranger 98 Wensleydale and Upper Wharfedale