Carleton

9July 02

An easy, gentle walk. No steep inclines, about 2 hours long, or less, at a steady pace.
Some fence climbing necessary!  And a railway track to cross! This walk is not always pretty, but is designed to get you to Carleton and back.

For a map try looking at : UMS map Goto

Start at a point close to the Public Footpath on the Industrial estate. SD 976510. You can drive there, or walk from Skipton Railway Station, turn left and head west on the A6069 (Belmont Street), turning right into Carleton New Road, passing the Kwik Fit garage on your right, and turning sharp left to cross over the railway bridge.
At the other end of the bridge, turn sharp right at the first junction on your right (Engine Shed Lane) and follow the road all the way down to the bottom. At the junction turn left and go along the lane and park on the concrete on your right in Ings Lane.

Click on selected photographs for a higher resolution.

1	At the junction turn left and go along the lane and park on the concrete on your right in Ings Lane.
2	From this point you access the path by foot. Grid Ref. 976510. So, heading right, go out of the car park and make towards a metal barred gate.
3	In front of you is a small underpass which you go through. Once on the other side, you have a choice, to turn right (back to Skipton), but we are taking the path ahead first (we will take the Skipton path later)
4	Cross over a stone stepped stile, now take the path that points to the right and not over to the left.
5	A barbwire topped wall is eventually on your right, as you cross over another stone stepped stile, into a field on your right.
6	Once in the field turn and head left towards a view of Carleton. The path veers to the right after about 100yds towards a green bridge. Enjoy the tranquility of this spot before moving on over the bridge, and follow the pathway straight ahead.
7	About 100yds on, the path peters out into nettles, and you will climb yet another stone stepped style.
8	Keeping the wall on your left hand side, the path leads you gently on to civilisation, and you will see houses and a gate in front of you. At the end of this path, go through the gate and over the stone style, past a sign pointing back to Skipton.
9	Go onto the road and turn right. This path takes you past some terraced housing on your left, and up to the main road.  Turn left here, and head up towards the village. Go past a small footbridge, (or over it!?!)
10	At the next road junction take the turning right. Follow the curve of the road, and keep the stream on your left. There is so much wildlife here, yellow wagtail, greenfinch and wren, amongst many!  Pass the Primitive Methodist Chapel, (built 1902) over on your right hand side.
11	Keep 'Loftburn' on your right, and you will find yourself close to a low wall on the left. Go through a gap in this wall onto the river pathway to the right. As this pathway ends, you will see a small bridge, a tree, and the exit onto the main road.
12	Turn left on the main road and proceed to the pub. This is The Swan Inn. Feel free to tarry here for refreshments. The steak sandwich is highly recommended.
13	Moving on, and staying in Croft Terrace, with the Swan Inn on your left, and the carpet shop on your right, with the signpost at your back...make towards the church, across the road and walk down the public footpath which takes you past the school on your right, and the church directly in front of you.
14	Turn right outside the church gates, and on the edge of the churchyard between the two small graveyards old and new...
15	...walk down the green triangle, to a footpath, and follow this.
16	A kissing gate at the bottom, go through this, and carry straight on.
17	After a few hundred yards, there is a gate and a stone stepped stile (belt and braces?)  Go through, and over these.
18	Make your way across the field and under some wires, to the next stone style, where you clamber over and continue the path. Halfway through this field you should now be getting a feeling of deja vu? and recognise the green bridge you crossed over earlier.
19	Cross the bridge make your way back along the footpath and over the stiles, until you arrive at the two paths mentioned earlier...this is just before the road underpass, and turn left onto the footpath to Skipton.
20	Walk along this dirt track until you reach a metal gate, (which, in the end I had to climb over due to a stiff bolt!)
21	...and not long after there is an open walkway walled on either side.
22	There are very few features to aim for, but walk towards the largest tree ahead, and go through a hole in a wall that has become pointless.. and follow the white arrow pointing to the right, on the post. Move ahead towards an iron gate in front of you, passing another gate on your right as you do so.
23	Over to the left you will see Carleton again in all it's glory. The gate will have to be climbed, due to it being secured shut with barbed wire! Keeping the wall and railway bank to your right, take in the colours, and diversity of the nature around you.
24	On reaching a railway tunnel, turn right and go through it, but be sure to turn back and look at the view behind you, before you do so.
25	Go directly ahead of you, underneath some telegraph wires, towards a railway line, and a sign curtailing your speed to 60 mph. (or is that the train?) I had to climb over this fence, as it, too was tied to the post.
26	The second railway gate was operable. Head towards a flimsy wooden 5 bar gate, that is also tightly wedged shut by a chain, and needs climbing. Walk the few paces uphill, to the main road and turn right.
27	Cross the road and keeping the canal on your left, walk forward. Directly ahead, between the road and the water, enter the canal path after passing a swing bridge on your left.
28	Also at this point, you could use the space at the roadside as an alternate starting point, and park your car here.
29	Along the final step of the walk, keeping the water on your left, you see over to your right, a Skipton boundary sign in the road.
30	Continuing on, you should go under the main road (A6069) and continue along the canal path until you reach a large chimney looming on your right.
31	About fifty yards past the chimney, on your right-hand side, take the steps down onto a terraced street with a factory on your right.
32	At the end of this street, cross over the main road, to Ings Lane. Into the lane...
33	...and under the rail bridge. On reaching the industrial area, cross over the lane, and carry on straight ahead. Follow this tarmac road, back to the car.

This walk (and pictures) submitted by Crag Face.

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