The Settle Loop passes through an area of the National Park famed for its rich wildlife and fascinating geology. You can learn more about the amazing habitats and species that live in the Yorkshire Dales National Park by visiting the Nature in the Dales section of our website.
The Loop will take you through or adjacent to three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as listed below and to other areas of national importance such as Attermire Local Nature Reserve.
Langcliffe Scars and Jubilee, Albert and Victoria Caves SSSI
Attermire SSSI
Pikedaw Calamine Caverns SSSI
To find out more about these three SSSIs visit the English Nature interactive map website.
You are also just a stone's throw away from Malham Tarn and Malham Cove. Malham Tarn is a natural lake, internationally important for its rare lime-rich waters which are a result of the local limestone geology. Malham Cove is a fabulous site for seeing some amazing rock formations and watching species including Peregrine falcons with the experts. RSPB staff will be manning the site in spring and early summer. Please check opening times on the RSPB website before visiting.
Calcareous Grassland
OS Grid Reference: SD850638 (look north from the track up the hillside)
Thin limestone soils support a host of plants which have adapted to living in low nutrient soils. In late spring you may be lucky enough to see the pink flower heads of Birds-eye primrose or swathes of blue from Blue moor-grass.
Limestone Pavement
OS Grid Reference: SD880648
This internationally rare habitat consists of expanses of limestone rock with surface features and fissures or ‘grikes’. It is in the shade of the ‘grikes’ that plants and ferns grow. Many of these plants can also be found in woodlands including Dog’s mercury and Herb Robert. Other plants such as Baneberry can only be found on limestone pavement.
Blanket Bog
OS Grid Reference: SD867655 (both sides of the track)
In the early summer these areas of thick peat will appear white with the nodding heads of cottongrass flowers. By late summer this may be replaced with pink heather flowers.
Breeding Wading Birds
The Yorkshire Dales area supports nationally important numbers of breeding waders. Lapwing tend to be found in the drier areas, Curlew may be found anywhere from river banks to the fell tops with Redshank and Snipe found in the wetter areas.
Attermire Local Nature Reserve
OS Grid Reference: SD83706528
This reserve includes a range of rare habitats and can be visited on foot.
Winskill Stones
OS Grid Reference: SD834664
This is a Plantlife Nature Reserve and contains good examples of limestone pavement and calcareous grassland. To find out more visit the Plantlife website.
