Walking: Take this Yorkshire escape route to a more laid-back world

This is it – a peaceful journey along the southern border of the Yorkshire Dales National Park through rarely-visited settlements where people and traffic are at a premium. This truly is the land that time forgot.

Airton, nestling in mid-Malhamdale, provides an attractive starting point. From there, the tempting route would be to head north by the fledgling River Aire to join the crowds at the overflowing fleshpot that is Malham. But let’s resist that temptation and, instead, head south to the forgotten communities of Bell Busk and Otterburn which rarely see a visitor from one year to the next. This is a sleepy day out – take it at a relaxing pace and enjoy the total tranquillity.

Airton can trace its origins to the 7th or 8th century when the area was settled by the Angles pushing westwards from the North Sea. Its name means farmstead by the River Aire. In Domesday Book of 1086, the manor was in the hands of Roger of Poitou, son of a more famous father, Roger of Montgomery, who was created Earl of Shrewsbury in 1071 for his staunch support in establishing William of Normandy on the English throne.

Roger of Poitou was a soldier-adventurer who lost many of his estates in rebellion against the Crown. His lands at Airton were forfeited and came into the possession of the Percys who later gifted them to Bolton Priory.

The monks built a corn mill by the banks of the Aire and this was mentioned in a deed of 1198. Down the centuries, the corn mill was enlarged and improved and converted to produce linen and, by the early 19th century, cotton. Airton Mill has now been turned into homes.

AIRTON, BELL BUSK and OTTERBURN

6 ½ miles: Allow 3 – 4 hours. 
Map: O/S OL2 Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western areas

Park round the village green in the centre of Airton or park at the bottom of the Otterburn road. Wherever you park, please do so with consideration and, please, do NOT encroach on the green.

Start by walking down the side of the village green towards Calton with green on your left and soon descending past a house with 1696 date and the initals EWA.

The initials EWA 1696 represent William and Alice Ellis. William was a prosperous linen weaver and proprietor of the nearby Airton Mill. He was an early Quaker and took part in lengthy preaching missions to America. He also built the village’s Quaker meeting house opposite his home.

At bottom of village, cross the road bridge over the infant River Aire – less than two miles old at this point - and immediately turn right (Pennine Way fingerpost) alongside river. After a few hundred yards, spot an old metal feeder on your left at the point where the riverside meadow broadens out. Here, leave the riverside and walk along left edge of field, by the trees, and then go straight across the meadow to a wall with stone-step stile.

Cross it and turn right, past telegraph pole, to a stile and marker post to rejoin the river. Cross the stile and one just ahead and follow wall on your left. At field end, go through gate – stile to its right – and follow the river across the field.

On crossing field, you will find a stile next to a huge tree 50 yards left of a road bridge (Newfield Bridge). Turn right over bridge, ignore immediate fingerpost on your left and continue along road for about 150 yards to road junction at a stone telephone exchange.

Turn left along the Bell Busk road for 50 yards and then turn right at fingerpost for Kirk Syke. Go straight across field (wall on your right), through gateway and on by wall. When the wall finishes to become a wire fence, go slightly left over the field (no path) aiming for the farm buildings at Kirk Syke.

A gate pops into view as you cross the field. Pass through and cross the field aiming to the right of a huge barn on far side of field – there is a stile between the barn and farm buildings.