In the Three Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales, a stones throw from Ingleton and Settle, these paths are a lot emptier than others in the area. It is a relaxing walk through quiet country. The navigation in the central part of the walk is quite tricky, and could be difficult in fog or snow

• Distance - 13.2 kilometres 341 m ascent
• Terrain - mainly track or path, with some open limestone country. In wet weather, the tracks accumulate quite a bit of water and the only way to keep you feet dry would be a canoe
• Map - Outdoor Leisure 2 - Yorkshire Dales (South + West)
• Refreshments - there is a pub in Austwick

 Click on this image to order the map for this walk direct from the Ordnance Survey

Getting there - Austwick is just of to the north of the A65(T) between Clapham and Settle. There is a little street parking near the pub or village green

1. From the centre of the village, head north past the pub and school, taking the first turning on the left up Townhead Lane. After leaving the village, carry straight on where the tracks form a cross-roads, into Crummack Lane. After a short while, there is a small plantation on the right, the curiously named 'Dear Bought' plantation. If you know the story behind the name, please let me know. Eventually the tarmac track becomes gravel and you reach the farm of Crummack
2. The path around to the left of the farm has been signposted with some effort, so please follow it. After passing the farm, head for the stile on the horizon, then follow the yellow topped poles marking the route. Note the spring of Austwick Beck Head on the right, which may be worth a visit

As you head up the valley, the marker poles disappear and the ground changes to limestone pavement or scar and begins to rise. This is where you need an eye for the map as you follow the faint path, first up to Beggar Stile, then past a number of small and not altogether conspicuous cairns. These lead into a small amphiteatre-like depression with a boggy hollow at its centre. This is Thieves Moss - is it where medieval miscreants ended up, or where they hid their ill gotten gains ? At the left hand end of the moss a short path rises quickly to a small gate in a stone wall. This gate (or the other one in the adjoining wall) is Sulber Gate
3. Through the gate turn left (unless it is lunchtime, in which case a walled pen to the left of the gate provides some shelter from the wind.). Follow the path back southwest for about 700 metres until it forks, and take the right hand fork (the left hand fork takes you back to Crummack)
4 .After another 600 metres or so by a small rocky outcrop the path forks again. On the map, it looks like the path forks into three at one point, but in fact there are two Y junctions. At the first, take the left fork (the right fork will take you to the same place but is not a right of way), then 20 or 30 yards further on, take the right fork, heading toward the cairn on the horizon (NB the path is not obvious everywhere here, and it pays to keep on eye on the map. After passing near the cairn the path starts to drop down. head for and cross over the stile and carry on to the corner of the field
5 .You are now at the head of the appropriately named Long Lane. On your right are Trow Gill and Clapdale. (Shortly after the start of Long Lane there is a stile which will take you into Clapdale, However, it runs through private property and a charge is made for admission) We carry on down Long Lane for about a mile and a half
6. At the junction of the tracks, go left down Thwaite Lane for just over a mile, until you come once again to a crossroads. Here, turning right into Townhead Lane will take you back into Austwick Village

This pen at Sulber gate provides shelter from the wind (you arrive through the small gate at the back of the picture)

From Sulber to the top of Clapdale, the ground is featureless. In bad weather, you will need to be able to navigate