THIS Yorkshire Dales walk has links with two Lancastrians - both from Blackburn. TV’s Russell Harty, an ex-Giggleswick teacher, lived in Rose Cottage next to the village church and is buried in the overspill graveyard behind St Alkelda’s.

The legendary fellwalker Alfred Wainwright set out on his 1938 ‘Pennine Journey’ from Settle train station, where there is now a plaque recording his visit in the station waiting room.

There is so much of interest on this walk, which takes in a lovely rural stretch of the Ribble Way footpath and visits the timeless village of Langcliffe with its war memorial fountain. If you like books, Langcliffe Church usually has second-hand ones for sale.

1. Walk from the church entrance along the lane (Church Street) in the opposite direction to Giggleswick School, passing the pub and old cross on the left.

Ignore the first lane turning on the left but continue straight ahead and the lane swings right past fine town houses.

Almost immediately after the lane swings right look out on the left hand side for a wooden footpath signpost hidden behind a stone wall.

This starts as a walled tarmac path alongside a detached old villa. Turn left down this to join the riverside path.

2. Turn left along the riverside path with the River Ribble on the right. You are now on the RIbble Way. Pass the footbridge on the right but do not cross it. Instead just keep the river on the right and follow the path to a road bridge.

Cross the road (not the bridge) with care and join the signed continuation of the Ribble Way directly opposite. The path follows a track between playing fields. Keep to the waymarked Ribble Way as it bends left then right and runs straight ahead crossing several wall stiles through fields.

The path is well used and keeps to the fields above the Ribble down to the right. Eventually a lane is reached.

3. Continue straight ahead along the lane to the nearby hamlet of Stackhouse. Keep to the lane bending right past the houses on the left until a large house is reached on the right. Turn sharp right here along a walled track signed as the Ribble Way.

It leads to a weir and footbridge over the river. Cross the footbridge and turn left following the wide track uphill to meet the B road. Cross this with care, turning right over the Settle-Carlisle railway bridge and following the pavement. Soon take the left turn to follow the lane into Langcliffe village. The memorial fountain is reached overlooking the village green.

4. You may wish to explore the village church. But to continue the walk turn right at the fountain and follow the adjoining lane back to the B road.

Turn left along the pavement and after less than a quarter of a mile turn left along the narrow lane signed as a dead-end road. Follow this for about one mile and it leads into Settle. Turn right at the end of the lane to reach the main street by the market square. Turn left along the main street then cross over and turn right down Station Road to pass Settle station on the left. The restored station is worth a look, check out the Wainwright plaque in the waiting room!

5. To continue the walk keep going along Station Road under the railway bridge and then turn sharp right following the lane past the playground and Booths supermarket on the left. Turn left along the adjoining lane passing Booths on the left. When this lane swings right leave it by going straight ahead along the track (Mill Lane) with the gardens of houses on the right. Turn right along the continuation of Mill Lane with the converted mill over on the left hand side of the road. After passing the mill immediately turn left and you will reach the memorial footbridge over the Ribble. Cross this and turn left and right to retrace your steps back to Giggleswick church.