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ingleborough-from-the-lower-track

In my eyes Ingleborough is the best and most interesting of the 3 Peaks with a good variety of ways to the top, fabulous limestone scenery and views across in to the Lake District as well as the Dales themselves. Climbing Ingleborough from Ingleton is also a verty straightforward and safe way to the summit, it is almost impossible to get lost and only in the final 100 foot steep enough to cause any concern – of course the summit area is vast and a bit of accurate compass work may be needed to find a descent in the mist. However those who go up and then retrace their steps back to Ingleton miss the great appeal of this mountain and therefore I would suggest carrying on North West over the summit area and dropping North East in to the wonderful limestone pavements of Raven Scar. Here I stick to the pavements and take a return route a few hundred feet above the road and between the two main scars, the only disadvantage being that it soon becomes a very gradual ascent!

Recommend: It is perfectly possible to start the walk in the centre of Ingleton but if you have transport save yourself a mile each way.

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winder-from-dales-way

One of the best sections of the Dales Way passes between Sedbergh and Dent and this drove me to look at a walk combining both places. Clearly the Dales Way marks one direction and is an excellent lowland track through the attractive setting of lower Dentdale but picking an alternative route for the other way is more interesting. My favourite alternative to the Dales Way is in fact the bridleway (little more than a path) leading over the moors of Frostrow and Long Moor before dropping down to the river Dee 1/2 a mile from Dent itself. Whilst the Dales Way and riverside section of the walk can be busy it is rare to see anyone on the higher moors so the views can be fully enjoyed in peace and at your leisure. They are good as well!

Recommend: When you have 5 or 6 days spare the Dales Way which runs from Ilkley to Kendal and runs through the heart of the Dales is an excellent long distance walk

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whelprigg-country-house

The Bronte sisters attended the old girl’s school at Casterton and much of their childhood memories must come from this splendid old school and its surrounding countryside. The hills over Barbon certainly look wild enough to satisfy them but in reality the River Lune meanders gently through this pleasant low level valley creating some lovely walking along lanes and over fields. Both Barbon and Casterton are attractive villages (with good pubs) and like Kirkby Lonsdale worth taking a little bit of extra time to fully explore; some of the country houses worth seeking out (if only from a distance) are Barbon Manor, Whelprigg and Casterton Hall to name but three all major land marks on the old railway which passed through this valley.

Recommend: By the time you read this you may be walking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park if the proposed extension goes ahead

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twisleton-scar

Easy walking, fantastic limestone pavements and far reaching views over two of the Yorkshire Dales big 3 characterise this walk above Twisleton Scars. Whernside and Ingleborough were ever present as myself and Mist stretched our legs on the large flat plateau that separates the two peaks, a plateau offering some of the most impressive examples of limestone scenery in the country. At Ewes Top an array of cairns marked a change of direction from me – I always prefer keeping to the high ground so I decided to follow the sheep tracks that pass along the top of Twisleton Scars rather than the joining the Ingleton Falls walk and following it back to Chapel le Dale at the foot of the scars. The walking and views of the scars is superb from above and depending how brave you are closer investigation can be made using some of more adventurous sheep tracks

Recommend: This is a much better walk from Chapel-le -Dale than Ingleton if only because it involves a closer inspection of this attractive hamlet

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reinsber-scar

There is something immensely satisfying about walking on the limestone of the southern Dales. I have probably included a disproportionate number of walks in the Settle region just for this reason. The limestone scars and pavements in the tract of land between Austwick and Stainforth harbours some of its best examples; the light grey rock catching the sunlight wonderfully well on a good day creating a brilliant white appearance. Furthermore the physical walking on limestone is also a pleasure, broad short grass paths pepper the area making the miles simply disappear – I remarked to Helen that it was a walk that could almost be done with bare feet (sheep poo excepted). Helen really chose this walk as she was keen to sample the pleasures of the tea room at Feizor so I looked to construct a walk with Feizor as the base. The views over to Stainforth and Pen y Ghent are excellent completing a very fitting finale to the 100th walk that I have described in the Yorkshire Dales.

Recommend:

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typical-howgill-walking

To the south of the A685 as it marches its way from the M6 towards Kirkby Stephen and Brough there is a vast area of high, largely trackless hills that go under the collective name of the Northern Howgills. Keep to the tracks on the high moorlands and the walking is superb, leave them and it becomes more of a struggle, positively an ordeal at times. Therefore the walk I have chosen sticks to the paths and bridleways and leads to the highest point in the area Yarlside at 2096′. This is a walk where meeting another person is unlikely but the solitude and easy walking, coupled with bird noise and far reaching views makes this a highly enjoyable experience. Ravenstone is good place to start with the track gradually climbing on to the high plateau just beyond Green Bell and following a winding course to the Marilyn of Yarlside. The return can be varied by taking the more northerly route towards Newbiggen on Lune; cutting across the fields to Ravenstonedale before it is actually reached.

Recommend: It is worth going all the way to Yarlside because the views over to the Calf and the Sedbergh Howgills are very good

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bordley-from-the-road

The land between Malham and Grassington at Malham Moor is a fascinating mix of limestone, rough moorland and the pretty and rarely visited valley of Winterburn, complete with a small reservoir. At the head of Winterburn is the small hamlet of Bordley, surely one of the most inaccessible hamlets in England – I watched the postman trying to get there and ruin his van in the process. A rough spot to live! Bordley forms the far point of the 7 and a half mile walk I particularly enjoy in the area. After a walk through farmland the track soon rises to Threshfield Moor and a long line of shooting butts but the scenery is completely different on the return as Malham Moor Lane passes through some classic limestone scenery and ancient iron age settlements.

Recommend: It is possible to extend the walk quite easily by joining Mastiles Lane above Bordley and returning from Kilnsey Crag along the back road. The ancient Roman Road of Mastiles Lane is easy walking through outstanding limestone scenery but the return from Kilnsey is a bit awkward.

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enjoying-the-nidderdale-way

Downstream from Pateley Bridge walking along the River Nidd is a real pleasure – the path is really good and sticks to the river like glue. However after 2 and a half miles I had had enough and headed through Smelterhouses for the lovely woodland of Fell Beck. This is one of the most lovely areas of deciduous woodland in the Dales – I included it on the walk to Brimham Rocks which is barely 1 mile away . At Smelterhouses the walk joins the Nidderdale Way which is one of the best of the many long distance paths which criss cross the Dales and is followed all the way back to Pateley Bridge. The way follows a high line when it leaves the woods, along quiet lanes and with some excellent views over Nidderdale and the surrounding countryside.  The villages of Glasshouses, Blazefield and little Smelterhouses add even more variety to what is a highly enjoyable exploration of lower Nidderdale, a very underrated area.

Recommend: Spend some time exploring the villages on the walk, particularly Yorkshire Country Wines in Glasshouses Mill.

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memorial-on-rylstone-cross

Even though I have included Rylstone Cross and Cracoe Monumnet on a walk from Embsay I fancied a closer exploration of the gritstone rock which necessitated a walk from the west. Hetton was the choice even though it was 1/2 a mile further than Rylstone or Cracoe but a pint sat outside the Angel was a suitably attractive incentive. The moor (access land) is soon reached from Rylstone (home of the Calendar Girls) with bleak peaty moorland stretching far out to the west and south. However the walk sticks to the escarpment edge and is great fun – first Rylstone Cross is passed (impressive but being honest I have no idea what it’s history or purpose is, please enlighten me if you know) and a mile further on Cracoe Monument (a war monument for the residents of Cracoe and nearby farms) both spectacularly perched on outcrops of sandy rock overlooking the dales below. Finally the path drops steeply towards Cracoe and a short walk back to Hetton. The pleasure of this walk is the path on the escarpment and the scrambling on the boulders that pepper its edges – a good half day.

Recommend: There is a Marilyn 1 mile to the north east of Cracoe Monument….trackless!

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dallow-and-the-hall

Dallowgill is a beautiful wedge of woodland which lies 3 miles from Kirkby Malzeard and within easy access of Masham and Ripon. If , like me, you had never heard of the area before then I strongly recommend a visit. I would have skirted past the area if not for a recommendation from someone in the know. The small hamlet of Dallow (little more than an old hall and some cottages)  lies on the edge of the moorland which stretches south west unbroken to Pateley Bridge with the small ‘Dallow Gill’ flowing past 100 yards away. The woodland that cloaks the steep sides of the stream is a delight; Scots Pine lives here next to willow, larch and even some ancient oaks with green paths showing the trees off to great effect. The views across the Vale of York stretch to Roseberry Topping and the escarpment of the Yorkshire Moors whilst nearer to home is Greygarth Monument (erected by locals to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897) – the top of which can be reached by a ladder through its middle, Dallow Hall and the wonderful church next to the outdoor centre. But this is a land the time has thankfully passed by, enjoy it whilst you can

Recommend: There are 22 mosaics dotted over the moors which can be searched out (with some difficulty – I did not) and ticked off. They were made by locals in 1997 and are now attached to startegically placed boulders

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