The Grey Panthers

Explorer Map OL2, - "Yorkshire Dales - Southern & Western Areas"

A walk which should be reserved for days when there is clear weather with high visibility, as there are extensive views to be had of the three Peaks, - Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, and the nearby Dales.
Navigation is reasonably straightforward, though it helps to have the 1:25000 OS map to hand.
There is an initial climb of about 400 ft, but this is achieved over a long, gradual incline following the Pennine Way footpath. For the second half of the walk there is a similar climb, though it is quite gentle.
Certainly one of the most scenic walks you could wish for.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now available which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from car park run by the local Dales Authority, SD808 725 (fee payable, toilets to hand).
Head Northwards to the Crown Inn. Here turn right and take to walled lane (the Pennine Way) that heads in a Northerly direction, climbing uphill. (Great views of Horton in Ribblesdale as you ascend).
Just past the Sell Gill Beck, the track swings left and shortly after this the Ribble Way leaves the main Pennine Way track.
The Ribble Way continues to the left of a ruined barn (indicated by a waymark) and just past the ruin swings immediately to the right.
The footpath then crosses rough pastureland for over one mile, until you come to a deep gully. Here there is a boulder which marks a footpath detour to the right. Take this detour to take the easy route at the head of the gully. It is possible to directly cross the gully, but this is not recommended.
Continue past the plantation (on your left) and where the track turns left continue along the track. Follow this farm track towards High BirkwithFarm.
Just past the farm, take the footpath on your right to Low Birkwith Farm.
Continue past this farm on the footpath with the Coppy Gill on your right.
A large footbridge takes you over the River Ribble. Continue along the track to reach the hamlet of Selside.
In Selside, turn right along the main road until you come to a track on your left opposite a large house.
Follow this track all the way to the Alum Pot cave (fee payable on the track near Alum Pot).
Return along the track to where a walled by-way heads Southwards.
Follow this byway (though you may need to check field patterns using the OS map) until you come to the "4-way junction" above Sulber Nick.
Here take the signposted footpath back to Horton in Ribblesdale.