Exploring Settle on Foot: Some of the Best Walks Around the Yorkshire Dales Gateway

Nestled on the south-western edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Settle has long been one of the region’s favourite walking destinations. Surrounded by dramatic limestone scenery, rushing waterfalls, hidden caves and iconic landscapes, the historic market town provides an ideal base for exploring some of the finest countryside in northern England.

Whether you’re looking for a gentle riverside stroll, a family-friendly waterfall walk or a more challenging day hike into the heart of the National Park, there’s a route to suit every walker. Here are three of the best ways to discover the spectacular scenery surrounding Settle.

The Settle Riverside Walk

One of the area’s most enjoyable shorter walks follows the River Ribble Way north from Settle towards the picturesque village of Stainforth. The riverside paths provide peaceful walking through attractive meadows and woodland, with lovely views of the surrounding Yorkshire Dales countryside.

The highlight of the route is Stainforth Force, where the River Ribble tumbles over broad limestone ledges into a deep pool. During the autumn months the falls become one of the best places in the Yorkshire Dales to watch Atlantic salmon leaping upstream as they make their annual journey to their spawning grounds. The village of Stainforth also provides an attractive place to pause before returning to Settle or continuing on to explore more of the Ribble Way.

Settle’s Caves and Waterfalls

Walkers looking for a little more adventure will enjoy exploring the fascinating limestone landscape to the east of Settle. This varied circular walk combines impressive waterfalls with some of the area’s most intriguing geological features.

After climbing out of the town, the route passes beneath the striking limestone cliffs of Attermire Scar before visiting several well-known caves, including Victoria Cave, Jubilee Cave and Attermire Cave. Victoria Cave is particularly notable for the archaeological discoveries made there during the nineteenth century, including the remains of Ice Age animals.

The walk also visits two of the area’s finest waterfalls. Hidden in peaceful woodland above Stainforth, Catrigg Force plunges into a beautiful rocky pool and is often described as one of the Yorkshire Dales’ hidden gems. Further south, Scaleber Force cascades through a narrow wooded gorge, creating another spectacular natural feature within easy reach of Settle.

Settle to Malham Cove

For walkers wanting to experience one of the Yorkshire Dales’ most iconic landmarks, the route from Settle to Malham Cove makes an excellent day walk.

Leaving Settle behind, the route crosses classic limestone country with wide-ranging views towards the surrounding fells before joining sections of well-established long-distance trails on the approach to Malham. The reward is the magnificent natural amphitheatre of Malham Cove, whose towering curved limestone cliff was formed by meltwater at the end of the last Ice Age. Above the cliff lies its famous limestone pavement, one of Britain’s finest examples of this distinctive landscape. In this area you can also visit the splendid Malham Tarn Estate and the limestone ravine at Gordale Scar.