Litton Stepping Stones & Scoska Cave

Leaping across the footpath to Arncliffe

How to walk the Litton Stepping Stones and Scoska Cave circular

Directions (to be used in conjunction with a map)

1. Beginning at the Queens Arms pub, head up the road in the direction of Halton Gill (tap to head to our Halton Gill walk). You will shortly head over a little bridge over a dry beck (if it’s flowing, you probably won’t be able to do the stepping stones!) passing an old red telephone box on your right. Ahead, you will make out a footpath sign pointing left. This is where you need to head.

2. The signpost is marked East Garth/ Spittle Croft. Follow the signpost down the little residential lane, and to a footpath between a low wall and a border. There is a public bridleway way-marker pointing to a footbridge over the river. Cross the footbridge. At the far end turn left.

3. Pass through the wooden gate in the wall ahead, then through a further gate in the wall of the perimeter of the second field. Turn right here on the path alongside the beck, and cross the wooden bridge directly ahead of you, turning left after crossing. You will see ahead of you a yellow marked footpath sign pointing through the gateway in the wall on the right marked Arncliffe. Follow that signpost!

4. Head across the field along the wide grassy track. You will see a gap in the wall ahead. Head through that and turn left along the wall. There is a yellow waymarked public footpath sign pointing you in the right direction. In the distance you will see a gate, with another waymarker in the wall ahead, head to this.

5. Head through the gate, then turn right heading along the path at the side of the river. After about 700 yards, you will head through another gate and into a field. The path starts to move away from the edge of the river at that point. Continue straight on across the field and then into the next. At which point the footpath re-joins the edge of the river.

6. Head through another gate. You will see a wooden footpath sign, and the stepping stones. Skip to step 13 to miss out the directions to Scoska Cave.

   Directions to Scoska Cave

7. If you would like to take a trip to Scoska Cave don’t cross the stepping stones, but go through the large wooden gate, beyond which you will see a large information board about Scoska Wood National Nature Reserve, which handily has a little map featuring the cave (if you need to check how far you need to go!)

8. Head through the nature reserve, and then out the other side and continue until you see a ruined barn beyond a dry stone wall ahead next to a beck (this is regularly dry, but you will see the depression in the ground if there’s no water!) The beck follows the line of the dry stone wall, and rises on the incline to your right. Head right, and follow the beck as it goes upwards. The path here is not as well walked, but if you follow the beck to a metal gate in the wall then you will keep on track.

9. Head through the nature reserve, and then out the other side and continue until you see a ruined barn beyond a dry stone wall ahead next to a beck (this is regularly dry, but you will see the depression in the ground if there’s no water!) The beck follows the line of the dry stone wall, and rises on the incline to your right. Head right, and follow the beck as it goes upwards. The path here is not as well walked, but if you follow the beck to a metal gate in the wall then you will keep on track.

10. Cross the beck and head through the gate, (closing it behind you!) This is where it gets steep and tricky. You need to ascend the beck loosely on the left hand side. The path zig zags and weaves up the steep bank through stubby woodland. You will probably need your hands at some point, although the kids managed it far more easily than I did! Just beyond the gate, there is a waterfall. It was a trickle when we were there, but may be more obvious after wet weather!

11. The opening to Scoska cave will soon become visible so head into it! We did not bring our big torch, which you will need to be able to see much inside. Head torches don’t really do the job! Do not disturb the orange tape that has been placed there. It is to protect the greenery at that side of the cave, which interestingly shows you the effect of the darkness of the cave on plant life. We did not explore any further than the mouth of the cave, and without specialist knowledge and equipment we do not suggest you do! Entering the cave is at your own risk.

12. Once you have explored, then head back the way you came, taking care on the steep bank and the slippery limestone. You need to retrack your steps all the way to the stepping stones.

    Reminder: the route up to Scoska cave is extremely steep and hands and knees will be required. This part of the walk is better reserved for confident and more experienced hikers.

13. Cross the stepping stones to the other side and head left along the right edge of the river with a dry stone wall to your right along a short cobbled section of path. Head through a gate on your right onto a walled path, and follow it until it heads round a corner. Turn left and continue along the path.

14. It heads through a gate and into open field. Continue along the path until you reach another gate. Here, turn left following the tree line until you see a waymarker pointing you across an intersecting farm track. Head slightly to the left, then through the waymarked gate opposite. This takes you onto another walled path with a further gate at the end taking you again into open field. Continue across the next field to a further two gates. Heading through those and onto a further walled track (here you will see the Queens Arms ahead in the distance.

15. Continue through the next field to the gate out onto the road, turn left and head back to the beginning and to the pub ( It’s a top little pub with a great beer garden too!)

Last walked December 2024.

Playing next to the river in Autumn

The approach to Scoska Cave from the riverside footpath.

The riverside during a wet winter