Directions to the Hoffman Kiln and Stainforth Force

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 immediately on your right, is a gate signposted public footpath. Take this, and head down the fenced pathway. There are a few steps here, and it descends to another gate at the bottom.

7. Turn left along a wide track until you reach the road. Turn right along the path that heads over a wooden bridge, crossing the railway lines, and then cross the road, to the little access road opposite. There is a bench right at the top of it. Head down this (it’s extremely quiet as access only). At the bottom, you will reach a weir and a house. The clear footpath heads into a small cluster of shrubbery, and then over a footbridge to your right. At the other side you’ll see a signpost with a yellow waymarker pointing right.

8. Turn right! The footpath is momentarily cobbley, and then you’ll see a signpost to Stainforth Foss. Head through the gate, and then take the footpath, keeping the river to your right. It heads through the several fields, another gate in the stone wall, and then, it crosses a stile to a wooded path. I’ll warn you, that this bit it MUUUUUUUDDDDDYYYY!

9. You’ll pass the paper mill on your right on the other side of the river, if you have a digger fan, enjoy the machinery there! Then quite simply, follow the river! There are several stiles to cross, and there’s a cool stream the appears out of nowhere (presumably the outflow of one of the caves of Giggleswick Scar, which is to your left) but it will eventually reach the caravan/ campsite at Stainforth. Take care here, there is a short section when there is an unguarded drop to the right.

10. At this point head right through a gate in the fence (it is marked by a information board about the Stainforth Woodland), turn left, and continue along the path until you see Stainforth Force waterfall.

11. Head towards the ancient packhorse bridge crossing the river, and then turn right. Head up the very quiet access road until you nearly reach the main road. At this point, there is a gate to your right, which takes you on a path heading right back to the car park at Stainforth. There’s a picnic spot. Just make sure you don’t head across the road, but pass on the path going under the bridge!

Last walked in October 2025.