Settle – Giggleswick Scar loop from Giggleswick School

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Giggleswick

Settle – Giggleswick Scar loop from Giggleswick School

Moderate

4.5

(2)

hikers

Settle – Giggleswick Scar loop from Giggleswick School

03:10

11.2km

240m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

5.71 km

Giggleswick Village and River Ribble

Highlight • River

On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and across the River Ribble from Settle, Giggleswick is a delightful little village. Climbers are attracted to the area thanks to Giggleswick Scar, an impressive limestone crag, while hikers have the Dales at their fingertips. It is a particularly good base for exploring spectacular Ribblesdale, a short hop to the north.

Tip by

6.31 km

Victoria Hall, Settle

Highlight • Historical Site

Starting as a music hall in 1853 it has been in continuous use for entertainment and local events ever since, making it one of the older music halls in the country.

Tip by

6.60 km

Settle

Highlight • Rest Area

Picturesque Settle is archetypal of the Yorkshire Dales. Use it as a base for adventures in spectacular Ribblesdale or head east for the limestone wonders found in Malhamdale. It is famed for bookending the Carlisle to Settle railway, one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe.

Tip by

6.73 km

3 Peaks Café & Bike Shop

Highlight • Rest Area

Great food, lots of lovely bicycles!

Tip by

6.80 km

Ye Olde Naked Man Café

Highlight • Cafe

Popular and long standing cafe and take away in the centre of Settle. Also includes a bakery so filled rolls, cakes, coffees, ice cream, milkshakes, etc. are all available. Food can be purchased to take away and then eaten on the tables outside watching all the tourists go by.

Tip by

7.35 km

Settle Bridge over the River Ribble

Highlight • River

The River Ribble runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire in Northern England. and is one of the few that start in the Yorkshire Dales and flow westwards towards the sea.

At one time the Ribble marked the northernmost extent of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. At the time of the Domesday Book, the river formed the northern boundary of an area of land (known as Inter Ripam et Mersam) that was included in the Domesday information for Cheshire, though it was probably not formally part of the county of Cheshire. (Wikipedia)

Tip by

9.65 km

Schoolboy's Cairn

Highlight • Viewpoint

Atop Giggleswick Scar is the Schoolboy's cairn, with amazing views over the school from where it gets its name, as well as across Settle and beyond. It's a fairly rough hike over limestone outcrops and past caves to get here but it's definitely worth the effort

Tip by

10.3 km

Giggleswick Scar

Highlight • Cave

This amazing limestone outcrop towers above Giggleswick and is studded with caves, cliffs and limestone pavement. There is an official footpath along the crest, as well as a number of good climbers paths through the trees

Tip by

11.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types