THIS is a walk to do when its wet underfoot and you just have to get out.

Its almost exclusively on farm tracks and quiet lanes and just perfect when you want to avoid mud and bog.

But so much more than a wet weather walk, it has plenty to recommend it.

It starts and finishes in lovely little Chapel-le-Dale, with its tiny church of St Leonards, and there’s a fascinating statue along the route, and the picturesque Ribblehead Viaduct.

And, all in the shadows of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Ingleborough, Penyghent and Whernside.

Passing the Hill Side Inn almost at the end of the walk, I was reminded of the tale how masters from Giggleswick School first started off the tradition of the three peaks challenge.

As one story has it, after a day’s teaching, they’d make for the inn for a cup of tea, and decide to climb one of the peaks, then two, and for the hell of it, the third - I wonder if masters nowadays would be so keen.

The area is still relatively quiet, but beware, the Three Peaks season is almost upon us, and soon there will be hundreds out every weekend, eager to capture the three peaks.

The route

1 From St Leonard’s Church, take the lane behind it and follow uphill, keeping to the marked footpath. You will pass on the left hand side, the modern, and rather scary looking sculpture with its plaque explaining how it was thrown into nearby Hurtle Pot in the 1980s before being saved and restored to its original spot. Continue along the obvious path, which after a while crosses a cattle grid and opens up into moorland. Head towards some farm buildings, still keeping to the track, and now with distant views of Ribblehead Viaduct off to the left.

2 Cross the ford at entrance to farm, and go through gate and through farmyard, leave farmyard though gate - all signed - and onto track which drops gently downhill, now with Ribblehead Viaduct in front of you, slightly off to right. Continue on obvious track as it passes numerous tumbledown farm buildings, and a large amount of rusting, old bits of machinery. Eventually, you will come to a fork - go right at two finger sign along bridlepath Hill Inn.

3 There’s no missing this path, its surfaced and on the right is an old road sign saying ‘3 peaks walk’, pointing you in the right direction. Continue along the road, as it passes more farm buildings on the left, crosses a cattle grid before opening out and heading down towards the road - and the Hill Side Inn off to the left.

4 Turn right onto the B6255 and walk the short distance back to Chapel-le-Dale.