Scar House and Dale Edge
Start and Finish: Lofthouse
Approximate time for the walk: 6 hours
Distance: 11 and a half miles
Landscape: Caves, potholes, underground, river fossils, coal pits. Wildlife includes green woodpecker, little owl, blackcap and yellow cuckoo
Map: O/S Explorer 26 Niderdale
Description of the walk:
A. Starts from the free car park in the centre of Lofthouse. Walk up the through the village on the road. When you reach the first bend, leave the road and go straight-ahead to past a footpath signpost, ‘Thorpe Lane.’ Continue straight-ahead. Follow the river path, with a view over Middlesmoor. This path is the Niddedale Way and follows this path as it goes passed Thorpe Farm and descends to the riverbed. Cross over the river on the large rocks and pass over a stile and continue straight-ahead to reach Limley Farm. At Limley Farm walk into the farm yard and go left cottages, to continue up the left-hand side of the bank of the river. Continue straight-ahead passing Goyden Pot and Manchester Hole, passing over a stile to emerge in a road. Take this access road, to eventually meet the reservoir of Scare House.
B. Follow the Nidderdale Way and right to cross the dam. At other end of the dam, turn half left and go straight up the hillside. Once you reach a large shelter, turn right and follow the path. This path peaty and broad and descends to a wooden bridge. Continue forward after the bridge for another 85 yards before turning left up through some bracken. After 200 yards going upwards, another track comes in view. Turn right along this track and go straight-head along this track for 3 miles. Take no diversions at all and follow this track.
C. Immediately before a shooting house with the tower, take a path and descend steeply. This path leads to Thorpe Farm. When reaching Thorpe Farm, cross the lane and farmyard to go right of the buildings. Head down the path to reach the river bridge. Once you reach the bridge, turn down the river bank passing through four fields, to meet the reservoir road. Walk down the reservoir road for half a mile or so, before turning left over bridge, to emerge in the middle of Lofthouse once again. This is where walk finishes and concludes.