How Stean Gorge

Lofthouse to Scar House on the Nidderdale Way

Ten miles and about five hours of proper dale walking, following the infant Nidd upstream from Lofthouse past Thrope and Limley farms before three short but honest climbs lift you onto the northern flanks and the huge 1930s dam at Scar House, returning over 1,200 feet on the old enclosure track of In Moor Lane. Park at the Memorial Institute in Lofthouse village; the Nidderdale DalesBus 821 serves Lofthouse on summer Sundays and bank holidays. The route threads through half a dozen working hill farms with sheep and cattle at every gate, so dogs need to be on the lead the whole way, though there is plenty of clean beck water to drink along the valley floor.