Where is this walk?

Lanes Above Long Preston

January 10, 2021

The lanes above Long Preston offer a wonderful selection of walks which will suit all walkers. This one takes you along country lanes, visits a waterfall and passes through stunning Dales countryside.

The Walk

To be able to walk from the door and immediately be amongst some lovely countryside was the main motivation for moving to Long Preston over twenty years ago. Long Preston beck is close by but it is along the lanes further afield which is so enjoyable. The outbound lane (Langber) takes you to the waterfall at Scaleber Force. Enjoy the views towards Attermire Scar and the Settle limestone cliffs. On the return Moor Lane rises from Settle to provide lovely views across the River Ribble towards Pendle Hill. In fact the views stretch towards the Coniston Fells in the Lake District on a good day.

Langber Lane was the main road between Skipton and Lancaster over 100 years ago but now leads only to the lonely outpost of Bookilber Barn. However the forestry commission (and others) have utilized 100 acres of land near the lane as part of a mass growth of replanting and recreating the forests of old. This woodland, named Hawes, is in its infancy but in 10 to 20 years I would be expecting an established eco system of birds and small animals living under the woodland mix of birch, rowan and oak trees. When Hawes is combined with the similarly forward thinking Long Preston Deeps programme on the floodplain of the River Ribble it provides a great example of what can be done to protect and improve an already lovely area.

Recommend

A short detour off the road above Settle brings the delightful wooded copse enclosing Scaleber Force. It is particularly impressive after the rains. The falls are set amongst some attractive woodland. They are over fifteen metres high and fall in a set of ledges, almost like a rollercoaster!

Navigation Tips for the Lanes of Long Preston

This is the area I hold my Navigation Training courses. The participants have all tramped the lanes, walked the paths and crossed some pathless countryside.

2 Comments
  • Jonathan says:

    We have passed through Long Preston probably thousands of times and never stopped – apart from a couple of times at the Rohan shop. We recently saw your walk in the Telegraph and Argus and set out to do it yesterday – myself, husband and our 2 Border Collies.
    Wow!! Fantastic day. Brilliant sunshine, freezing cold, ice and snow on the ground on the tops. The views were awesome all the way round. We must have walked past the waterfall lots of times and never noticed it was there. Definitely a hidden gem and much enjoyed. We will definitely do it again probably over the summer to get a different perspective in different conditions.
    We are now looking for the next one to do on your website……….
    Best Wishes
    Sue and Stephen Mason, Zac and Bex

  • Sue Duncan says:

    Thankyou for sharing your experience of walking in the dales it is a truly inspiring read .
    Many Thanks

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