Loop - Leaping Salmon, Waterfalls, Caves & Autumn Colours - Settle - 10mi/16km

Start Time: 10:20am (as soon as the train arrives)
Miles/Kilometres: 10mi/16km
Total ascent: 575m
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated length of time: ~7 hours
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Public Transport: Yes, the 09:18 train from Leeds to Settle (I recommend getting an "Open Return" ticket so you're flexible on the return time)
Parking: There are a few car parks near Settle station
Payment: £1 for the walk - Use this link to pay - https://settleup.starlingbank.com/jamie-pope-b52348?amount=1.00 please put "settle" as the reference

Overview
Join us on one of my favourite walks, deep in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This spectacular loop takes in two large waterfalls, great for spotting leaping salmon at this time of year, along with two ancient caves, a tranquil river, a historic market town and, weather dependent, a summit with 360° views across the Ribble Valley, all wrapped in a backdrop of autumn colour.

River Ribble — We'll start at Settle train station and head straight out alongside the River Ribble, following the Ribble Way. This stretch is a gentle, mostly flat riverside path through Langcliffe and on to Stainforth, with the river winding tranquilly past open fields and autumn trees along the way. The Ribble is the only river in Yorkshire that flows west rather than east - it eventually reaches the Irish Sea near Preston, 75 miles away. It once marked the northern boundary of the ancient kingdom of Mercia, and today it's a key breeding ground for the endangered Atlantic salmon - which is exactly what brings us to our first stop.

Stainforth Force — Our first stop is one of the best places in the whole Ribble catchment to watch salmon leaping. Every autumn, salmon that hatched upstream years earlier return from the sea and fight their way back up the river to spawn, hurling themselves up and over the falls to reach the gravel beds where they'll lay their eggs. October and November, especially after heavy rain, is peak time to catch it, so fingers crossed the weather plays ball. If the weather's kind, we'll linger here for pictures and hopefully a salmon or two.

Catrigg Force — From Stainforth we climb steadily up out of the village to our next stop, a hidden gem tucked away in its own secluded wooded gorge carved out over millions of years. The beck tumbles roughly 20ft down into a clear plunge pool below, and the spot was a favourite of composer Edward Elgar, who's said to have hiked up to it often while staying with friends in Settle. It's a lovely, sheltered spot, and likely where we'll stop for lunch.

Jubilee Cave — We'll then follow the Great North Trail to Jubilee Cave, which you squeeze through from one end to the other. Excavations here have turned up Iron Age, Neolithic, Romano-British and Celtic material, so people have been passing through this spot for thousands of years.

Victoria Cave — From Jubilee Cave we follow the path along the base of the limestone hills, with views over the Ribble Valley, to the huge Victoria Cave, where we'll stop to explore. Discovered by accident in 1837, the year of Queen Victoria's coronation, it's one of the most famous archaeological sites in the Dales, home to 130,000-year-old hippo and hyena bones, a hibernating brown bear skull dated to 14,600 years old, and Roman coins and jewellery left behind by later craft workers.

Warrendale Knotts — From Victoria Cave we continue along the foot of the limestone cliffs before heading up Warrendale Knotts, a group of rocky limestone knolls high above Settle and Langcliffe. At around 450m it's not the highest, but it's a cracking 360° viewpoint with sweeping views over Ribblesdale, and the rocky outcrops make for a bit of a scramble for anyone who fancies it. The south-facing scars and gullies are part of the Mid-Craven Fault, which shaped much of the landscape around Settle. It's very much a weather-dependent stop, so fingers crossed for a clear day.

Settle — We'll then turn back on ourselves and head around the dramatic limestone cliffs of Attermire Scar to join the Dales High Way, following it back towards Settle. On a good day, golden hour should treat us to magical views across Settle as the sun sets. Finally, we'll drop back down into the quaint market town, whose name comes from the Old English "Setl" meaning a dwelling, and which has held its market charter since 1249, and finish with a celebratory pint.

Disclaimers

Please read before joining:
The walk organisers have no formal training or insurance. By signing up, you accept that you're responsible for your own safety, and for the safety of anyone you bring along.

Before you leave:

Check the weather on multiple sites before setting off.
Wear clothing and footwear suitable for the forecast. Walking boots are advised for any medium or harder walk; trainers are fine for leisurely/easy ones. Bring a coat just in case (it is Britain, after all) and extra layers if it's due to be cold.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks, and enough food and water for the estimated duration.
Bring some cash, just in case — not everywhere takes card yet, especially parking.

All proceeds go towards equipment for leading walks, group events and trips, with a percentage donated to charity.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the walk organiser.