Settle Loop

A circular 10-mile (16 km) loop out of Settle, climbing onto limestone upland on the Pennine Bridleway and dropping back into town. Around 490 m (1,608 ft) of ascent and roughly 5 hours on foot, though many walkers and horse riders treat it as a full day out. Difficulty sits at moderate to challenging: steep in places, rough underfoot, and reasonably remote once you are up on the tops.

You start with the hardest part. The climb out of Settle is steep and unrelenting, and it gets you onto the limestone plateau quickly. From there the walking opens up: grassy stretches, limestone outcrops, a mix of grass and gravel tracks, and quiet winding lanes linking it all together. The final section descends back toward Settle.

The payoff is the long middle. On a clear day you get Malham Tarn, the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Attermire Scar in view, with the kind of wide upland horizon you do not get from the valley floor.

Expect uneven limestone, rocky and grassy tracks, and sustained climbs rather than short sharp bursts. This is not a gentle family stroll. Boots with decent grip and ankle support are worth it, and you should be comfortable with long ascents and descents on unstable ground. Because parts of the upland section are away from roads and settlement, plan to be self-sufficient for the duration.

Either direction works, but the official recommendation is anticlockwise, and it is good advice. Going that way avoids a steep tarmac descent on the return into Settle, which matters most if you are on a horse or a bike but is easier on the knees on foot too.

The loop is a shared bridleway used by walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders, so expect company of all three kinds and give way sensibly. Signposting follows the National Trail acorn symbol, which makes navigation straightforward at junctions.

The official start is Market Place, Settle (grid reference SD820637). The nearest named car park is Greenfoot Car Park, Settle, BD24 9RB. Settle has car parking plus train and bus connections, which makes this an easy loop to reach without driving.

Horse boxes and trailers have marked bays at Greenfoot, and there is another designated option at the national park authority car park in Stainforth.

Dogs are welcome on this network of public rights of way. Keep them on a lead on rights of way and anywhere near livestock, and use a short lead from March to July for ground-nesting birds. Stay on the paths: limestone country here includes limestone pavement, caves and sink holes, and stepping off the trail is where people get into trouble. Farm animals are a normal part of the landscape, so pass them calmly and give them space.