A Dales High Way

Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Line launch

The launch of a new website for the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line (FoSCL) has introduced a major change for the 4000-member support group.

The website strap-line has now been extended to read "The Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Line", helping emphasise the fact that the line is part of a major mainline railway. A new display at Leeds station showcases this.

Former FoSCL chairman Richard Morris, who helped develop the new website, said: "We wanted to make it clear that we're responsible for 72 miles of a unique mainline railway, and not a privately run heritage railway that just runs steam trains."

The organisation itself is unlikely, however, to change its name accordingly.

The railway offers walkers on a A Dales High Way unique access to the long-distance trail.

The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line were originally formed in 1981 to campaign against a proposal to close the famous historic and scenic route. In 1989 the Government decided that the line must remain open. Since then FoSCL has acted as a user group to improve facilities and services for passengers.

The last two years or so have proved turbulent for the organisation, with mounting disquiet from some volunteers and members who have felt alienated over some recent decisions. Next May's Annual General Meeting may see several changes at the top, when the current Chairman steps down.

Photo shows the new display at Leeds station (© Drew Haley).

See the new FoSCL website here.

19 Nov 2018

Visit Eden

A new promotional video highlighting the attractions of the Eden valley and surrounding area was premiered at the seventh annual Eden Tourism Summit held at the Shap Wells Hotel last month.

The video was met with a definite seal of approval from over 100 businesses who attended the Summit. ITV Border were there for the day and provided great coverage on the news, including a live broadcast at 6pm.

" We worked in partnership with Mulholland Media to produce the 3 minute video, which gives the visitor a taste of what Eden has to offer. This is a new marketing medium for us and we plan to record more footage throughout the year, to update the video seasonally."

Eden is a beautiful corner of Cumbria in the north of England, taking in the lakes and mountains around Ullswater, part of the Lake District National Park and the moorlands of the North Pennines around Alston, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In between, the River Eden flows through the rolling countryside of the Eden Valley, including the Westmorland Dales - part of the recently extended Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Dales High Way walkers who end their journey in this beautiful corner of Eden, will undoubtedly enjoy seeing what other delights the area has to offer.

See Visit Eden here

2 November 2018

Otley venue for anniversary fair

Otley Walkers Are Welcome are celebrating their own 10th anniversary next month with a Walkers Fair, which will feature talks by original trail authors Colin Speakman and Chris Grogan.

Colin will talk about 50 years of the Dales Way - now one of the most popular long-distance walking trails in the country.

Chris will be talking about her upbringing on a Dales hill farm and how that led her to create A Dales High Way.

Mike Bartholomew of the West Riding Ramblers will talk about disabled access to the countryside.

As well as a variety of stalls, there will be the opportunity to share experiences, photos, and maps about trails in Britain or anywhere in Europe. "Walkers will tell walkers about routes and areas they know: English, Scottish and Welsh trails, the Italian Dolomites, Lapland, France and Germany, etc, etc. Walking groups and interest organizations like the Ramblers will be represented."

The fair takes place on Sunday 18th November at the Otley Courthouse from 11am till 4pm.

Chris has enjoyed a busy year celebrating A Dales High Way's 10th anniversary, with a series of talks about the trail at various venues, and a number of led walks, which have all gone well.

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the series of led walks along the entire route, all achieved using public transport. 22 walkers joined the event overall, starting off from Saltaire on a bright May morning, and ending with a triumphant September finish at Appleby-in-Westmorland (see photo above).

See Otley Walkers Are Welcome here. See the 10th anniversary events here.

19 October 2018

Companion support for Mend Our Mountains

You can support the current Mend Our Mountains campaign and pick up a signed copy of the new edition of A Dales High Way Companion as a reward.

The current crowd-funding campaign has just three weeks to run, with a target of £20,000 towards the £46.000 fund for the improvement of a busy path leading to the summit of Whernside from Bruntscar. This is a popular route for both Three Peaks walkers, and Dales High Way walkers taking the Whernside optional route.

Other rewards on offer include a handcrafted oak finger post sign with inscription, a day out with a National Park Ranger, a helicopter ride or an overnight stay in a local luxury hotel.

In 2016 Skyware Press, who publish the Dales High Way guide books, supported a similar successful campaign to raise £17,000 for path repairs on Ingleborough. Chris Grogan said "Walkers have had so much pleasure over the years from walking A Dales High Way and we feel it's important to help put something back into keeping these paths in good condition."

The rising popularity of the Three Peaks Challenge Route is now causing major headaches for residents of Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

With an estimated 100,000 walkers taking on the challenge each year, Richard Welch, a North Yorkshire County councillor for Ribblesdale, told the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) residents feelings were running high. "Every weekend it is absolute pandemonium. The Three Peaks walk is making people's lives a misery." he said.

A new Yorkshire Three Peaks Route Guide, produced by Skyware Press this year, advocates starting and finishing the route at Ribblehead, making use of the early morning train service from Leeds.

YDNPA members have agreed to look at possible alternative start points, routes and other options.

See the Mend Our Mountains crowd-funding appeal here. See the new Yorkshire Three Peaks Route Guide here.

1 October 2018

High Way the hard way

A new women's record has been set this week for running A Dales High Way by Catherine Bradley-Richardson, who covered the 90-mile long distance trail in just 35 hours!

Catherine, who works for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, set off on Sunday morning, September 2nd. She had pacer support from three runners for the first half, up to Ribblehead, but finished the run on her own, late Monday afternoon.

Her actual running time was 27 hours 19 minutes, with some refreshment and rest stops along the way, where she had road support at various locations.

Catherine had originally intended to join three runners who tackled the trail in 2016, including a colleague at the National Park. "I was unable to do it with Matt Neale due to injury 2 years ago...so let’s see what happens!" she said before the start.

In November 2016 three men, Matt Kneale, Mark Collinson and Dave Dixon completed the run in just 26 hours.

Catherine said "It is such a fabulous and varied route. It really does show off the Yorkshire Dales superbly! Although the weather was poor from Sedbergh onwards it was still very enjoyable! I was glad to have previously reccied the Howgills section as it was thick fog and driving rain in Monday morning."

Wow. Well done Catherine!

See the 2016 run report here.

9 Sept. 2018