Scoska Cave and Woods

How to walk the Scoska Cave/ Scoska Woods circular

Directions (to be used in conjunction with a map)

1. Beginning at the Queens Arms pub, head up the road in the direction of Halton Gill (tap to head to our Halton Gill walk). After 50 yards or so, there is a track forking off from the main road to the left. Head down this walled stony track, which heads behind the houses and then to the right, passing a modern memorial bench on the way.

2. After a short distance, you will arrive at a crossroads with a signpost. Turn left (signposted public bridleway). Again, after a short distance turn right following the signpost and cross the beck over the concrete road. You will pass some farm buildings on the other side, and then on your left you will see a gate and signpost pointing to Arncliffe.

3. Head across the field along the wide grassy track. You will see a gap in the wall ahead. Head through that and turn left along the wall. There is a yellow waymarked public footpath sign pointing you in the right direction. In the distance you will see a gate, with another waymarker in the wall ahead, head to this.

4. Head through the gate, then turn right heading along the path at the side of the river. After about 700 yards, you will head through another gate and into a field. The path starts to move away from the edge of the river at that point. Continue straight on across the field and then into the next. At which point the footpath re-joins the edge of the river.

5. Head through another gate. You will see a wooden footpath sign, and the stepping stones. Here is the point of the walk where you can either continue on to Scoska Cave, OR you can simply cross the stepping stones and head back to Litton. If you are following the shorter route, head directly point 11. Reminder: the route up to Scoska cave is extremely steep and hands and knees will be required. This part of the walk is better reserved for confident and more experienced hikers.

6. For Scoska Cave, turn right through the large wooden gate, beyond which you will see a large information board about Scoska Wood National Nature Reserve, which handily has a little map featuring the cave (if you need to check how far you need to go!)

7. Head through the nature reserve, and then out the other side and continue until you see a ruined barn beyond a dry stone wall ahead next to a beck (this is regularly dry, but you will see the depression in the ground if there’s no water!) The beck follows the line of the dry stone wall, and rises on the incline to your right. Head right, and follow the beck as it goes upwards. The path here is not as well walked, but if you follow the beck to a metal gate in the wall then you will keep on track.

8. Cross the beck and head through the gate, (closing it behind you!) This is where it gets steep and tricky. You need to ascend the beck loosely on the left hand side. The path zig zags and weaves up the steep bank through stubby woodland. You will probably need your hands at some point, although the kids managed it far more easily than I did! Just beyond the gate, there is a waterfall. It was a trickle when we were there, but may be more obvious after wet weather!

9. The opening to Scoska cave will soon become visible so head into it! We did not bring our big torch, which you will need to be able to see much inside. Head torches don’t really do the job! Do not disturb the orange tape that has been placed there. It is to protect the greenery at that side of the cave, which interestingly shows you the effect of the darkness of the cave on plant life. We did not explore any further than the mouth of the cave, and without specialist knowledge and equipment we do not suggest you do! Entering the cave is at your own risk.

10. Once you have explored, then head back the way you came, taking care on the steep bank and the slippery limestone. You need to retrack your steps all the way to the stepping stones.

11. Cross the stepping stones to the other side and head left along the edge of the river with a dry stone wall to your right. Head through the gate onto a walled path, then turn left following the footpath signs. The footpath back to Litton is well waymarked and heads through several fields and gates until it eventually leads you back to the road in Litton. At which point head back to the pub (and in it! It’s a top little pub with a beer garden!)

Last walked October 2022