Route: Stainforth Force and Catrigg Force
Area: Yorkshire Dales
Date of walk: 28th August 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.5 miles
Weather: Much cloud, some sun and some rain
Today’s target was Pen-y-ghent, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, but when I arrived at the start point it started to pour with rain and I had to resort to Plan B. Exactly the same thing had happened almost 2 years ago and as a result we’d again had to change our plan but instead were privileged to witness salmon leaping up the waterfall at Stainforth Force – click here for the link to that walk, which includes a short video of this amazing sight
In view of the poor conditions I decided to revisit nearby Stainforth for another low level walk. I parked in the village car park and crossed the stepping stones over Stainforth Beck. I was soon walking through typical limestone countryside and after a short walk uphill I made a brief diversion to visit Catrigg Force
I then resumed the route, following the Pennine Bridleway past Upper and Lower Winskill and then back into Stainforth along a slippery track through woodland below Stainforth Scar
Having returned to the start, there was still time to revisit nearby Stainforth Force. It was too early in the year for leaping salmon, but the falls are spectacular at any time of year and it was a worthwhile short diversion
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the rain this morning before I set off from the Lakes to the Dales
Start of the walk from the car park in Stainforth village
I cross the stepping stones over Stainforth Beck
Stainforth Village Green
Looking back to Moor Head above the village
The Pennine Bridleway
Further along the bridleway
Ingleborough in the distance
I make a short detour to visit Catrigg Force - Pen y ghent is beyond
Catrigg Force
Annoyingly I didn’t remember until it was too late that there’s a much better view of the falls from below
Ingleborough in the distance
Upper Winskill
Start of the gradual descent back to Stainforth
Entering the woodland below Stainforth Scar
Back down to Stainforth - it started to rain heavily as I arrived back in the village
I then made a short diversion to Stainforth Force (or Foss as the locals call it) - grey sky turned to blue in a matter of minutes
I cross back over the River Ribble
Path back into Stainforth
