Stainforth Force and the Hoffman Kiln

Directions to the Hoffman Kiln and Stainforth Force

1. Beginning from Stainforth Pay and Display, head out of the car park and turn left. You need to turn left again, and head down the B6479 in the direction of Settle. This part of the walk is on a pavement, running alongside the road on the left hand side. After crossing a minor road, and after 500 yards, there is a stone stepped stile crossing a dry stone wall to your left. You need to take this, and head into the field.

2. This is a grassy field, and there are some clear tracks in the grass, you need to take the one that’s on the far right, it heads over a little lumpy bit, and then downhill, cross the little stream, and then you’ll see a ladder stile. Head across the next field until you come to a stile. This takes you into the Craven Lime Works Trail, and you’ll see an information board on your right as soon as you head in.

3. EXPLORE! There is so much to be seen here. The remains of several incredibly impressive stone kilns, train tracks, tramlines, and the crowning glory… The Hoffman Kiln. It’s a protected site with loads of information boards dotted around it, so take it all in and enjoy!

4. Once you have enjoyed the trail, head out to the far end of the limeworks trail. At the time of writing and walking, there was some construction work being carried out here, and the footpath was a little diverted. But it was insanely clear, you would never miss it! And in usual circumstances it is very well signposted too!

5. The path reaches the railway bridge on Hoffman Kiln Road (there’s another information board here). You need to continue straight on across the other side of the road, keeping the railway to your right. The footpath is signposted Langcliffe. It’s a wide stoney track, you can’t miss it! Soon after, it turns grassy (and if it’s wet, a tad muddy!) keep heading on until you reach another ladder stile and cross that, following the grassy path on the other side.

6. After passing through a little gate in a wire fence, you will reach another ladder stile (feels familiar right?!) Here you will get amazing views across towards Warrendale Knotts, and in the next field you’ll reach a stone stepped stile. Cross this, and immediately on your right, is a gate signposted public footpath. Take this, and head down the fenced pathway. There are a few steps here, and it descends to another gate at the bottom.

7. Turn left along a wide track until you reach the road. Turn right along the path that heads over a wooden bridge, crossing the railway lines, and then cross the road, to the little access road opposite. There is a bench right at the top of it. Head down this (it’s extremely quiet). At the bottom, you will reach a weir and a house. The clear footpath heads into a small cluster of shrubbery, and then over a footbridge to your right. At the other side you’ll see a signpost with a yellow waymarker pointing right.

8. Turn right! The footpath is momentarily cobbley, and then you’ll see a signpost to Stainforth Foss. Head through the gate, and then take the footpath, keeping the river to your right. It heads through the several fields, another gate in the stone wall, and then, it crosses a stile to a wooded path. I’ll warn you, that this bit it MUUUUUUUDDDDDYYYY!

9. You’ll pass the paper mill on your right on the other side of the river, if you have a digger fan, enjoy the machinery there! Then quite simply, follow the river! There are several stiles to cross, and there’s a cool stream the appears out of nowhere (presumably the outflow of one of the caves of Giggleswick Scar, which is to your left) but it will eventually reach the caravan/ campsite at Stainforth.

10. At this point head right through a gate in the fence (it is marked by a information board about the Stainforth Woodland), turn left, and continue along the path until you see Stainforth Force waterfall.

11. Head towards the ancient packhorse bridge crossing the river, and then turn right. Head up the very quiet access road until you nearly reach the main road. At this point, there is a gate to your right, which takes you on a path heading right back to the car park at Stainforth. There’s a picnic spot. Just make sure you don’t head across the road, but pass on the path going under the bridge!

Last walked in February 2022.