Buckden to Starbotton Hillside and River Walk

A circular route of 5 miles (8 km) starting and finishing at the car park in Buckden. The official distance is a rounded total for the whole loop, and the graded difficulty is moderate: a steep pull up the fellside early on, then a much flatter return beside the River Wharfe on the Dales Way.

The payoff is the long view down the Wharfe valley from the fellside, then river and floodplain scenery on the way back, including the large Wellingtonia trees standing along an old Victorian carriage drive.

• Leave the car park through the bridleway gate, heading away from the village, then turn behind the car park at the sign for Buckden Lead Mine and Starbotton.
• Cross a stile, follow the track to sheep pens, then cross the beck on stepping stones.
• Follow the lead mine sign and climb the Centenary Path, the strenuous section of the day, rebuilt by local volunteer groups.
• Approach a wall, double back toward the Starbotton sign, cross a wall stile and drop down into Starbotton.
• Cross the main road with care, take the walled bridleway toward Arncliffe as far as the river bridge, then cross and turn right on the Dales Way for the return to Buckden.

• Steep ascent and descent on fellside paths, with wall stiles, bridges and stepping stones to negotiate.
• The riverside return is flatter but unmade underfoot.
• The car park lies near 244 m and the highest ground on the loop reaches around 428 m, so the climb is short and concentrated rather than gradual.
• If the beck is running high, the crossing can make the route impossible. If you cannot cross it safely, the advice is to turn round and retrace your steps to the start rather than improvise a way on.

The official duration is about 2 hours. Ordinary stops for photographs, the views from the Centenary Path, or a pause by the river will push that out, so allow more if you want an unhurried day.

Start and finish at the Buckden car park, grid reference SD943774. It is the national park authority car park rather than one run by the route's managing charity, and parking is charged. Public toilets and a pub are available in Buckden itself.

Dogs are welcome on leads and under close control. Livestock are present along the way, including on the fellside and enclosed field paths. Local restrictions can apply in woodland and farmland during lambing, and from March to the end of July to protect ground-nesting birds, so check signs at gates and stiles as you go.

If the steep fellside section or the beck crossing does not suit, the separate Buckden to Kettlewell walk along the Dales Way is a flatter riverside option. It is one way rather than a loop, so plan your return transport in advance. Keep it as a distinct outing rather than trying to combine it with this circular.