Yorkshire

Yockenthwaite to Cray walk

Discover valleys, flower-rich meadows, and seasonal wildlife on the Yockenthwaite to Cray walk. This moderate circular trail heads up across the hillside and over glaciated valleys, visiting villages and offering views across the Yorkshire Dales. It also offers the chance to spot a variety of local wildlife, including birds, bats, and butterflies.

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Total steps: 6

Start point

Yockenthwaite Bridge, Skipton, BD23 5JQ. Grid ref: SD904790.

Step 1

Starting at Yockenthwaite Bridge, follow the footpath signposted to Scar House up around to the east. Turn right off the farm track at another footpath sign to go through Strans Wood and emerge onto the open hillside. Continue along the fields and through woodland until you reach Scar House.

Woodland and flora

The limestone pavement in Stans Wood is made of blocks (clints) and cracks (grikes). You'll find wild thyme, limestone bedstraw and birds-foot trefoil growing on the clints, while shade-loving plants like harts tongue fern grow in the grikes. Wild flowers like cicely and bistort bloom on the roadsides. In summer, look out for blue meadow cranesbill and yellow rattle – it's said that when the seeds rattle, it's time to cut the meadow – as well as birds eye primrose and carnivorous common butterwort.

Step 2

Continue past Scar House in a similar direction, heading east towards Cray and keeping the woodland boundary on your right. Keep walking until you reach Crook Gill carving its way down the hillside. (For a shorter walk, turn right at Scar House, and follow the track to Hubberholme, then jump to Step 5).

Scar House and viewpoints

George Fox, the founder of the Quakers, stayed at Scar House and 'converted the farmer to the Quaker Truth' in 1652. The house later became a Quaker meeting place. A small enclosure with five trees marks an old burial ground. On the walk between Scar House and Cray, there's an impressive view down Wharedale's glaciated valley, with its wide floor and steep, ice-carved sides.

Step 3

Cross Crook Gill and walk single file through hay meadows. You'll eventually join a track heading into the hamlet of Cray. Turn right on entering Cray to follow a footpath south-west through fields, over and alongside the River Wharfe until you reach Stubbing Lane. (Alternative route: extend your walk to Buckden. On entering Cray, rather than turning right, head through the hamlet, cross Park Lane and the stepping stones to join a fellside path. Heading south, turn left and then right to follow the track all the way down through the fields, through some trees and into Buckden. Now jump to Step 6.)

Close-up of a common blue butterfly perched on a flower stalk at Coombe Hill — Common blue butterfly | © National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole

Step 4

Turn right and walk down Stubbing Lane for about 0.5 miles (0.8km) to reach Hubberholme.

Step 5

From Hubberholme, take the grass path on the left behind the church. Follow this path, keeping the River Wharfe on your left, all the way back to Yockenthwaite Bridge and the end of the trail.

A close up image of a Daubenton’s bat — Daubenton's bat | © National Trust Images/Bat Conservation Trust/Hugh Clark

Step 6

If you've taken the extended route and are now in Buckden, head west on Dubb's Lane out of the village and over the bridge. Just after the bridge turn right through the gate and follow the Dales Way past the River Wharfe and along Dubb's Lane to reach Hubberholme. Here, you'll rejoin the main walk, so jump to Step 5.

End point

Yockenthwaite Bridge, Skipton, BD23 5JQ. Grid ref: SD904790.

Trail map

Map route for Yockenthwaite to Cray wildlife walk — Yockenthwaite to Cray walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

River Wharfe at Buckden, Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales

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Malham Tarn Estate Office, North Wing, Malham Tarn House, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9PU

01729830416

yorkshiredales@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Yockenthwaite to Cray walk

Total steps: 6