Moderate

Nidderdale moors and mines

Moderate

8.0 miles | 12.8 km | 396 m Ascent | 9.9 Naismith miles | Sandra Craggs
Nidderdale is a dale, and it’s in Yorkshire – so it must be in the Yorkshire Dales, right?
No. Nidderdale is one of the 46 National Landscapes, which until recently were simply called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Legally the designation AONB still applies, but the name National Landscape is being applied across all of them to highlight the national importance of these special places.
Whatever name we use, Nidderdale is well worth visiting, and offers some great walking. This route combines England’s highest artwork, with jaw dropping views into a vast working quarry, an industrial heritage trail with two lead mines, deer, bluebells, and if you are really lucky, red kites.

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Rigmaden Bluebells

Moderate

7.6 miles | 12.3 km | 264 m Ascent | 8.9 Naismith miles | Kate Rowe / Kate Butcher
A walk in the spring that features daffodils or bluebells is a long-standing tradition with the Bentham Footpath Group. Scheduling such a walk months in advance and then getting the spring blooms to cooperate on the chosen date is a challenge though, and one that might daunt lesser leaders than ours.
Having seen bluebells passing their peak elsewhere in the last couple of weeks, there was a little jeopardy – there was no doubt this would be a good walk, because it’s a route that works well at any time of the year – but would there be a good show of bluebells, and would they be at their best?
Yes – of course there were. In fact, we think ours were better than those reported by BBC TV at Rannerdale Knotts. Despite this BFG is not funded by the licence payer.

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Wenning Ways from Low Bentham

Moderate

8.0 miles | 12.9 km | 203 m Ascent | 9.0 Naismith miles | Mary & Kate Taylor
We have enjoyed a number of local walks this spring, and all of them have reminded us just how lucky we are to live here. As the name suggests this excellent walk showcases the Wenning Valley, and visits both Low and High Bentham, making good use of the popular “Heritage Trails”.
How fondly we remember a walk depends to some extent on the weather (perfect on this occasion), and on random events that even the best walk leaders cannot plan. On this walk, it was the chance to watch an otter hunting in the River Wenning near Low Bentham, apparently unconcerned by our presence. You may or may not enjoy that particular treat if you take this walk, but there are lots of other interesting things to see, with industrial archaeology, local history, and great views all included.

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Newton to Dunsop and Hodder Bank

Moderate

8.9 miles | 14.3 km | 333 m Ascent | 10.5 Naismith miles | David Longton
Within the Bentham Footpath Group, we regard the Yorkshire Dales, the South Lakes and the Forest of Bowland as our home patch. Of those three, it’s the latter that offers the best opportunity for quiet walks free from the more popular tourist hotspots.
Does that mean that the Forest of Bowland is remote and inaccessible then? Not in our opinion – in fact this walk passes through the centre of the United Kingdom which, as it turns out is Dunsop Bridge.
We start though in Newton – where there is good parking, then go via Beatrix to Dunsop Bridge with great views of Beatrix and Burn Fells along the way. We then stroll along the banks of the Hodder down to Burholme before returning via Hodder Bank Fell.

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Windermere to Ambleside – bus back

Moderate

9.0 miles | 14.5 km | 472m Ascent | 11.4 Naismith miles | Rick Clapham
Last week we walked in Coverdale and noted how remarkably few visitors it had. This week, we walk from Windermere to Ambleside – and find that the same description does not apply. In fact, if you ask Google (other search engines are available) where the busiest places in the Lake District are, the answer is Windermere and Ambleside.
So, did we fall into a tourist hell hole? Not at all: Skilful route selection meant that for much of the walk we were free from crowds, and even the ever popular Orrest Head was approached by the less well known Common Wood route. From the Head we take the Dubbs Road to Dubbs Reservoir and then down to Limefitt where we cross the Trout Beck, and then the A592. After a quick look at Jesus Church, we climb to Troutbeck village before taking Robin Lane through Skelghyll Wood and then down to Waterhead in Ambleside. A convenient bus back to Windermere ends the trip.

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Brougham History

Moderate

9.1 miles | 14.7 km | 109 m Ascent | 9.7 Naismith miles | Terri Kwiecinska
Our last five walks have been categorised as easy – a good idea when the days are short, and the weather may be poor. Spring is here now though, and the length of the daylight is much less of an issue: So, we scheduled a longer walk at Brougham near Penrith.
In order to justify such a long drive, the walk needs to deliver lots of interest and our walk leader really has delivered on this one. We have the Countess Pillar on the Lady Anne Way, the site of a Roman camp, the remains of Brocavum fort, Brougham Castle, an outdoor swimming pool, an old mill, a Tudor road bridge, a henge, the Eden Millenium monument, King Arthur’s Round Table (another henge) , the entrance to the Lowther Bridge estate, Brougham Hall, the village where the last battle on English soil took place, a partially restored Pele tower, and a church where the body of St Cuthbert rested, and more.

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Lancaster – City country and coast

Moderate

7.5 miles | 12.1 km | 139 m Ascent | 8.2 Naismith miles | Sandra Craggs
A couple of years ago, we tried an interesting experiment – we started a walk in the centre of Lancaster and included a significant rural element in our route. That walk was a great success, and with a little time having passed we thought it worth re-running with a few minor changes to the points of interest we visit in the city centre.
Starting from Sugar House Alley, we walk through the city centre to the Lancaster Canal where we head South along the towpath – this gives a very urban view of Lancaster and its industrial heritage.
We leave the canal just after the west coast main line railway bridge, and head down a side street into the Fairfield Association Nature Reserve. That trail brings us back to the canal at Haverbreaks, and we again head South before leaving almost immediately to take a path through Aldcliffe to the Lune estuary where we take the embankment North through the marshes. Opposite Oxcliffe Hill, we head inland through Freemans Wood and on to Abrahams Heights. We are now back in a very urban environment, heading past the bustle of the railway station and then the Priory and Castle, before returning to the city centre, where we visit more heritage sites.

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Cockerham to Glasson Dock

Moderate

8.2 miles | 13.2 km | 62 m Ascent | 8.5 Naismith miles | David Longton
Bentham Footpath Group enjoyed a great walk form Galgate to Glasson Dock and the Lancaster Canal in June 2024.
The weather was glorious, and the walk was wonderful – but that begs a question: Is this really a good place to walk or were we just enjoying the sunshine? To answer that we return in the autumn. This time we start at Cockerham, catching a bus to Thurnham Hall where we join the canal towpath which we follow down to the docks. From there we pick up the Lancashire Coastal Way which takes us to Lighthouse Cottage, Plover Hill, then the ruins of Cockersand Abbey. To return, we follow the path around the edge of Cockerham Sands and Cockerham Marshes to Pattys Farm where we cross a live airfield runway and watch parachutists landing, before returning to Cockerham via St Michaels church. We conclude that whatever the weather, this is indeed a fascinating area to walk.

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Cotterdale from Appersett

Moderate

7.8 miles | 12.5 km | 306 m Ascent | 9.3 Naismith miles | Mary Taylor
How many Dales are there in the Yorkshire Dales? It sounds like the sort of question that should have a definitive answer, but not so – the consensus is at least 20 but maybe up to 60 depending on what you define as a Dale, and what geographical limits you accept. What is clear, is that some are less well known as others, and one that is often overlooked is Cotterdale; Not because its unattractive, but probably because it’s a “dead end” dale – the road leads to the village of Cotterdale and then stops, so there is no through traffic.
In our opinion, the lack of traffic is a good reason to visit – but it’s not the only one. This moderately challenging walk also offers a lot more: great views over Wensleydale almost as far as Garsdale Head, a lovely dales village, the potential for a short diversion to a perfect picnic spot, excellent views from Cotter End down to Hawes, before a tranquil riverside stroll back to the start with railway viaducts, a hidden waterfall, and the opportunity to add a visit to Cotter Force, all available on the return leg.

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Chapel le Dale and Ingleborough environs

Moderate

8.0 miles | 12.9 km | 226 m Ascent | 9.2 Naismith miles | Kate Rowe
Last week’s walk to the Old Man of Coniston from Torver was a real treat, but it’s not a walk that you could decide to do whilst eating your breakfast and be back in Bentham by mid-afternoon.
So, this week we offer a more local walk: For those of us lucky enough to be based in Bentham it is easy to get to, and despite being on the slopes of both Ingleborough and Whernside is generally quiet and peaceful.
We visit a lovely church, see a well-known statue, walk under the most photographed railway viaduct in the UK, have lunch in a nature reserve, before passing close to Viking settlements, seeing some wonderful limestone pavement, and the entrance to a cave. There are great views of the hills all the way along, and you could even have an ice cream or a pub lunch halfway round.

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