An ancient route in the Mallerstang valley
Step onto Lady Anne Clifford’s Highway, an ancient route that winds through the dramatic beauty of Mallerstang Valley, and follow in the footsteps of one of the most remarkable women of the 17th century.
This historic trail was regularly travelled by Lady Anne Clifford, a determined and independent landowner who, at the age of 60, inherited her family’s Westmorland estates. Undeterred by age or hardship, she journeyed from Skipton through Wensleydale to oversee the restoration of her ancestral castles—Pendragon, Brough, Appleby, and Brougham—all of which had fallen into ruin.
Her travels were no small feat. Reclining in a horse litter—a kind of stretcher suspended between two horses—she endured the rugged terrain accompanied by a large entourage of servants riding on horseback or in carriages, and even a cart carrying her bed. Her determination left a lasting legacy across the region.
The route also carries echoes of legend: it’s said that the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin once escaped capture here by leaping a gorge on his horse, Black Bess, during a violent storm.
Now part of the Pennine Bridleway, this once rough track has been improved for walkers, riders, and cyclists. Whether you're here for the history, the art, the wildlife, or the views, Lady Anne Clifford’s Highway offers a journey through centuries of stories and stunning scenery.
Look across the valley and you may spot a train gliding along the Settle–Carlisle railway. Built between 1869 and 1875, this engineering marvel came at a human cost. Over 6,000 navvies laboured in harsh conditions, living in makeshift shanty towns that disrupted the quiet farming communities of the time. It’s hard to imagine such hardship in today’s peaceful setting.
Mallerstang is a classic glacial valley, its steep sides rising to just over 700 metres each. The landscape is sculpted from horizontal layers of carboniferous limestone and topped with rugged gritstone escarpments, creating a dramatic backdrop for your walk.
As you walk, your eyes will be drawn to what looks like two distant standing stones on the hillside. This is Water Cut, a striking sculpture created in 1997 by Scottish artist Mary Bourne.
Carved from Salterwath limestone, it’s one of ten Eden Benchmarks—artworks placed along the River Eden to celebrate its journey through the landscape. Shaped like a split milestone, it frames the valley like a window and offers a perfect place to sit, reflect, and take in the view.
Keep an eye out for curlew, lapwing, and soaring buzzards—and if you’re lucky, a peregrine falcon circling high above.
