Yorkshire Dales National Park, EN
Limestone pavement, a hilltop beacon and a stone circle in one loop
Overview
This 4-mile circular walk from Orton takes in limestone pavement on Orton Scar, the Jubilee Beacon Monument on Beacon Hill, Great Asby Common and Gamelands Stone Circle before returning through fields and lanes. The 4 miles is the full circuit, not a one-way figure; allow 2 to 3 hours. The main effort is the climb to the scar, with the rest mixing village lanes, bridleways, fell tracks, field paths and a short road section. Wet ground, gates, stiles and livestock fields are part of the deal, but the open high ground gives the walk its wide views. Great Asby Scar National Nature Reserve is an optional detour rather than part of this stored circuit.
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Yorkshire Dales Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yorkshire Dales National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Orton Scar Walk“You're approaching Orton, the start of the Orton Scar Walk. This four-mile loop climbs to open limestone pavement, then links a hilltop beacon and Gamelands Stone Circle before returning through fields and lanes.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Yorkshire Dales Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Wildlife
10 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsAtlantic SalmonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsShort-eared OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
22 sightingsWestern Barn OwlMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
27 sightingsTawny OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
34 sightingsCommon KingfisherMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yorkshire Dales. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateGreat Asby Scar Walk13.8 km · 4.8 hr · 2.6 km awayLimestone pavement, a Romano-British fort, and wide 412 m summit views
ModerateLyvennet Valley Walk9.7 km · 3.5 hr · 6.5 km awayLimestone valley loop past cairns, wells and an ancient settlement
ModerateSmardale Gill Walk10.9 km · 4.5 hr · 10.8 km awayA 14-arch viaduct, beckside pasture and open fell in one figure-of-eight
ChallengingCautley Spout and The Calf Circular8.4 km · 3.8 hr · 13.6 km awayClimb beside a spectacular waterfall to the Howgill Fells' highest summit
ModerateRiver Rawthey Accessible Walk2.5 km · 1.3 hr · 16.4 km awayTown pavements to a wooded riverbank, herons, dippers and picnic benches
ModerateSedbergh to Stone Hall2.9 km · 1.3 hr · 16.5 km awayA compact field-and-lane loop from Sedbergh with castle mound views
EasySedbergh and Millthrop4 km · 1.3 hr · 16.5 km awayRiverside loop to Millthrop Bridge, then field paths and Akay Wood
EasyKillington New Bridge Accessible Walk1.2 km · 45 min · 17.4 km awaySmooth, level path beside the River Lune to a riverside viewing platformParkwolf’s Yorkshire Dales ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
