Walk of the Month: Stainforth Foss & Hoffman Kiln
We like to help you explore the area whilst you’re staying with us. For those of you that can get out on foot, we hope our monthly walks help give you a little inspiration whether you visit us weekly, monthly or just once a year.
This month, we’d love to send you on a low-level route which is brimming with surprises! Taking you to the Hoffman Kiln and other delights, this circular route is great for the whole family.
This walk is a joy throughout the seasons. In autumn, you can hope to catch a glimpse of the salmon leaping up the falls on the River Ribble at Stainforth Foss. Meandering through the small village of Langcliffe will bring you to a secret mill pond. Langcliffe was once a key leather processing community with a tannery and paper mill alongside a number of inns and two churches. This sleepy settlement still retains much of this heritage and has a wonderful local spirit, demonstrated through the community gardens, which you will see on your walk.
The Hoffman Kiln, part of the Craven Limeworks trail, was built in 1987 to produce lime for the growing industrial towns of West Yorkshire. It’s one of three lime kilns along this route, all of which have their own fascinating role in our local history. The information boards on the trail mean you can learn all about this as you meander through the atmospheric kilns.
The route:
Distance: 3.4miles (5.5km)
Approx. Time: Approx. 2 -3 hours, depending on how long you spend admiring the kilns and waterfalls.
Terrain: Low level, so although you’ll be surrounded by hills you won’t need to climb them! Please be aware that it can be muddy and slippery in wet weather and some stiles can be a little difficult, so sensible footwear is advised. Grab your walking boots and view the route here
It will take you around 20 minutes to drive to the start of this route but the journey is very scenic.
There are toilets in Stainforth National Car Park and a number of pubs in Stainforth for post walk refreshments. You can make a day of it and call in to the market town of Settle afterwards for a wander around the boutique shops or grab a well-earned bite to eat in one of the many cafes, such as the famous ‘Ye Olde Naked Man Cafe’.
The route passes through some farmland, so be aware of livestock and please leave gates how you find them. Please make sure to follow the countryside code.
Walk maps for this walk and many others can be found in our park reception . Let us know if you’ve enjoyed the route and please do share your snaps on our social media pages so others can be inspired.
