Kilnsey and Mastiles Lane

The route

Start from Kilnsey in Wharfedale and before climbing onto Malham Moor via Mastiles Lane, returning down the dale to close a 24km circuit with around 540m of climbing. The running is a mix of quiet lane, walled green track and open moor, rising gradually from the green valley floor to the high limestone country and back. It is a route that feels remote and expansive without any single hard climb.

Kilnsey and Mastiles Lane

Kilnsey Crag is the landmark of upper Wharfedale, a huge overhanging limestone cliff that leans out over the road and draws climbers from all over. Beyond it, Mastiles Lane is one of the great green roads of the Dales, a walled Roman route that runs dead straight across Malham Moor between drystone walls, once used to drove sheep to the great monastic granges. Up on the moor the ground opens to limestone pavement, old field systems and the wide silence of the tops, with Malham Tarn not far to the west.

Why it works

This is a route for a satisfying long run on forgiving ground. The tracks are largely good underfoot, the gradients are gentle, and the sense of space on Malham Moor is the real draw. Navigation is mostly straightforward on the walled lanes, but the open moor sections reward a map in poor visibility, where the tracks branch and the mist rolls in. It suits a steady long run or a big day out, and the villages of Wharfedale give you cafes and pubs either end. The lanes hold water and the moor is exposed, so carry a layer and save it for reasonable weather to get the views. On a clear day the run out along Mastiles Lane, straight as a rule between the walls, is one of the great simple pleasures of Dales running.