After meeting up at the National Park’s car park at Clapham the ten of us (this included Steve Griffith the RSF Public Relations Officer up from London, new members David Threlfall from Langho and Bill Plews from Ormskirk) headed out of Clapham along Thwaite Lane, we soon drop down into Crummack Dale and followed the B road out of the dale over to Helwith Bridge, where a detour was made up Ribblesdale to the Pen-y-ghent café at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
After morning coffee we headed back down the dale to Helwith Bridge, where we follow the Long Lane Track over the shoulder of Pen-y-ghent (in some places snow still cover the track) to Dale Head where we rejoin the tarmac, which we followed out of Sliverdale and through Blishmire Close into Littondale. At map reference 856729 we turn off the tarmac and followed the white road down to New Bridge in Littondale, where we stop for late lunch.
After lunch we continue down Littondale passing through the village of Litton and in Arncliffe Steve left us to head back to the Youth Hostel at Hawes via the tea room at Buckden. The rest of us followed Brootes Lanes out of Arncliffe and soon rewarded with fine views of Cowside Beck in the valley below. After climbing out of Littondale we follow the road pasted Malham Tarn and Capon Hall, then enjoying freewheel down to Cowside. We then followed the white road down into Stainforth, crossing over Stainforth Beck via the stepping stones. We then continue back to the cars at Clapham via Little Stainforth and Austwick.

Maps Used Ordnance Survey Explorer OL2 &OL30

Simeon Orme