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Wonderful short walk near Ribblehead in North Yorkshire, with views of all three of the Three Peaks, with much of interest for the observant
- Distance - 8.65 kilometres 151 m ascent
- Terrain - very gentle indeed
- Map Outdoor leisure 2, Yorkshire Dales South & West
- Refreshments - none on route, but a detour at half distance will take you to the tea shack at Ribblehead, or afterwards, the Blind Beck tearooms on the B6479 on the way back into Horton-in-Ribblesdale will provide Tea and Scones along with home made Jam, Biscuits and Fudge
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 Click on this image to order the map for this walk direct from the Ordnance Survey
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Park in the rough lane on the left of the B6479 to the north of Selside - please park with care and do not block the lane - it leads in the direction of Alum Pot, one of the busiest potholes in the country and is frequently used by emergency vehicles
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1 - Go down into Selside, and turn left into a rough lane which takes you under the railway and keep straight ahead at the signpost saying FP Birkwith 1 1/4. Keep right at fork
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2 -At signpost saying Birkwith 3/4, fork left to a ladder stile. Drop into a small field, staying right. and reach a footbridge over the Ribble at the far end of the wall that you crossed by the stile. It was pleasing to see many flowers here, including Bistort, Sorrel and Speedwell
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4 - Go into Low Birkwith Farm yard - you need to cross the stream on your left, either by the farm bridge, or the ford, which is just beyond it.
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5 - From here, carry on with a wall on your left until you find the remains on a broken wall. From here, either follow the broken wall or cross the field until you come to Cam Beck, (where Oystercatchers were to be seen) and follow that upstream. Either way, the stream and wall meet near a fallen tree - you'll have to duck under it
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6 - Cross the footbridge (built by pupils of Settle School) and walk the plank over the damp, reedy corner of the field. Head for the Ladder stile to the left of the nearest barn, then head for the ladder style on the right of the next barn
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7 - Cross the bridge on your left and then turn right through the buildings of Nether Lodge to a ladder stile -from here, head north-west along the Ribble way if you want to get to the tea shack at Ribblehead or follow the farm track toward Ingman Lodge
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8 - By Ingman Lodge, you first cross a cattle grid then the track swings round and through the lodge, becoming a metalled road. At the main road, turn right until you get to the row of railway cottages
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9 - Here you turn left (FP Sleights 1 3/4). Keep an eye open for the Moschatel growing in the area. Cross the railway and carry on up the road to Colt Park. Here, turn left just before the buildings (FP Selside 1 1/2). Entering the Nature Reserve, go through 2 gates, then over a ladder stile. At the end of this field, do not go through the gate at the end, but look for the wooden stile on the left
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10 - After the stile, go through a small gate and drop into a natural gap - go left down the gap until you drop into an open field then turn right, heading across the field to a ladder stile. Cross two more ladder stile then head for the last stile in the far corner of the field by the gate. Cross this to the main road, turn right and head for Selside and the car!
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