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Long Scar Loop from Clapham, Yorkshire Dales

 


Starting from the main car park in Clapham, turn right and ride through the village to the tunnels. These tunnels were constructed in Victorian times by the Farrar family to provide a route underneath the Ingleborough Hall Estate connecting the village of Clapham with Thwaite Lane. This is a popular route so expect to see other people in the tunnels.

I often get asked can horses do tunnels? The simple answer is yes! Taking these two tunnels in Clapham as an example. The two tunnels are dark and quiet rocky under hoof, but as horses have great night vison it was really second nature for them going through the tunnels. Horse eyes are large, they have a large pupil, and this allows ample amount of light to enter even in dark situations. On a night lit by a partial moon or stars, horses can see just as well as people can in full daylight. On the way back I decided to lead my horse Ryan through the tunnels as its quite steep, I tripped up several times, but he just picked his way through and gave me a look at the end as if to say you should of stayed on board! Horses can see in the dark, that's it!  

We met some nice walkers in the middle of the tunnels and there was lots of #BeNiceSayHi going on. You can see a short film of us going through the tunnels at https://twitter.com/GardnerKHannah/status/1527710107861241857?s=20&t=z1gQH__3SZkE5khQJlUnNw 




Once through tunnels head up Thwaites Lane, at the top of the hill turn left onto Long Lane. From Long Lane there are amazing views down into Clapdale and surrounding fells. You will eventually come to the fell gate. Here you cross one large field diagonally and head to the next fell gate. Then keep following the track around and you will loop back via the Pennine Bridleway. Here you can go to the top of Long Scar, which also has fantastic views and it is very temping to pack your saddle bags and just keep going on the Pennine Bridleway! You then wind down to Crummack and pick up the bridleway to Wharfe, here you will need to cross a ford. 








From Wharfe turn left and then go up the bridleway to Higher Bark House and then over into Feizor. Feizor has an lovely cafe called Elaine's Tea Rooms. We stopped here for lunch, chatted to lots of people and then headed back via Hale Lane and picked up Thwaites Lane bridleway at Austwick to get back to Clapham.  This route has a bit of everything and really should be on everyone's riding list! 



Things to Note

Clapham - 11 Miles 

Parking - Park in the main car park in Clapham, LA2 8EQ (What3Word location:  ///steam.roofed.navigate and OS ref: SD 74607 69205). Car park also has public toilets.

Some of the bridleways are stony tracks, there are good gates (all could be opened on horseback), there are two tunnels to go through and there are a couple of fords. 

The route is a public route on the OS maps app or website and a GPX file of this ride can be downloaded from Ride Cumbria Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/367414084781168

If you wanted to ride for more than a day why not book you and horse a holiday at Rawlinshaw Farm, nr Settle https://www.rawlinshaw.co.uk/



Photo credit and thanks to - Bridget Pickthall, Liz Davison and Sharon Cash 

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