Kettlewell – Starbotton circular | Walks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

A 4-mile walk from Kettlewell to Starbotton, returning along the banks of the River Wharfe.

The beautiful Wharefedale village of Kettlewell famously featured in the hit movie Calendar Girls, and this walk north out the village towards Starbotton offers great views across the valley.

Distance: 7.25km (4.5 miles).
Time: a minimum of 2 hours
Accessibility: a very challenging walk with a steep climb to begin and a rocky descent into
Starbotton. The valley bottom path back to Kettlewell can get wet and muddy.

Route description
1. Turn right out of the car park and cross the road bridge over the River Wharfe leading away from the village.
Ignore the first footpath to the right and take the next signed bridleway through the gate. Continue along the obvious stone track, climbing steadily. Ignore the farm track branching off to the left.
2. Carry on and through a gate into Moor End farmyard.
Moor End enjoys a spectacular location above the classic U-shaped valley of Wharfedale, where you can see up towards Starbotton and back towards Kettlewell.
Follow the bridleway signs around the left of the house, through a gate and immediately turn right. Follow the signs through another gate and carry on across the open fields through two more gates.
3. During spring and summer these upland fields come alive with the sounds of nesting birds such as plover, lapwings and curlews. At the bridleway sign, start heading down the rocky limestone path through pleasant woodland.
4. The path levels out as you approach the riverside. At the footbridge turn right signposted ‘FP Kettlewell’. This section follows part of the Dales Way footpath. From here, follow the obvious footpath along the riverside, through the meadows back to the road bridge at Kettlewell.

Parking | BD23 5QZ

Other transport:
• bus 72 from Skipton
• cycle stands in car park

Toilets: In the carpark at Kettlewell.

Refreshments: pubs at Kettlewell and Starbotton, plus shop and cafés in Kettlewell.

The route is very easy to follow but if you would like a map have a look at our website

Short walks

The details of the walk are available on our free walking app

Yorkshire Dales walking apps