By Jonathan Smith

THIS short walk passes through attractive limestone scenery with excellent views across Three Peaks country. Feizor, where the walk starts and finishes, is a small hamlet, superbly set around a working farm with an excellent café to finish the walk.

The walk starts at the little hamlet to Feizor, a few miles from Settle and accessed along a narrow road off the A65. Feizor is little more than a farm and a collection of traditional buildings built in with Yorkshire Dales stone.

In the centre lies Elaine’s Tea Rooms (more of that later) and a small car park. A few metres south from the café a signpost points towards Settle, walk through the farm yard and on to the open hillside. This is a bridleway and initially a farm track which climbs steadily south west. Just after the field boundary on the left turns away from the path it splits. Keep left and continue along a footpath.

Pass over three stiles on the path before reaching a wall on your right. Here the path splits again, take the left hand fork (do not climb the wall). The exposed limestone rock is lovely but is about to get even better. The views are also wonderful. Ahead is Ribblesdale, the home of the Three Peaks.

Two of these (Penyghent and Ingleborough) have a very distinctive and flat topped outline so are easy to pick out. They are also the highest points in view. The path is not obvious but the walking easy on soft grass. Head east over another wall before turning sharply north after 300 metres. The path soon improves and passes under a wooded scar. The scar is a reflection of a previous period of glaciation (about 15,000 years ago) and its retreat which exposed much of the limestone bedrock.

After a further wall the path meets a farm track heading east/west just above the farm at Little Stainforth. It is quite possible at this stage to drop in to Ribblesdale and visit Stainforth Falls and the pretty village of Stainforth. If you do not, turn left along a broad track and head uphill. Soon the climbing is complete and the track comes to a gate under Smearsett Scar.

It is possible to pick your way through the access land on to the top of the scar, but do not if the gates are locked and certainly do not climb any walls. If you pick the way with success the reward is some excellent views. The track, however, continues west on some beautiful green turf. The easy walking and lovely limestone scenery is why this is my favourite of all Dales walking.

Far too soon Feizor is reached (those wanting more should carry on the track north towards Austwick). But before heading for the cafe look for first though is the old village water pump (a few metres up hill from the café). The fact it still exists would be a relief to Alfred Wainwright who fretted over it being removed.

Elaine’s café marks the end of the walk. It is very good, great cake and sandwiches and an idyllic situation.

Fact Box:

Distance: Roughly 4.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 200m (650 feet).

Start: SD 790677. There is parking opposite the café (but do visit it on your return).

Difficulty: Moderate/Easy. The walk is short and sticks to paths. If the ground is wet then some of the rock will be slippy. It is a good pull on the return if you drop down to Little Stainforth.

Refreshments: Elaine’s Tea Shop is open every day.

Be prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL41) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk. Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan is the owner of Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:

• He has written 3 books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains and the ‘Walks without Stiles’ book. All these books (and more) are available direct from the Where2walk website.

• He runs Navigation Courses at different venues in the Yorkshire Dales and Moors and has Guiding Holidays including the 3 Peaks in 3 Days and ‘Dales 30’ Weekenders.

Where2walk.co.uk also features 100’s of walks across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of the walks,