A Dales High Way 

An exhilarating 90 miles across the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales

Walk this spectacular landscape from Saltaire to Appleby-in-Westmorland

Explore its rich history, geology and culture

Return with a breathtaking train ride along England's most beautiful railway

More than just a walk

"For those who love long-distance walking, this new 90-mile route from Saltaire, near Shipley, to Appleby will be a delight."
- Ann Clarke, Westmorland Gazette

"Their description of the route makes you want to pull your boots on and set off immediately." 
- Mike Priestley, T&A

"An excellent and innovative route which is to be highly recommended for dedicated fell walkers - my feet are itching to get started on this walk!"
- Peter G. Davies, FoSCL magazine

"Promoted through a superbly illustrated Companion booklet, rich in local geology, history and wildlife, with detailed OS-based maps in an excellent Route Guide, the Dales High Way is a sure-fire winner for all keen Dales walkers."
- Colin Speakman
Yorkshire Dales Review

Dales High Way Art Project

News en route

Victoria Cave exhibition to mark 175 years since discovery

A major exhibition of the important archaeological and geological discoveries made in Victoria Cave, above Settle, is to be staged in the summer.

The cave was unknown in modern times, until an inquisitive terrier uncovered the tiny entrance on a fine May afternoon in 1837. Three weeks later, on the day Queen Victoria ascended to the throne, local plumber Joseph Jackson crawled into the newly uncovered cave entrance. Inside a wealth of Roman artefacts were found.

Major excavations followed between 1870 and 1877, uncovering animal bones ranging from bear, lynx and red deer at higher levels, and hippopotamus, lion and elephant at lower levels. Evidence of the very first humans to live in the area has also been identified by local archaeologist and conservationist Tom Lord.

The exhibition is being supported by a new project called Geo Dales, headed by the Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust. The project will also create trails using rights of way around Settle, Greenhow Hill and Upper Nidderdale, focusing on geological and archaeological points of interest. In addition, local archaeologists will research ancient settlements around the Plantlife Reserve at Winskill and restore a historic limekiln.

Urgent practical works and further research at Victoria Cave will also be supported by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Natural England, Winskill Farm visitor centre, caving club volunteers and universities.

The exhibition will be staged at the Museum of North Craven Life at The Folly in Settle from July to October, and Tom Lord will be talking about the latest discoveries from Victoria Cave at St John's Church Hall, Settle, on Friday May 4th as part of the ride2stride Walking Festival.

Photo: Tom Lord entertains visitors at his farm at Lower Winskill.

See Lower Winskill, the Folly, and the Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust.

22 February 2012

ride2stride

The final programme for the new Settle-Carlisle Walking Festival - ride2stride - has been released, and promises something to please everyone.

There are over 20 led walks from stations along the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway, ranging from easy 3-mile guided walks around Ribblehead Viaduct to a strenuous 17 mile hike from Hellifield to Settle. The walks are all free and there's no need to book in advance - just turn up at the start. Each is led by an experienced walk leader from one of a number of organisations who are involved in the Festival.

There's music every day at different venues along the line, with some of the region's best folk musicians performing open sessions throughout the afternoons and evenings.

Helping to round the festival off on Bank Holiday Monday is Dales Way author Colin Speakman, talking about Rambling and Railways - one of a number of talks through the week in Settle.

The festival is being organised jointly by an ad-hoc committee representing a number of organisations including Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, Friends of DalesRail, Yorkshire Dales Society, SCENe (Settle-Carlisle Enterprise Network), Skyware Press, and the Three Peaks Folk Club.

The festival starts on Tuesday 1st May with two walks leaving Settle Station at 09.50 (on arrival of the 08.49 train from Leeds). Members of the Three Peaks Folk Club will provide musical entertainment to launch the festival at Settle Station.

The Friends of A Dales High Way are leading a walk on Sunday, May 6th, following the route from Langscar to Settle. Meet at Settle station at 10.10 a.m. to follow the Pennine Bridleway up past Jubilee caves along an easy walk to Langscar, joining the route of A Dales High Way back via Kirkby Fell and Attermire to Settle - 10 miles. (PLEASE NOTE: These details have changed since originally published, due to changes in the bus timetable. The original plan was to catch the Dalesbus to Malham and walk back passing Malham Cove, Kirkby Fell and Attermire Scar).

Walk leader Chris Grogan said: "This is one of my favourite sections of the route and a great chance for walkers to get a taste of A Dales High Way. We're really pleased to be part of the ride2stride festival. It's going to be a fantastic week."

For the full programme see the ride2stride Festival website here.

7 February 2012

New guide to Dales Rail Trails

Explore the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales - by train! A new walk guide from the authors of A Dales High Way is published this month and offers 32 day walks from stations along the world famous Settle-Carlisle line, the most beautiful railway in England.

Dales Rail Trails covers 18 circular routes from stations along the line from Settle to Kirkby Stephen, each between 6 and 13 miles long, with a further 14 linear walks from station to station. There are 22 full colour maps at a scale of 1:25,000, with concise descriptions of the routes and places along the way. Taken as a whole they provide a comprehensive coverage of the area of the western Dales along the railway.

Co-author Chris Grogan said: "You can reach the heart of this fabulous walking country from Leeds, Bradford or Carlisle by train in little over an hour. Better still, why not enjoy a walking holiday by basing yourself at a village on the line and use the train to explore the stunning western Dales.

"We've been planning this book ever since we finished work on the two Dales High Way guides. All those people who enjoyed the long-distance trail and have thought about returning to the area to explore this beautiful landscape further, will find this book fits the bill perfectly."

The book also includes a guide to the popular 24-mile Three Peaks Challenge Route, and for lovers of long distance walking there are details of the 48-mile Six Peaks Trail, which links stations from Settle to Kirkby Stephen. There's additional supporting material online, including outtakes - outlines of walks that didn't make it into the final book.

The Dales Rail Trails project received financial backing from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund, and a proportion of the proceeds from the sale of each copy will be donated to the Friends of the Three Peaks, to help improve and maintain the footpath network in the Three Peaks area.

So, as they say, let the train take the strain while you enjoy the walk.

See more details of Dales Rail Trails here. Buy a copy online from Skyware Press.

22 January 2012

Olympic Torch blow to Mountain Rescue Teams

The arrival of the Olympic Torch in Skipton this summer will be cause to celebrate for many, but will inadvertently add to the funding worries of local Mountain Rescue organisations.

The arrival of the Torch on June 24th from Manchester, passing through Bradford and Skipton before heading to Leeds, has meant that the annual Broughton Game Show has had to be cancelled. This in turn means that both the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) and Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) will miss out on more than £20,000. The Broughton Show is a major fundraiser for both groups.

David Aynesworth, Chairman of the show committee said "With lots of family events being planned for the town centre, we felt this would have a massive affect on show attendance, particularly as this event will draw people from many surrounding areas".

Paul Jackson, editor of the Dalesman magazine which sponsors the Broughton Show, said "It's a great shame that people will miss out on what is a quirky and enjoyable day but I understand that being part of the torch ceremony is for most people a once-in a lifetime experience.

"The volunteers are the big losers, so I hope people who would normally attend the show will go out of their way during the next twelve months to support the teams' other fundraising events"

Since the first show in 1979 around £300,000 has been raised for the two groups. It has only been cancelled twice in the past - in 2001 because of Foot & Mouth and in 2009 after flash flooding.

Both groups are hoping alternative fund raising efforts will help plug the gap this year. And both teams reiterate that they will continue to provide the rescue service, wherever and whenever it may be needed.

See the Broughton Game Show website here. Find out about alternative support for the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) and the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO). See the Olympic Torch route here.

11 January 2012

High Way Art Project triumph

The year long experiment of having an "Artist in Residence" on A Dales High Way has ended in triumph with almost all the new paintings sold. Of over 30 oil paintings produced through the year and exhibited in art galleries along the route, from Shipley to Penrith, only a handful remain.

Saltaire artist David Starley, who came up with the idea of the year long Dales High Way Art Project at the end of 2010, agrees he's had a great year: "The painting has been both challenging and creatively stimulating, but with results that exceeded my expectation."

David works in oils, creating fabulous, textural paintings - great big canvasses with the paint layered on to create a sculptural surface which changes constantly as the light moves across the scene.

Excited by the possibility of creating an exhibition themed around the route, David spent the year walking sections of the trail with his camera and sketchbook, returning home to create his paintings. Paintings inspired by the varied landscapes he experienced, from the bleak moorland of Rombald's Moor to the flower-filled meadows of Dentdale, the dramatic limestone scenery of Malhamdale to the richly wooded riverbanks of Hoff Beck. Paintings which transform the views into pieces of art.

The Project maybe over, but the paintings remain as a lasting legacy of the power of this landscape to inspire and to thrill.

See our previous post here, and see the results of David's Dales High Way Art Project here.

1 January 2012

More News >

[ Check Route Updates ]

A Dales High Way: Route Guide

[ Buy Direct from Publisher ]

"At £6.99 this is an excellently-produced, pocket-sized publication, printed in full colour on quality paper." 
- Mike Priestley, T&A

"This pocket sized book contains many interesting photographs and informative descriptions of the history, geology and the culture of the area - worth buying for these alone."
- Jay Dingley, Strider

"It contains large-scale coloured maps for every two to four miles of the route, and these are full of detailed helpful directions."
- Keith Wadd, West Riding Rambler

A Dales High Way Companion

[ Buy Direct from Publisher ]

"If you fancy hiking the 93 miles from Saltaire to Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, this beautifully designed and illustrated book would indeed be an ideal companion to have in the back-pack."
- Jim Greenhalf, T&A

"I cannot recommend this guide highly enough."
- Mike Addison, Westmorland Gazette

"it would make a fine present for you, or a friend. Thoroughly recommended"
- Pete Shaw, FoSCL magazine