How to walk to Catrigg Force: Circular Route with the Hoffman Kiln.

Directions to be used alongside a map.

1. Beginning from Stainforth Pay and Display, head out of the car park entrance and turn left. You need to turn left again, and head down the B6479 in the direction of Settle. This part of the walk is on a pavement, running alongside the road on the left hand side. After crossing a minor road, and after 500 yards, there is a stone stepped stile crossing a dry stone wall to your left. You need to take this, and head into the field. It’s signposted Langcliffe.

2. This is a grassy field, and the path heads diagonally rightwards, over a small hillock and then down across a stream after which you will see a ladder stile. Head across the next field - in the distance, you will begin to see some of the buildings of the trail come into view. There is a stile into the trail and on your right, an information board all about it.

3. EXPLORE! There is so much to be seen here. The remains of several incredibly impressive stone kilns, train tracks, tramlines, and the crowning glory… The Hoffman Kiln. It’s a protected site with loads of information boards dotted around it, so take it all in and enjoy! (IF you really want to just pick out the best bits, then immediately after the stile, turn right. This path takes you straight to the triple draw kilns and from there, head on to the Hoffman Kiln.)

4. Once you have enjoyed the trail, head out to the far end of the quarry trail beyond the Hoffman Kiln. Back in 2025, renovations were completed to the site and the buildings next to the kiln. There is now a large car park along with some office buildings right next to the old quarry. You can use this as an alternative start point. Since originally writing this walk, more of the trail has opened up, so it is possible to now from the Hoffman Kiln, turn left up the woodend steps to the car park (now signposted craven lime works trail ) and then follow the car park access road. There is a path leading up into the woodland from here, where you’ll find more of the trail to explore. It will lead you back down onto Hoffman Kiln Road, and you need to make you way to the access road, at the point where it heads under the railway bridge.

5. Turn left onto a wide stony track, passing between some stables and keeping the railway to your right. The footpath is signposted Langcliffe. It’s a wide stony track, and you can’t miss it! Soon after, it heads through a gate and turns grassy (and if it’s wet, a tad muddy!) keep heading on until you reach a ladder stile and cross that, following the grassy path on the other side then through a fence.

6. After passing through a little gate in a wire fence, you will reach another ladder stile (feels familiar right?!) Here you will get amazing views across towards Warrendale Knotts, and in the next field you’ll reach a stone stepped stile. Cross this and turn left. There is a signpost pointing in the direction of Winskill ¾ miles.

7. Follow this, it’s a stony track that heads through a gate into a field and then uphill, passing a bench on the right, then a tree on the left, until you head through another gate at the top. The path will be going uphill now. Head through the gate at the top and follow the clear path until it heads through a gate on the left. Follow the path along the next field and cross a stile onto another track. Here, turn right.

8. At the top, you will find a cattle grid and multiple signposts. On your right at this point in the distance you will see the Winskill Stones. If you want to explore them, head right here along the stony track and a little further up you will reach the limestone pavement (check out more about those below). After exploring, head back the way you came back to the cattle grid, and then continue along the Pennine Bridleway, signposted Stainforth.

9. The stony track will lead you to a wooden gate signposted again with Pennine Bridleway, Stainforth. Head through the gate and down towards the wooded gorge of Catrigg Force. Ahead of you, you will see the top of Pen y Ghent in the distance. The stone track bends round to the left meeting another gate in the wall, and immediately afterwards on your right, you will see the gate to Catrigg Force.

10. Head through the signposted gate that leads you downwards to the woodland. There is a further gate in the wall on your left that takes you into the woodland to the path that leads steeply down to the waterfall. Take care on the stones at Catrigg, they are slippery ALL the time!

11. Once you have seen the waterfall head back up to the gate on the stony track and turn right. Follow the walled path all the way back down into Stainforth.

12. As you reach the houses of the village, continue straight on to the stepping stones that cross Stainforth Beck, cross them and head straight on down the road until you meet the Pennine Bridleway again. Turn right, and head back to the car park! If you can’t cross the stepping stones, then turn left at the grassy triangle and take the road leading back to the Craven Heifer. Here, turn right over the bridge, the left again to return to the car park.

Last walked July 2026.