A delightful walk on lovely old, open and wooded, rural lanes, from start to almost finish. There was one low traffic, tarmac section alongside the River Otter. There were good views across to the surrounding hills throughout....

Dave Taylor

Despite a very good first hour and generally good rural countryside this walk was spoiled by recurring poorly signed and stiled paths through a number of unwelcoming farms and farmsteads. It is a longish walk but can be broken by using the bus route that calls in at Cross Trees....

Dave Taylor

We left Hellifield by crossing the railway line, climbing up and following a quiet green lane, bounded by green hedgerows and filled with flowers, including orchids, families of snails, bees and butterflies....

Helen Lord

This opened up onto a very pleasant wide track with lovely meadow verges with meadow brown, ringlet and white butterflies as well as numerous house martins, swallows and a swift accompanying us. (Very close to a 5 star rating - 4+ due to mainly quiet road and track walking rather than paths but still would highly recommend)...

Sue B

The issue looked as if it was temporary but to avoid it stay on the minor road after the climb from Butter Fields to circumnavigate the buildings northerly and rejoin the route at 775546 on the footpath to New Laithe. This was difficult, unpleasant walking with some route-finding issues around the Hamerton buildings and it was a relief to reach the B road at Wigglesworth. We contemplated keeping to the B road over Cow Bridge before taking the minor right turn along Flat Lane for a break from route finding and rough walking....

Sue B

Our walk started at 9:30 in the morning, having caught a bus from Settle, where we'd stayed overnight. Slaidburn is the largest village on the river Hodder, its name possibly deriving from Anglo Saxon, meaning "sheep field overlooking a river". We crossed over the Hodder on Slaidburn Bridge to start the walk. Overall, a perfectly doable walk with lovely open views all around and many flowers and butterflies to spot....

Helen Lord

Cross the railway crossing and follow a glorious path with great views where eventually the route took us through an ancient wood, eventually joining up with and following The Pennine Way....

Michael

Not my favourite type of walk with a lot of farmland walking, missing or deteriorated stiles, overgrown paths and difficult route finding....

Michael

You leave Hellifield via a network of paths through residential streets, cross the railway track through two gates, and then climb gently up a track for a short while until beautiful views are gained across undulating farmland. A gate at the far side opens onto a good track through woodland which eventually leads downhill into the farming hamlet of Otterburn....

Jan Simmons

Although part of the route is along a road, its a very quiet lane and vehicles are rare....

LemonTop

We walked it in a little over two hours - it took us 3 overall, with a picnic on top of the hill and a pint in the pub in Long Preston....

Richard

Yesterday I actually walked HelMal One from Hellifield, but I have previously walked the different section, from Grid Ref SD 86654 57958 to Otterburn via Dacre Lane, when I reviewed HelGar Two, and I much prefer it. It had better views, a more definite path, and is drier with no cows. For more details see my review of HelMal One....

Mary Oz

This turned into a field track as I gained height, and I could look back at great views of Hellifield with Pendle Hill beyond. The route turned off into a field which contained sheep and bullocks. From here a well-used footpath led into Malham village, which was very busy with visitors....

Mary Oz

Given the omission from the definitive map, blocked access and missing stile I would suggest that this route is not used (shame as it was a pleasent walk other than that [the alternative route that avoided the road])...

Stearsb

Train stations and bus stops at either end makes it an easy circular....

LemonTop

The route leaves Settle past the beautiful old museum building, then climbs steadily up a road that is pretty much car-free and has excellent views back over Settle. The highest point is reached and Ingleborough becomes hidden, to be replaced by Pendle Hill ahead, which gets closer as the route descends towards Long Preston....

Mary Oz

Following Andrew Simmons review, I absolutely agree that this route is dangerous, using the busy A65 between Coniston Cold and the railway line. I know that road and it is always very busy with cars and trucks often travelling at 50-60mph, and there is often no verge, never mind pavement. I attach a screengrab from Google Street View....

Mary Oz

The middle third is a quiet, single-track, country road between the tiny villages of Otterburn and Bell Busk. The road went alongside Otterburn Beck which was very pretty, with sheep fields alongside....

Mary Oz

It leaves the village of Hellifield by pleasant parkland and passes the historic Hellifield Peel, before crossing farmland to reach the busy main road....

Andrew Simmons

There are quite a number of damaged stiles that proved challenging and one stile seems to have disappeared. The wooded section after New Laithe is tricky as it overgrown and the stile is difficult to locate (near to ///boots.younger.newlywed see picture). If you decide to walk the route as planned there is a section of wooden fence in the corner of the field that you can cross ///innovate.give.jigging....

Stearsb