Route: Stainforth
Area: Yorkshire Dales
Date of walk: 4th October 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.2 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: White skies, very hazy, some sun at the end
We parked in the village car park in Stainforth and walked down to nearby Stainforth Force (or Foss as it’s known to the locals). The waterfalls are a good place to see wild salmon leaping as they make their epic journey upstream to their spawning grounds. We’d arrived at the right time of year but were out of luck today. There’s no guarantee of a sighting, but recent rainfall helps and it had been dry for the last few days
Never mind, the walk along the banks of the River Ribble was a delight and we followed the riverside path as far as Langcliffe, where we crossed the footbridge beyond the weir and started out on the return leg
We climbed uphill above Stainforth Scar onto typical Dales limestone country, beautiful despite the uninspiring weather. After walking past Lower and Upper Winskill we descended back into Stainforth, making a short diversion to see Catrigg Force
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Crossing the railway line as we leave the village of Stainforth
And now crossing the River Ribble
The Ribble from the bridge
Stainforth Force
We followed a path along the bank of the river
Pied wagtail. There were several dippers too, but never quite near enough to photograph
Bonnie
Further along the delightful riverside path
Heron
Approaching the weir at Langcliffe
We cross the bridge over the weir
The halfway point of the walk as we leave the river
We cross the railway line again - our route will take us above Stainforth Scar in the background
Walking towards Stainforth Scar
Limestone country…
We make a short detour to see Catrigg Force - Pen y Ghent is in the distance
Catrigg Force
Some sunshine at last, though still very hazy, as we descend back to Stainforth
Stainforth
We cross the stepping stones over Stainforth Beck and return to the start - a great walk, despite the hazy conditions
