[1] Leave Newfield Hall by the main drive, Turn Right when it meets the road (care needed as only a narrow verge), ignore the fork to the right and continue over Newfield Bridge and pass signs for the Pennine Way.
(A) Newfield Bridge is an old packhorse and sheep wash bridge.
At road junction bear left sign posted to Bell Busk. After about 50 meters take gate to the right, sign posted Kirk Syke 3/8 Mile, and follow clear path across fields passing a small wood on left. After the second gate, head for a stile between farm buildings.
Over stile, turn right and cross Kirk Syke Ford by the footbridge on the right.
(B) Kirk Syke Ford, a ford across a small stream.
Then follow Kirk Sykes Lane until it joins a minor road at a T junction. Turn left towards Airton Village.
[2] Enter village on Watery Lane and at T junction turn right then in 20 meters turn left onto a bridleway sign posted "Scosthrop". At end of track take the second road on the right, in 40 meters (after the village notice board) take a footpath (looks like a private drive) to the left, sign posted Malham Road . Go forward and find a path to the left of garages and an aviary then through a squeeze stile. Follow path over three wall stiles then, with farm building on the right, take a diagonal path to the far right of the field.
[3] Go over ladder stile (with care) onto a road and turn right. After 100 meters cross the road (with care) and take footpath to the bank of the River Aire. Turn left and cross the River by two footbridges then take the right hand path onto the Pennine Way, passing theCroft Spring pump house .
(C) Croft Spring pump house, used until late 60's to pump fresh water to Airton Village, now disused.
(D).The Pennine Way is an English National Trail running for 268 miles (431 km) from Edale to Kirk Yetholm along the backbone of England, the Pennines. The writer Alfred Wainwright wrote a popular guide to the route and offered to buy a half-pint of beer for anyone who finished the Pennine Way, a promise which is estimated to have cost him up to £15,000 by the time he died in 1991.
Keep the river on your right until you reach Airton bridge.
NB: Airton village is well worth a walk around.
[4] Cross the road at Airton Bridge and continue along the Pennine Way with the River Aire on your right. After about 200 meters bear left to avoid the bend in the river to reach a wall stile. Over stile turn sharp right to another stile to the left of a small group of trees, over stile turn sharp left. Continue along the river and through a squeeze stile to reach Newfield Bridge. Turn left on the road (care needed as only a narrow verge) and retrace your route back to Newfield Hall.