Miles without Stiles (For some) - Thornton le Dale

A closed circular loop of 3.6 km (about 2.2 miles) starting and finishing in Thornton le Dale, usually walked in around an hour at a steady pace. The distance is for the full circuit, not one way.

From the village, the walk picks up the beck and follows a beckside path north, through fields and a working farmyard, to the hamlet of Ellerburn. The turning point is St Hilda's Church, a small, very old church in a quiet spot near the water, with earlier carved stones incorporated into its walls. From there the route joins the minor road and follows it back to the start.

Mostly gentle walking with modest height gain, but the return into Thornton le Dale includes one short, steep downhill section of tarmac with a maximum gradient of about 1 in 3. Anyone who would rather avoid it can turn back at Ellerburn and retrace the outward beckside path instead, which makes the walk an out and back of similar length.

The beckside path begins on a firmer surface and then becomes more natural, with exposed tree roots and mud after wet weather. There are kissing gates along the way, so the route will not suit wheeled users who need gate-free access, and pushchairs may be awkward in places.

The return leg uses a minor road, so listen for traffic and walk facing it where sightlines are short. The outward leg crosses farmland and passes through a farmyard, so keep to the marked line. Dogs are welcome but should be kept under close control, and on a short lead near livestock.

Start from the village car park in Thornton le Dale. The village has cafés, pubs and places to eat within a few minutes of the finish, along with the green, pond and stone cottages that make the start as much a part of the walk as the church.