Dales High Way - Stage 4.


Dales High Way - Stage 4.

The Pictures.

To see who was on the walk, click on the following picture.

 

To view all the pictures taken on Stage 4 click 'Here' then view slideshow in full screen. 

The Walk.

Walk leaders:- John Evenden and Ian Wardle.

 On a grey cool morning sixteen walkers assembled by the river Rawthey in Sedbergh. The minicoach arrived to take the group back to the Hill Inn. Some concerned faces were seen as the coach progressed over the temporary Bailey bridge on the Sedbergh to Kirkby Lonsdale road. Once back at the Hill Inn at Chapel-le-Dale the group set off down the road passing St Leonard’s church the resting place for many who perished helping build the Settle-Carlisle railway. Not much further on Hurtle Pot was viewed reminding the group of potential pot holing in the area; nearby a modernist metal sculpture by Charles L’Anson was admired.

A good track, an old drove road the Craven Way, took us under Whernside on to Winterscales with a coffee break in a sheltered spot along the way. Despite the grey day there were impressive views of the 24 arches of the Ribblehead viaduct as well as the surrounding fells. As the group walked past the signal box on Blea Moor Sidings there was evidence of improved footpaths including up Whernside. An easy climb over Craven Wold and up to Boot of the Wold had some of the group wondering if a dash to the top of Whernside should be considered! The promise of a lunch stop in the shelter of walls was too tempting and with some adding extra clothing a break was taken.

The Craven Way then continued taking us into Dent with more good views of Dentdale and glimpses of the Howgill Fells ahead. Dent provided a café on a cobbled street where some of the group assisted one member to write a poem for the visitor’s book as an appreciation of refreshments provided. The notice board informed us we could have attended a talk by Tony and Chris Grogan founders of the Dales High Way if only we had been in Dent 2 days earlier.

After a short riverside walk where a dipper was seen it was up over Frostrow, initially on a tarmacked track then onto Long Moor where for the first time some bog was encountered. As we dropped down Holebeck Gill views of the next stage over the Howgill Fells reinforced that this had been a gentler 15 mile stretch of the walk.

Another great day with only a little drizzle and warm enough for a couple of the group to walk for some of the time in short sleeves although others added rather than removed clothing.

Let’s hope for another dry day for the Howgill Fells.