Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston

The Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston is a straightforward Yorkshire Dales walk that mixes quiet lanes, open views and a proper little waterfall finish. It starts right by Long Preston station, making it an easy one to reach by train, and because around half the route is on tarmac it never feels too demanding underfoot. If you want a walk with a bit of variety without anything too rough or complicated, this is a good one to have in your back pocket.

Walking the Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston

From Long Preston station, I head out into the village and pick up the route towards Green Gate Lane. The start is nice and simple, easing you into the walk rather than throwing you straight onto steep or boggy ground. Long Preston has that classic Dales village feel, and it does not take long before the houses begin to thin out and the countryside starts to open up.

Once on Green Gate Lane, the route carries on easily enough before joining the track towards Hunter Bark trig point. This section gives the walk a bit more of a fellside feel, even though it never gets too wild. The track is clear, the gradients are kind, and there are plenty of wide views out over the surrounding fields and limestone country. It is one of those stretches where you can just settle into a steady pace and enjoy being out.

From there, the loop meets the road to High Hill Lane. This is part of what makes the Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston such an accessible outing. With a fair chunk of the walk on road and firm tracks, it is not especially tricky in dry conditions and tends to be a decent choice when the higher fells are clagged in or the fields are holding water. You still get the sense of being in the Dales, just without the usual slog.

Scaleber Force waterfall

The real highlight of the walk is the short detour down the path to Scaleber Force waterfall. After the easier road and track sections, it feels like a proper reward. The path itself is brief, and before long you are at Scaleber Force, tucked away in its little limestone setting. It is not a huge, thundering giant of a waterfall, but that is part of the appeal. It feels a bit hidden, a bit quieter, and all the better for it.

I always think Scaleber Force waterfall is the bit that gives this route its character. Without it, this would still be a pleasant loop from Long Preston, but the falls give you a proper point of interest and something memorable to break up the road and track walking. After rain, the water has a bit more life in it and the whole spot feels even better, with the rock and trees around it adding to that tucked-away feel.

It is worth taking a few minutes here rather than just touching the waterfall and turning straight back. The setting is easily the most atmospheric part of the Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston, and it is the kind of place that makes a shorter, easier walk feel like much more than just a leg-stretcher.

Returning to Long Preston

After visiting the waterfall, the route heads back on the road and then turns right towards Long Preston to complete the loop. This final stretch is straightforward and easy to follow, which fits the rest of the walk nicely. There is no awkward ending to think about, just a simple return across the Dales landscape and back into the village.

As you make your way back, the easy going gives you time to take in the surroundings properly. That is one of the better things about the Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston: it does not demand too much, so you can enjoy the views, the changing light and the quiet feel of the area without the route itself getting in the way.

For a walk that starts and finishes at Long Preston station, it packs in a decent amount. You get a simple village start, a track towards Hunter Bark trig point, the lane to High Hill Lane, and then the best bit of all at Scaleber Force waterfall before the easy return. If you are looking for a Yorkshire Dales route that stays manageable underfoot and still gives you something worth seeing, this one does the job nicely.

What to expect

One of the main things to know about the Scaleber Force Loop from Long Preston is that around half the walk is on tarmac. For some people that will be a drawback, but for me it is part of what makes the route useful. It keeps things simple, makes navigation easier, and means the walk is not too tricky compared with rougher Dales outings. If you are after a relaxed day rather than a hard graft, it works well.

That said, it never feels like a dull road march. The route still has enough variety to keep it interesting, with village lanes, open tracks, broad views and then the short path down to Scaleber Force. The mix of surfaces also makes it a handy option in changeable weather, especially when you want to avoid deep mud or slippery moorland ground.

The section near Hunter Bark trig point gives the walk a bit of shape, while the road towards High Hill Lane keeps the loop moving along at an easy pace. It is the sort of route that suits a quieter morning or afternoon, and because the gradients are generally gentle, it is one you can enjoy without constantly watching your footing or grinding up a big climb.