FEIZOR is a small hamlet near Settle. Similar to a lot of picturesque little Dales villages it would still be largely forgotten by the walker if not for the fantastic limestone scenery and ‘possibly’ the best café in the area.

Feizor is less than a mile from the A65 so easy to get to. Leave at a sharp bend in the road and immediately the A65 is forgotten and a narrow winding road will take you to the hamlet of Feizor.

Feizor is little more than a farm and a collection of houses but they are all built in traditional Dales stone.

In the centre lies Elaine's Tea Rooms (more of that later) and a car park. A few metres from the café a signpost points towards Settle, walk through the farm yard and on to the open hillside. This is a bridleway and initially a farm track and climbs steadily south west. Just after the field boundary on the left the path splits. Bear left and join a footpath.

Pass over three stiles on the path before reaching a wall on your right. Here the path splits again, take the left-hand fork (do not climb the wall). The exposed limestone rock is lovely but is about to get even better. The views are also wonderful. Ahead is Ribblesdale, the home of the Three Peaks. Two of these (Pen y Ghent and Ingleborough) have a very distinctive and flat-topped outline so are easy to pick out. They are also the highest points in view! The path (not easy to see on the ground but the walking is on soft grass) heads east over another boundary before turning sharply north after another 300 metres. The path soon improves and passes under a wooded scar, one of the more noticeable limestone features where the receding glaciers have left a distinctive lip.

After a further stile the path meets a farm track heading east/west just above the farm at Little Stainforth. It is not worth the extra descent in to the hamlet and its large caravan park. Turn left and head uphill on a broad track. Soon the climb is complete and the track comes to a gate under Smearsett Scar. It is possible to pick your way through some gates on to the scar but do not if the gates are locked. The reward is some excellent views. The track continues west on some beautiful green turf. I love this kind of walking, it is why my favourite part of the Dales is the south west. The limestone (if not exposed and wet!) is a joy.

Far too soon Feizor is reached (those wanting more should carry on north towards Austwick) but maybe at this stage look for the café. One thing to look for first though is the old village water pump (a few metres up hill from the café), still existing which will be a relief to Alfred Wainwright who fretted over it! Elaine's Tea Room really is a special café. Normally I prefer a pub but Elaine's is a great alternative, apparently she only opened it for a hobby!

Fact box:

Distance: Roughly 4 miles

Height to Climb: 200m (650 feet)

Start: SD 790677. There is parking opposite the café (but do visit it on your return).

Difficulty: Moderate/Easy. The walk is short and sticks to paths. If the ground is wet then some of the rock will be slippy. It is a good pull on the return if you drop down to Little Stainforth.

Refreshments: Elaine’s Tea Shop is open every day.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL41) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company in the Yorkshire Dales:

•Jonathan has written a book, the “Dales 30”. It makes an excellent Christmas present.

•2019 dates now available for Beginners and Intermediates Navigation Courses. Another great present.

•Offers a Guiding serve for those less confident in the outdoors

To find out more details on any of the above and details of the 100s of walks in the Yorkshire Dales & Moors visit his popular website, Where2walk.co.uk https://where2walk. co.uk/