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Parking: Pay and Display 75 metres East of village.

Refreshments: Red Lion Inn (check opening times).

Toilets: 150 metres West of car park.

 

Whilst putting on your boots you are sure to receive a visit from the resident chickens. Leaving the car park and the chickens behind you, take a right across the old stone bridge into the village of Langthwaite, made famous by the 'All Creatures Great and Small' television series. Immediately over the bridge turn right again and follow a wide track alongside Arkle Beck. In just under half a mile disregard a footbridge over the beck to your right and follow the track as it swings left past a stone field barn and then enters a copse of mixed woodland climbing steadily away from the beck. This copse of Pines, Beeches and Sycamores is carpeted with woodland flowers in Spring and the pools of crystal clear water below the path are green with watercress and marsh plants too numerous to mention. 

On reaching a fork in the track keep to the left along a bridleway that takes you out of the wood. Passing through a metal field gate to follow the track until you reach a second gate. At this point leave the track to Storthwaite Hall Farm. Keeping to your left, continue to follow a wide grassy path until you reach a wooden stile. Whilst grappling with the Blackthorn bush cross this stile and continue on your route as it climbs steadily into the mouth of Slei Gill and amongst the evidence of former mining activity overtaken once more by nature.

As the path weaves its way through these old mining tips you notice the sound of water as it  falls over the bedrock of the Gill. From here on, you will have this soothing sound with you as your walk continues onward out on to the open moor almost to the sources of Slei Beck and Slack Wife Gill. As you ascend the valley side with the beck to your right the Gill begins to narrow, the grass gives way to heather and the beck falls over rocky outcrops that become larger as further evidence of mining comes into view on your left. A small shaft no more than a metre in diameter driven into the hillside and partially blocked by carefully placed stones, it now disgorges water percolating through the ground from the moors above. It is said that there are so many underground workings and caverns in this area that Arkle Beck doesn't flood until at least twenty four hours after heavy rainfall.

Your route continues on through a wood hand gate and crosses the beck a little further on. Using the stepping stones continue through an area of newly planted Rowan saplings with plastic raps giving protection from hungry sheep and the weather. The path is faint from here, so continue in a Northerly direction keeping the wood shooting lodge ahead and slightly to your right, and the stone shooting butts to your left until you reach a rough stone track. At this highest point of your walk, have a minute to take in the panorama of this wild moorland. Turning left, follow this track as it meanders its way westerly through the steeply banked sides of former mine workings to a prominent stone cairn on your right. From here you can see the stone walls of Arkengarthdale that fit together across the dale like a precision jigsaw. Your eye will be drawn to a particular field with a small octagonal stone building at its centre, this is a former mines powder house built for storing explosives.

Your descent continues towards a junction, take the track to your left as it gradually runs out into a well defined heather covered path. Before reaching the field gate in front of you, take the path to your left  and follow the small way marker post. Continue with a stone wall to your right and a stone barn ahead of you until you reach a wooden stile and field gate. Cross the stile and continue your descent with the wall to your left picking out the way markers as you cross the field. Exit the field at its bottom corner through a metal field gate, where the path swings left and through a wood hand gate to pick your way along a rough narrow cutting with dilapidated walls to each side.

On reaching the track at Booze, a name of 15th century Norse origin, you will see the ruins of a chapel and old cottages. Booze was once a close thriving community with many residents and it was said that 'if you kicked one of them everyone limps'. Twenty four Booze men and many ponies perished in a disaster at the Old Mould Mines, renamed the Water Blast Vein. Whilst cutting out and blasting, these miners broke through to a reservoir of water that instantly flooded the mine and drown its occupants.

With only a short distance remaining, your route now turns left along the village track, and on entering Town Farm yard, immediately turns right through a pair of metal fold yard gates. Follow the finger posts and cross the field through a gap in the stone wall and descend steeply to join the path once more above Storthwaite Hall Farm. Now in familiar territory retrace your steps back to Langthwaite village and the start of your walk.