Howgills & Limestone Trail
74 mile walk along the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales

The Howgills and Limestone Trail is a 74 mile long-distance walk from Kirkby Stephen to Settle through this picturesque and, in parts, demanding area of Cumbria and North Yorkshire – with a short diversion into Lancashire.

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Holiday Packages

All our Standard Itineraries include:

  • Hand-picked accommodation in B&Bs / guest houses / inns / small hotels
  • En-suite facilities where available
  • Breakfast
  • Daily baggage transfers from our own team of local drivers
  • All booking fees

We will also endeavour to include all these in any custom itinerary you wish to build for this walk.

Day 1: Kirkby Stephen to Ravenstonedale (7.1m)
Day 2: Ravenstonedale to Cautley (9.2m)
Day 3: Cautley to Sedbergh (11.4m)
Day 4: Sedbergh to Barbon (11.1m)
Day 5: Barbon to Ingleton (10.9m)
Day 6: Ingleton to Horton in Ribblesdale (11.5m)
Day 7: Horton in Ribblesdale to Settle (12.3m)

 

£755 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£660 per person (based on two sharing)
£630 per person (based on group of 3)
£625 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Get a Personal Quote

Day 1: Kirkby Stephen to Cautley (16.3m)
Day 2: Cautley to Barbon (22.5m)
Day 3: Barbon to Chapel le Dale (16.1m)
Day 4: Chapel le Dale to Settle (18.6m)

 

£485 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£425 per person (based on two sharing)
£405 per person (based on group of 3)
£395 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Get a Personal Quote

Day 1: Kirkby Stephen to Cautley (16.3m)
Day 2: Cautley to Sedbergh (11.4m)
Day 3: Sedbergh to Cowan Bridge (18.2m)
Day 4: Cowan Bridge to Horton in Ribblesdale (16.3m)
Day 5: Horton in Ribblesdale to Settle (12.3m)

 

£575 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£505 per person (based on two sharing)
£480 per person (based on group of 3)
£475 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Get a Personal Quote

Day 1: Kirkby Stephen to Ravenstonedale (7.1m)
Day 2: Ravenstonedale to Cautley (9.2m)
Day 3: Cautley to Sedbergh (11.4m)
Day 4: Sedbergh to Barbon (11.1m)
Day 5: Barbon to Ireby (7.9m)
Day 6: Ireby to Chapel le Dale (8.2m)
Day 7: Chapel le Dale to Horton in Ribblesdale (6.3m)
Day 8: Horton in Ribblesdale to Settle (12.3m)

 

£850 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£745 per person (based on two sharing)
£710 per person (based on group of 3)
£705 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Get a Personal Quote

* All headline holiday prices are shown per person, based on two people sharing.

Baggage Transfer

Baggage Transfer is automatically included in the price of all our Walking Holiday packages.

These prices are for anyone planning their own holiday and just need bags moving from one stop to the next.

£190 per person (single)
£95 per person (based on two people)
£65 per person (based on group of 3)
£8.50 per person per day (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Max 17kg per bag

£125 per person (single)
£65 per person (based on two people)
£45 per person (based on group of 3)
£8.50 per person per day (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Max 17kg per bag

£145 per person (single)
£75 per person (based on two people)
£50 per person (based on group of 3)
£8.50 per person per day (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Max 17kg per bag

£215 per person (single)
£110 per person (based on two people)
£75 per person (based on group of 3)
£8.50 per person per day (based on group of 4 or more)

 

Max 17kg per bag

Click here for a quote

Note: If you are booking accommodation in an Airbnb, you must ensure that there will either be someone available to take collection/delivery of your bags or that they have appropriate, secure storage in the event that the proprietor is absent.

Walk Information

  • Holiday Options
  • Transport
  • Walk Info
  • Maps & Guide Books

Rest Days
Rest days can be incorporated into any walking holiday package at an additional £50.00 per person per night

Solo Travellers
Solo travellers please contact us or use the booking form to send your proposed itinerary including dates, and we will price accordingly. Where possible, we take advantage of existing bookings from other clients to ensure you receive a cost effective service.

Alternative Itineraries
For alternative itineraries to those provided for this route, please contact us, or use the Booking Form to submit your proposed itinerary and number of participants and we will quote accordingly.

Walking Season Dates
Prices are based on the walk starting after 1st April and ending before 30th September. For walks outside those dates, please contact us. We provide a reduced out of season service, but still manage to meet the needs of most customers who contact us during this period.

Personal Transport
Park at our secure parking in Kirkby Malham, personal transport to Settle, train to Kirkby Stephen. On completion of walk in Settle, we will collect you and bring you back to Kirkby Malham for your car. 

£35 (1 passenger)
£20 per person (minimum 2 passengers)
£15 per person (minimum 3 passengers)
£10 per person (4 to 7 passengers)

Walk Information

The Howgills and Limestone Trail is a 76 mile long-distance walk from Kirkby Stephen to Settle through this picturesque and, in parts, demanding area of Cumbria and North Yorkshire - with a short diversion into Lancashire.

It draws its inspiration from Alfred Wainwright's Walks in Limestone Country andWalks in the Howgill Fells.

The route has strong associations with railways. It passes over the spectacular Smardale Gill viaduct, and close to the Stainmore Railway, the disused Ingleton and Tebay Railway, and the Settle–Carlisle railway.
The Trail passes through basically the same area, between Kirkby Stephen and Settle, as that of the latter stages of the Pennine Journey route . However, apart from a few hundred yards above Ingleton Falls, it takes an entirely different route but shares many of the Journey’s staging posts.

Whereas the Pennine Journey arrives in Sedbergh via the Eden and Rawthey valleys, the Trail gets there via the Howgills and the Lune valley. A short rural stretch through Ireby into Ingleton is preceded by the high ground of Middleton Fell and the pot-holing country close to Barbon.

The two routes cross on Ingleborough and again in Horton in Ribblesdale with the Trail's final day taking in an ascent of Penyghent before reaching the spectacular Catrigg Force after crossing the stepping stones of Stainforth Beck. Both routes coincide, and end, at Settle station

OS Explorer Maps
OL2 - Yorkshire Dales - Southern & Western areas
OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley

Guide Books
"The Howgills and Limestone Trail pictorial guide book" by David Pitt - ISBN: 978-0711234444

ViewRanger Digital Maps
Digital Maps can be viewed on a modern smartphone using an appropriate ‘app’, which is usually provided as part of any map purchase. Brigantes are happy to recommend ViewRanger for all your digital mapping and mobile navigation needs.

The ViewRanger Shop provides Ordnance Survey maps for all parts of the UK, as well as the National Trail and selected Long Distance Paths. Map segments can also be purchased ad-hoc, allowing you to cover any walk you plan to take.

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Walkers' Testimonials

Have you walked this route? Please leave a review and let others know what you think.

Use the comments form below to submit your testimonial for this walk. Rest assured, we won’t display or disclose your email address! It is only required to prevent spam – and to enable you to receive notifications of any responses to your review should you select the option to do so.

3 Replies to “Howgills & Limestone Trail”

  1. The Howgills and Limestone Trail, which we walked in September 2020, is a brilliantly constructed route taking in fine tops and glorious ridge-walking, with panoramic views if there is good weather. Impressive historic railway viaducts, awesome waterfalls, riverside walking, attractive towns and villages… Staying at the Cross Keys is a must, but it has only two bedrooms and is currently not open all week. The David Pitt guidebook maps are sometimes difficult to follow in farmland. The path round Ease Gill Kirk gorge was totally overgrown with bracken and required some bushwhacking.

    As usual, Brigantes luggage transfer worked perfectly. The walk is mostly very quiet and we highly recommend it.

    Reply

  2. Just a note of appreciation for ensuring the safe arrival of our baggage on the Howgills and Limestone Trail. Also, please pass on our thanks to your driver, Stuart and your other drivers.

    Route issues we found

    1) Kirkby Stephen – the Poetry Path at NY776080 is closed because of flood damage.

    2) Sedbergh – the footbridge over the River Rawthey opposite the old mill at Birks (SD651913) has been destroyed, however, there is a marked diversion in place.

    3) Barbon – the footbridge over Barbon Beck at SD656828 is damaged but crossable with care.

    Summary

    A very enjoyable walk, apart from Ease Gill to Ingleton (too much mud and too many stiles and farmyards). Altogether, a much better walk than “The Dales Highway”.

    Ray and Pat Horner 2016

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the feedback Raymond – I will pass on your thanks to the team here at Brigantes.
      The information about the route is very helpful to other walkers and is much appreciated.
      We hope you will consider Brigantes for any future walking holidays.
      Best Regards
      Annette and all at Brigantes

      Reply

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Brigantes Walking Holidays 
Mrs. Annette Hirst
Bob’s Laithe,
Halton Gill,
Nr Skipton,
North Yorkshire.
BD23 5QN
England

CONTACT US

Telephone:
UK residents only: 01756 770402
Outside the UK: +44 1756 770402

Email: info@bagmovers.com

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