Aire freshener - Airton, Yorkshire Dales

Follow the minor road North from Gargrave towards Airton. Newfield Hall is on your right about a mile before Airton. (See note below about parking)

Newfield Hall is private property and is run by HF Holidays. They have a close affiliation with Ramblers and they have agreed to let us park there but please call 01729 830223 to check.

Busses from Skipton or Gargrave can be used to get to the start point. Visit http://dalesbus.org/Malham_Buses_Summary.pdf to find the times of busses (note: the Summer service is more frequent than the Winter).

(A) Newfield Hall is currently run by HF Holidays who offer walking breaks in the area. The Hall is said by locals to have been built by the land owner to vex a local farmer. You can find out more by visiting http://www.kirkbymalham.info/KMI/calton/newfield.html.

[1] Leave Newfield Hall down the drive and turn right along the road.

This road is narrow and busy, take care and walk in single file on the right hand side.

As the main road curves to the left, take a minor road on the right with a post box in the wall. At a junction, turn left , sign posted “Calton Airton”.

(B) Calton Hall. This was home to John Lambert (1619-1684) although the hall you see today is a result of rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries. Lambert fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War and was later an architect of Cromwell's Protectorate. More information is available at http://www.kirkbymalham.info/KMI/calton/caltonhall.html

[2] Shortly after entering Calton Village, follow the road downhill to the left signposted “Airton”. Cross the bridge over the Aire and follow the road uphill.

[3] At the top of the hill you will see Airton Village green, take the left fork towards the phone box, keeping the green on your right. Cross the main road to go up the hill towards Otterburn and Hellfield. At the top of the hill turn left into a minor road following the sign to Bell Busk.

[4] As the road bends to the left, fork right onto a farm track sign posted “Kirk Syke Farm”. Pass the farm entrance and cross a footbridge next to a ford. Almost immediately, turn left over a stile.

This section across fields can be muddy.

Aim for the gate at the far side of the field and then towards the left side of a copse on the side of the hill. After passing the copse, veer away from the wall on your left to reach a gate on the far side of the field.  Go through the gate and turn left down the lane. When you reach the main road, turn right, go over Newfield Bridge and retrace your steps back to Newfield Hall.

Remember this road is busy and narrow, take extra care when crossing the bridge.