7k Run Settle: Scenic Loop at Cleatop Wood and Hunter Bark

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 6.6km clockwise loop from the historic market town of Settle offers a quintessential Yorkshire Dales running experience, blending a 154m vertical gain with a fast, flowing descent. After departing the town, you'll tackle a steady ascent toward Hunter Bark; this section is characterized by grassy trails and rugged, uneven ground that rewards your effort with sweeping views across the Ribble Valley. The terrain keeps you engaged as you transition from open limestone uplands into the sheltered, dappled light of Cleatop Wood, before a final, gentle cruise back into Settle on a mix of quiet lanes and established trails.

Settle is a runner’s paradise steeped in history, serving as a gateway to the Three Peaks and famous for its dramatic limestone scars and the iconic Settle-Carlisle Railway. Cleatop Wood itself is a precious remnant of ancient upland oak woodland, providing a rich habitat for local wildlife and a stark, beautiful contrast to the limestone plateaus that define the local landscape. Running here feels like stepping back in time, as you pass dry-stone walls and historic field patterns that have remained unchanged for centuries, making every kilometer of this hilliest-rated "SL" course feel like a true adventure through North Yorkshire heritage.