Hiking

Latterbarrow and Claife Heights from Far Sawrey

Moderate

8.7 miles | 14.0 km | 489 m Ascent | 11.1 Naismith miles | Terri Kwiecinska
This walk to Latterbarrow and Claife Heights – to the west of Windermere – is at the far end of our range, which we tend to think of as within one hour of driving time. Add a longer than average walk to that, and we have a full day to manage – hence our early start.
Was this extra effort worthwhile? Absolutely . . . the walking to the west side of the lake is quieter and more tranquil than to the east, and the views are just as good. Add secluded tarns, links to Beatrix Potter, woodland paths, fungi, lots of wildlife, a great view from the peak of Latterbarrow, Basecamp, the enchanting Scab Moss, a lovely lakeside track, and finally a welcoming pub at the end make this a walk to savour.

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Silverdale and Arnside

Easy

5.2 miles | 8.3 km | 228 m Ascent | 6.3 Naismith miles | Alison Kinder & Colin Stroud
Having enjoyed a run of five walks over 12km and therefore graded as “moderate”, we return to Silverdale and Arnside, a favourite area of the group, for an easier walk.
Easy is not the same as dull though, and this walk manages to pack a lot into quite a comfortable distance: Great views of Morecambe Bay and the Kent estuary, sandy beaches, coves and caves, Heathwaite Woods, an area particularly known for orchids and other wild flowers within the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape, the intriguing stunted trees of Arnside Knott, a rare fragment of the once common temperate rainforest that covered much of western Britain, and an ancient pele tower.

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Middleham Circular

Moderate

7.8 miles | 12.5 km | 298 m Ascent | 9.3 Naismith miles | Glyn Barnes
We enjoyed an excellent walk from Horsehouse to Carlton in Coverdale in March 2025, noting how quiet this lovely dale is in comparison to many of the others we have walked. That first impression is confirmed by this return visit where we explore the banks of the river Cover at Middleham, slightly downstream of our last visit – quite close in fact to the point where Coverdale and Wensleydale meet. Middleham claims to be the smallest town in Yorkshire, but it is a giant in the world of horse racing with its 15 professional stables earning it the nickname ‘The Newmarket of the North’.
As well as providing a particularly lovely riverside walk, this route, starting in Middleham, gives us much else of interest – Splendid Georgian architecture, all the horse racing infrastructure around the town, two (or perhaps 3) castles, a particularly lovely church and many good options for refreshment in the town centre. All with ample parking and well maintained toilets. Perfect.

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Whernside from Ribblehead

Moderate

8.2 miles | 13.2 km | 516 m Ascent | 10.8 Naismith miles | Alison Kinder & Colin Stroud
The Yorkshire Three Peaks are a marketing triumph, and perhaps something of a distraction: They are indeed in the Yorkshire Dales, and there is no doubt that each of the three make a great walk in their own right. Whether they are best combined and walked as gruelling challenge is more open to question.
Within the group we do have some super-fit heroic types who tackle all three at pace to raise money for charity, but they were unavailable on the day, so we sent the B* team to walk Whernside, taking as long as it takes, with plenty of stops to enjoy the views and have a chat. Add a glorious sunny day, and this is Dales walking as it should be. [* Bentham]

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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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Pen-y-Ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale

Easy

6.2 miles | 10.0 km | 500 m Ascent | 8.7 Naismith miles | Valerie Eccles
When we live in and around the Yorkshire Dales, it’s easy to be blasé about the Yorkshire three peaks, or even to dismiss them as mere tourist attractions. That would be a mistake; all three offer a choice of great walks, and a series of views that changes with the season. On this occasion we tackle Pen-y-Ghent starting near St Oswald’s church, then going via Brackenbottom, to approach the peak from the southern side using the Pennine Way path. That gets the steep climb (and it is somewhat brutal) out of the way early. There is then ample opportunity to recover in the shelters at the peak before we embark on a gentler return to the north – still on the Pennine Way, before diverting to see the spectacular Hull Pot. Finally, we return to Horton by the Pennine Journey path.

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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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Aughton and the River Lune

Easy

7.1 miles | 11.4 km | 288 m Ascent | 8.5 Naismith miles | Mary Pickstone & Valerie Eccles
Our last three walks have been further afield – great for exploring areas we might be less familiar with, but not so convenient when we need a walk on the spur of the moment. This week’s route is much closer to home and is in an area that we are all very familiar with – the Lune Valley.
As well as being convenient, this walk has much to offer: We start at a wildflower meadow within the grounds of the Hermitage Estate, and head toward Halton Green before diverting through Higher Wood to get to Halton Park. A path through the edge of Wham Wood takes us to Hawkshead and a path along the top of the ridge to Aughton. This lovely village offers a good place to enjoy lunch, before we press on back down to the riverside at Aughton Barns. From there a riverside path takes us through Aughton Woods Nature Reserve before passing the spectacular waterworks bridge as we head back to our starting point.

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