Living on the Veg | Saturday 11 September 2021


Walk Leader: Andy Miller
Participants: 10
Mileage: 19 miles
Ascent: 2,800 ft
Walk Report: Andy Miller
Weather: Sunshine and a cool breeze
 
We met in the centre of Reeth and set off going north on the Tan Hill road to then join the riverside FP all the way to Langthwaite crossing the newly erected Footbridge over Arkle Beck which had been replaced after the Floods
At Langthwaite we had a drinks stop on the benches outside The Red Lion Public House again all refurbished after the floods.
After our stop we took the narrow road continually climbing to reach the Finger post pointing to Langcliffe Scar/Windegg Lane and our first serious climb of the day all the way up to join the BW for Hurst again upwards to reach the track going west named Windegg Edge where we had a stop and took in the marvelous views and the Limestone cliffs of Windegg Edge.
After our break we continued on the Track to reach The Barnard Castle Road.
From there we then took a short moorland FP south to reach Hill Side, a lovely old cottage with an abundance of large Plant Pots all full with healthy looking plants and marvelous colours. Unfortunately we had to use the BW which went through the garden to reach Scarhouse Lane where we then continued down through the grounds of first of all Scar House and West House to reach Eskeleth Bridge and then we took the Stang Bridge riverside FP all the way to Whaw 
Bridge where we had a well deserved drink stop.This part of the route was on The Swaledale Marathon Route.
From Whaw Bridge we took the road again climbing to reach the Tan Hill road where we joined the track named Whaw Bents where on a  very steep climbing track crossing Punchard Moor took us all the way to reach Little Punchard Gill Head Moss This part of the walk was on The Swaledale Figure of Eight and then we went due South over Friarfold Moor across the mine workings to reach the track going down to Level House Bridge and then going S/E to reach Surrender Bridge then over Novel Houses Hill and down into Crinkley Bottom. (that is the name adopted from the map and known by most people who walk the area) and then over the new Footbridge up the other side and then take the BW over Reeth Low Moor to reach the tiny hamlet of Healaugh.
From Healaugh we took the riverside FP east all the way back to Reeth.As we entered Reeth using the back lanes we came across a Children,s Play area where one of our unruly members from a previous walk resisted the temptation to go through the gates and use the apparatus.Well done.The previous episode will not be mentioned again.
 We all agreed this had been a tough day with some serious climbs but everyone as usual stuck with it  .We also used some diverse and various FP,s, BW,s and Tracks which some of our more experienced members had never been on before which kept us interested all day long.       Swaledale at its Best !!!!
 
 
Photos by Liyang Tang