We have been enjoying tackling long distance paths in sections for some years now, and this is our latest challenge - the 100 mile route from Skipton to Penrith, passing through Grassington, Buckden, Hawes, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby on the way.

This first day tackled the relatively easy section from Skipton to Grassington, a gentle up and over into Wharfedale from Skipton, followed by a lovely section of the River Wharfe which coincides with the Dales Way, and then a not so easy sting in the tail up and over into Grassington.

There is a good bus service on a Sunday in the dales which enabled us to use the public bus back to Skipton after the walk.

Those of us who had walked the Two Roses Way last year recognised a few of the landmarks in the first few miles as the routes overlap slightly near the Embsay Reservoir, but then nicely diverge to take different routes onwards. 

Ron was most impressed after a few miles when the route took us through an ice cream farm! We had a job getting him to carry on!

Skipton Castle and Bardon tower were both 'repayrd' as she liked to say, by Lady Anne Clifford.  Basically she rode from one to the other showing off her efforts to all her friends and our route follows the rather bumpy lanes she used with her horses and hangers on.  Personally I reckon it was easier to walk. When she had finished Bardon tower she also built the beautiful Bardon Bridge (had a bit of rock and cement left over then?).

After fighting off the crowds near Burnsall Bridge (seems to be our year for visiting honeypots), we had a steep climb out of the valley with great views back down the Wharf, before an intersting route across into Grassington. 

We have now tackled  part 2 on 16 May and will do parts 3-6 on the 2 - 5 September as a linear long weekend so if you are interested in joining us, contact Nicky.