News en route
Dales High Way with Three Peaks
An increasing number of walkers tackling A Dales High Way are
taking in all of the Yorkshire Three Peaks along the route -
Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside.
The official Dales High Way route includes only one of the
Three Peaks - Ingleborough - but offers Whernside as
an option. However, Pen-y-ghent does not feature.
It is possible, though, to include Pen-y-ghent in Section
Three, which runs from Settle to Chapel-le-Dale. The
suggested Pen-y-ghent - Three Peaks Alternative adds 4 miles, with an additional 300 metres of ascent, taking
around 2 hours extra. However, it also gives the opportunity to
break the Section at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
Typical of this group of walkers is Ian, who flew up from the Channel
Islands last summer to walk the trail and has just posted a blog
about his adventures. "It is a tweaked version of the DHW,
missing out the first few miles and instead starting at Ilkley,
but aiming to include all of the Yorkshire 3 peaks. That's the
plan anyway" he said.
The Pen-y-ghent - Three Peaks Alternative cuts from
the main Dales High Way route at Stainforth Bridge, heading up
through Stainforth to join the Ribble Way, climbing to Moor Head
Lane and continuing north along the ridge to join the Pennine
Way. It then follows the Pennine Way up to the summit of Pen-y-ghent and
down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, before heading for Ingleborough
to rejoin A Dales High Way above Crummackdale.
Did Ian have a good time?
"What a walk it has been. I am a relative novice when it
comes to long distance walks but this must be up there as one of
the best trails in England. Many have highlights but also some
‘by the numbers’ sections, but here every day had something
special, a unique feature, an achievement, an icon" he said.
"The 3 peaks formed the main event, but the appetizer was the
Malham area and the dessert the Howgill Fells. That’s a
sumptuous 3 courses!"
14 Feb 2019
First cold snap of 2019
The first real cold snap of this winter has finally taken
hold over the Yorkshire Dales, with snow blanketing Ingleborough
(see picture).
After a fairly dry summer last year the winter so far has
been quite mild. The current cold spell is expected to continue
through into next week.
Though winter conditions can make for some exciting walking
along A Dales High Way, great care is needed on higher ground
and in icy conditions underfoot.
On Sunday, January 27th a walker showing signs of mild
hypothermia was helped down from Ingleborough by the volunteers
from the Clapham based Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO).
On the following day another walker was injured on Malham
Cove. The CRO incident report states:
"A walker (m,72) slipped and fell on the limestone pavement
and sustained a suspected fractured right ankle. The team
responded and splinted the injured limb, and then put the
casualty onto a stretcher for a carry to the team vehicle. He
was then transported to a waiting road ambulance at Malham
visitor centre, from where he was transferred to hospital.
"Whilst dealing with this incident a team member slipped and
fell, injuring his right wrist. No treatment was required at the
scene, but a subsequent check at hospital revealed a fracture to
the lower right forearm."
1 Feb 2019
£2.2 million for Westmorland Dales
A £2.27 million National Lottery grant has been awarded to
the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership scheme,
with the aim to reveal, conserve and celebrate the rich geology,
wildlife, cultural heritage and spectacular limestone landscapes
of the Westmorland Dales.
The area lies to the north of the Howgill Fells in Cumbria,
extending over 200 sq km from Maulds Meaburn in the north to
Tebay in the south-west and Ravenstonedale in the south-east.
The final stretch of A Dales High Way
passes right through the heart of this area, which became part
of an extended Yorkshire Dales National Park in 2016.
A total of 21 projects will be delivered by a partnership of
organisations over a four year period.
There will be opportunities for volunteers to survey the
unique heritage and long distance routes of the Westmorland
Dales through desk and field survey with the Yorkshire Dales
National Park and other partners. Heritage routes include drove
roads, green lanes, and public rights of way; long distance
routes include the Coast to Coast, Lady Annes’s Way
and Pennine Bridleway. Volunteers will assess
routes for essential improvements, record features and research
each route’s unique history.
This remote and beautiful pastoral landscape has a unique mix
of habitats and remarkably intact pattern of historical
settlements and features. It has 79 Scheduled Monuments, 19
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and two National
Nature Reserves. However, it has been largely ’hidden’ for the
last 70 years, tucked away between the Lake District and
Yorkshire Dales National Parks.
David Evans, development officer at Friends of the Lake
District who are acting as lead body on behalf of the
Partnership said: “We can’t wait to get started on the delivery
of the scheme. We’ve worked with volunteers, community
organisations, interest groups, farmers, landowners and
businesses throughout the planning phase to help shape the
projects."
14 Jan 2019
Cold plunge at White Wells greets New Year
New Year's
Day got underway with the traditional cold water
bath at White Wells, overlooking Ilkley.
Volunteers signed up at the White Wells cafe before walking
next door and taking the steps down into the murky water. The
first to tackle the Ilkley challenge was Sandra Gale, who was
followed by families and people of all ages.
Charli Oliver, 19, from Perth, in Western Australia, was
joined by her boyfriend Matthew Lloyd and 15-year-old sister,
Amy (see photo (c) Bradford Telegraph & Argus)
"It wasn't as bad as I was expecting," said Charli, who
claimed the water was about six degrees centigrade. "My sister
said she couldn't breathe when she got in because it was so
cold."
White Wells is a spa bath situated on Ilkley Moor, on the
route of A Dales High Way. It was
built in around 1700 as an open air spa bath, later baths were
enclosed and a single plunge pool survives today.
The current tenants have been there for nearly 20 years, but
there are fears that the historic building could fall into
disrepair, following council plans to double the rent.
Previously the site stood empty for some time.
Town councillor Anne Hawkesworth said: "At that time the
cottage was empty because a tenant could not be found. The
security costs were exorbitant and a solution had to be found.
It was decided that the answer was probably to find a tenant who
would act as a caretaker on a nominal peppercorn rent- in
reality who else would live up there - I certainly wouldn't."
She said the arrangement also included a requirement to open
the cafe at specific times.
2 Jan 2019
Ride2Stride 2019 Programme
The programme for next year's Ride2Stride - the
Settle-Carlisle Walking and Music Festival - is now
available online. The festival runs from April 30th to May 6th.
The popular festival of walks, talks and music along the
world famous railway line is now in its 8th year. There are 31
led walks on offer, ranging from a 2 mile tour of the iconic
Ribblehead Viaduct, to a 15 mile strenuous hike from Ribblehead
to Horton crossing mighty Ingleborough.
Chris Grogan is leading a walk on behalf of the Friends
of A Dales High Way on Friday, May 3rd,
taking in sections of the long-distance trail around Settle. The
8.5 mile moderate circular walk from the town's station takes in
the Crags, Caves and Kilns to the east of the town, with some
steep climbs, before returning along the riverside. It starts at
10.22 to meet the train departing from Leeds at 09.19, with an
expected return in time for the 16.28 train back to Leeds, after
a short refreshment stop in the pub.
There are also three talks on offer in Settle through the
week, as well as the lively music sessions each evening in pubs
along the line from Appleby southwards. Especially welcome is
the return to The Station Inn at Ribblehead on a Saturday night.
There was a brief moment in summer when it seemed the 2019
R2S festival might not happen, due to a number of logistical
problems faced by a denuded steering group, but these issues
were soon resolved and a new festival committee was established
to take things forward.
The walks are free and no pre-booking is required. Just turn
up at the designated railway station for the start.
See
ride2stride.co.uk for the 2019 R2S Festival Programme. An
archive of the R2S programmes from 2012-2018 can be seen at
ride2stride.org.uk
22 Dec 2018
90 miles across the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales
