A Walk In Swaledale Forums

Broom · Last edited by Broom on Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:34 am; edited 1 time in total

Hi All

I thought a change of Topic was on the cards, so here goes.

Having not got a motorhome at the moment, delivery is March and having completed all my assigned 'jobs' well nearly, with the gorgeous weather forecast we decided a walk in our favourite area Swaledale was on the cards for today Sunday 17th February 2008. Swaledale for those from afar is in the Yorkshire Dales and has been refereed to as the Forgotten Vale, it is in probable one of the most remote areas of Yorkshire, to demonstrate this Ill tell you of a tale from about 5 years ago when coming back to the car from a 12 mile walk over the fells, we had dropped down to low level and were walking back to the car along the banks of the river Swale, when I saw an old guy digging a hole in the flood bank, when we got up to him I asked him if he was rabbiting as we had seen a lot on our walk, he replied 'no lad am after moles' and produced one he had trapped earlier in the day. the wife then started talking to him, he was 86 years old, he had only ever been out of the Dale twice in his life, once to Northallerton hospital and once to York, so he had never ever been out of Yorkshire. By this time he was really engrossed in the conversation he pointed up the fell at a house and told us that was where he was born and then another house where he moved to when he was 10 and then at 22 he got married and moved into the tied farm cottage where he worked and he still lived in, he also said he looked after his exbosses sons farm for 3 weeks ever year which paid the rent, the son was up in one of them there plane things to Cyprus wouldn't get him up in one was the other comment. Anyway by this time the sun was setting and we still had 2 miles to go to get back to the car, but this old guy walked us all the way there. I had the opportunity to enquire after his health last year and both him and his wife are still going strong, now back to today.

We were up at 7.00am sandwiches and flasks packed, the Wife, Mitsi and me, my mate would have come but had to work, we were off for 8.00AM up the A1 to Bedale on to Leyburn, over the shooting ranges at Catterick Garrison, saw a guy wild camping on the top, generator chugging away what a lovely spot he had got himself, on to Grinton then Reeth and this is where this day really started, we got through Reeth on the B6270 the sky was blue the sun just high enough to be shining over our heads down the full length of Swaledale what a simply beautiful site, we pressed on our destination was Gunnerside, just east of Gunnerside is where a photo most of you will have seen at sometime or other but not known where it was taken, its on loads of Calendars and the like its of hay barns and dry stone walls in a hay meadow, well again it was brilliant the sun was just right.
We arrived and parked at the river bridge in Gunnerside, our walk was around 8 miles, not a long one as all three of us have lost a bit of fitness over Christmas. we set of a brilliant day for walking -2C of frost underfoot great, no sheep in the fields so Misti could be of the lead which aloud her to chase all the rabbits which were in abundance, the walk was easy to start with along the banks of the river Swale heading west, after about 3 miles we then turned off this path up the fell a steep climb for around 1 mile and then levelled out the views were spectacular looking back down the Dale, time for sandwiches and a drink with aview to die for, the 3 of us were fed and watered Mitsi was still chasing rabbits no chance of ever catching one.
We resumed our walk which was heading back now to Gunnerside on the tops of the fells, the temperature had now risen and we were down to our shirt sleeves what a lovely day, we got back to the car, the walk had taken about 41/2 hours the wife and I had caught the sun, another fantastic days walking.
So you lot if you can walk get out there, I feel great mentally and physically but ache a bit. For those not able to walk i would recommend a drive down the B6270 come in at Richmond and back via Hawes. there are some camping sites in Swaledale if you Google you will find them, we would normally stay at Hawes or Richmond, one thing to note I wouldn't recommend units longer than 24ft attempt the B6270. I am a Yorkshire man living in a great county come and see it. The wife took some photos of todays walk let me know if you want to see them

Get Fit Get Walking

Best regards
Broom

MandyandDave · Moderator

Gods County! And I feel so lucky to live in this part of the world, none better! Very Happy

The Dales are full of characters just like th'owd lad you mention. Spent yesterday and today in Masham Wensleydale, we went to the White Bear pub for a couple of pints of Old Peculiar, a famous ale of the Theakstons brewery cloae by.
Very much a dales village, for dales folk that has not suffered from commercial pressures, unlike others in recent years.

Old station yard campsite, no frills no nonsense, great cafe and excellent facilities.
http://www.oldstation-masham.co.uk/

Nidderdale has to be our favourite, 5 mins drive from where I live, if you need to know more, or where to stay let me know! Wink

greenasthegrass · NE Rally Co-ordinator

Makes me feel almost tearful to be a Yarkshire lass. My mum has done our family tree and we originate in Hawes - drove through it on Friday twas gorgeous looking place. We originate in France too so have to go there in summer as well. You don't get dry stone walling like ya get in Yorkshire. Laughing

Broom · Last edited by Broom on Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:28 am; edited 1 time in total

HI All

Obviously by the amount of reply's I am unable to get you interested or have you all dropped of to sleep

Have we no walkers and country folk out there

Best Regards
Broom

johng1974

Lovely part of the world Broom, have walked there on occasions Smile

John

Spacerunner

You bring back wonderful memories. I spent lots of my annual hols in that part of the world walking. Pennine Way, Three Peaks, North York Moors, such glorious countryside and friendly natives!
Strangely we still have to take the motorhome up there, we used to take the caravan or tent.

spykal · Moderator

runoutofnames

Sorry Broom, Just seen your post. Yorkshire is one of the places I intend to really get to know this my first year with a van and I shall now copy your post with a view to definitely following in your footsteps.

I was going cold when I started reading it .... I was waiting for you to say you turned round and the old man had disappeared and was a ghost .. Embarassed

read too many books!!!!

Joy

2Dreamers

Hi Broom,
We have just returned from a fantastic weekend. Stayed in Giggleswick. Walked up Whernside, we were completely by ourselves which is the best thing about visiting at this time of year. Have had our fill of Copper Dragon and Black Sheep Ale and unfortunately returned to work today! I suppose there has to be a pay-off somewhere.
We haven't ventured as far up as Swaledale although we have had it recommended to us - it's a bit too far for our evening dash from Suffolk.

Eddie & Julie