The Pennine Cycleway 2026: Day 4: Giggleswick to Hoff

I found this site, immediately below Giggleswick station, yesterday evening. We are tucked into the dry stone wall, out of sight

Woke in the night by the sound of someone talking just outside the tent. It was an engineer working at the station, maybe only 20m away

Broke camp early, by 6.30, and taking a detour to Rathmel to visit Sue's grave, where everything is growing very nicely

We then take the Yorkshire Cycleway, aiming to rejoin our route at Clapham. It is a proper Dales landscape, limestone walls, sheep with lambs; and peaceful. And not as brutal, I suspect, as the Pennine CW would have been

Stopping for a coffee at the Clapham village store, before continuing on route 68. Just one climb and a lovely descent into Ingleton

for a hearty breakfast in the Village Kitchen

This morning will see us cycling through Kingsdale

But to get there there is the by now inevitable climb

Kingsdale is an oasis of peace and tranquility, with the looming bulk of Whernside in front of us as a reminder of the climb we face to get out of the valley

which winds its way up the hillside

seeming to go on forever

The green lushness of Dentdale opens out as soon as we crest the top of the ascent, with the promise of a brief rest for our hard-working legs

This charming waterfall demands a closer look. The rock shelf behind the falls is slimy and greasy, and requires much care

Dent soon follows, and a well earned tea and cake in the 17th century cottage housing the Stone Close Cafe

Well rested, we don't stop in Sedberg instead climbing out,

following the line of the Howgill Fells along flower filled lanes

Stopping for a brew and airing the tents. I have a thought that the New Inn in Hoff, just outside Appleby Bridge, allowed camping outside the pub. A quick phone call confirmed this was indeed available, and becomes our destination for today

We are following the route of the M6 and the West Coast Mainline, as they pass between the Lake District and Howgill Fells.

Our route, however, is quiet and peaceful. Today's animals of interest are these wild horses

Crossing the River Lune at Salterwath Bridge

After saying farewell to the railway and motorway we drop down to the village of Orton. I stayed here many years ago on the Coast to Coast walk, and was aware of the chocolate factory

I can report that Kennedy's Chocolate Factory is still going strong. We buy eight chocolates each, a tough choice. One is eaten before we set off on the short distance to Hoff