How to walk to Catrigg Force: Circular Route via Winskill Stones

Directions

1. Beginning at the same start point as the linear route, Stainforth Car Park, head out of the vehicular exit and turn right heading into the village of Stainforth on the Pennine Bridleway. Get as far as Main Road, then turn right, heading across the bridge over Stainforth Beck.

2. Directly opposite the Craven Heifer pub, you will see a small access road on your left with the acorn National Trail signpost. Turn left down this road until the end where you will see a gravelled track opposite and diagonally on your right. There is a footpath sign marked Winskill, head up this access track, which then bends round to the right through the houses to a wooden gate and a stone stepped stile with a further footpath signpost.

3. Head up the grassy path that’s wide and very obvious heading diagonally up and left to the metal gate at the top end of the field. There is a signpost here that says please keep to the footpath on the left next to the fence. The path broadly follows the fence, getting closer and closer to it as you go.

4. You will reach a wooden kissing gate in the fence on your left, and beyond you will see stone stops heading upwards. Head up them!

5. The steps take you steeply up Stainforth Scar, and when you reach the top, you will see a wooden ladder stile, head over this then take the grassy path that follows the top edge of the scar until it splits into two. Here take the right hand fork, that takes you to a gap in the wall.

6. The path heads towards Lower Winskill farm, where you will see yet another ladder stile over the perimeter wall. The path heads directly through the middle of the farmyard towards the farmhouse, through a metal gate and along the access track, where you will another footpath sign pointing up the walled stony track. Head up the track.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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!

10. 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.

11. 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!

Last walked February 2023