THIS is a really a walk to do on a clear day so you can best appreciate the wonderful views from the top of Rough Haw and Sharp Haw, near Gargrave. It's not the easiest of walks, not in length or climb, but because of the very boggy ground on Flasby moor. I've tried it at all times of the year, and its always boggy, so stout shoes, and perhaps an investigatory stick, are well advised. It takes in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, open access ground - with some resident Highland Cattle when I was there just last week - and finishes off with a bit of roadwork through the interesting hamlets of Stirton and Thorlby. What's not to like?

1 Cross the A65 and follow footpath sign to canal, cross over swing bridge and turn right. Go along towpath, with canal on your right, passing through a couple of gates and another swing bridge - don't cross over this one. Pass under the concrete A65 bridge, and then immediately over Gargrave Lock gate to Holme House farm.

2 Turn left along footpath and keeping to side of canal for a short way, before going over a ver stile and dropping down into field. Keep to right of field and over another stile into another field. Cross over at about 11 O Clock to stile in corner, and then along edge of field to another stile and cross over field to stile onto road, passing Eshton Hall on left.

3 Take road to Flasby and Malham and just after crossing bridge over Eshton Beck, take footpath off to right. Path opens up into a field, keep to right of field, and head uphill to a stile, into another field and after a short way, take footpath to right. Keep to right hand side of field and drop down to lane, right is Flasby hall. Left here and then right heading towards farm buildings and private road sign.

4 Go through wooden five bar gate and follow footpath uphill to pair of metal gates, go through both and continue along cattle track - usually muddy - through another gate into open access land. Can get very boggy here, whatever time of year. Best to stick to left and find path heading to Rough Haw.

5 From Rough Haw, take the well trodden path to Sharp Haw.

6 From the beacon on Sharp Haw, and with Rough Haw behind you, go over the stile to your left and take the well trodden path back down the hill. It will eventually come to a gravel track, turn left along the track to road.

7 Go right on road to crossroads, go right at crossroads through Stirton. At next fork in road, take the right fork signposted Gargrave and back to A65 and layby.

Fact file

Start/finish: Layby on A65 next to turn to Thorlby and Stirton.

Distance: about six miles, allow three to four hours

Difficulty level: Easy to moderate

Terrain: towpath, fields, quiet roads, moorland

Livestock: cattle and sheep

Refreshments: None on route, plenty of good picnic places

Parking: parking in layby next to A65 or on road to Thorlby

OS map: OL2 Explorer