Smearset Scar - Yorkshire Dales day walk
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Smearset Scar - a 12 mile circular walk along a great, easy limestone ridge, with long views of the 3 peaks, Feizor wood, Austwick and Giggleswick Scar.
Leaving the market square in Settle, we’ll follow the Ribble to little Stainforth where we gradually climb to Smearset (363m) – a craggy ridge above the hamlet of Feizor with great views of The Yorkshire 3 Peaks. We’ll cut through the enchanting Wharfe Wood crossing Austwick Beck into Austwick for lunch. A pretty walk back to Feizor, then climbing gently to Giggleswick scar before dropping back into Settle.
Why not make a weekend of it? We're in the area the day before learning the skill of dry stone walling - see the event page here.
Whilst there's no arranged overnight accommodation, if you choose to stay locally, we'll meet up on the Saturday night for pub/dinner. There's plenty choice in Settle for places to stay, please either message the leader or post on the comments below if you're staying in the area.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Packed lunch, you can buy food in Settle, we'll also stop at a cafe in Feizor and there's a pub in Austwick.