Dales Way
| Dales Way | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Waymark and logo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 78.5 miles (126.3 km)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | NorthernEngland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Established | April 1969 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trailheads | Ilkley Bowness-on-Windermere | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Use | Hiking | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation gain/loss | 7,880 ft (2,402 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest point | Cam High Road, 1,705 ft (520 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maintained by | Dales Way Association | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TheDales Wayis an 78.5-mile (126.3 km)long-distance footpathinNorthern England,from (south-east to north-west)Ilkley,West Yorkshire,toBowness-on-Windermere,Cumbria.[2][3][4]This walk was initially devised by the West Riding Ramblers' Association with the 'leading lights' being Colin Speakman and Tom Wilcock (Footpath Secretary).[5]The route was announced to the public in 1968 and the first recorded crossing was by a group ofBradford Grammar SchoolVenture Scouts in 1969.
The Dales Way passes through two National Parks: theYorkshire Dales National Parkand theLake District National Park.The first half of the walk follows theRiver Wharfeupstream to the main watershed of Northern England atRibblehead.[6]The second half follows several river valleys (Dentdale,River Mint,River Kent) to descend to the shores of Windermere.
Route
[edit]The walk is shorter and less strenuous than better-known routes such as thePennine WayandCoast to Coast Walk,being mostly along river valleys. It thus makes a good training ground for these harder walks while being well worth doing in its own right. It is feasible (for those more interested in a challenge than the enjoyment of the walk) to complete the route in around four days, but most walkers take about a week, dividing the route into sections of 10 to 15 miles per day and taking a rest day or two.
From Ilkley the trail closely follows the River Wharfe pastAddingham,Bolton AbbeyandBurnsalltoGrassington.It then follows a higher level route before returning to the riverside fromKettlewelltoBuckden.[7]From there the Dales Way follows the upper reaches of the river throughLangstrothdale,passing the small hamlets ofHubberholmeandYockenthwaitetoBeckermonds,where the confluence of two becks forms the Wharfe. The trail ascends the valley of Oughtershaw Beck by a minor road to the hamlet ofOughtershaw.
From Oughtershaw the Dales Way ascends steeply to the watershed at Cam Fell above Cam Houses. The Dales Way descends from Cam Fell by a good track to Gearstones on the B6255 road, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east ofRibblehead,where there is a pub and a railway station.[8]From Cam Fell a shorter alternative route, with no facilities, follows thePennine Bridlewayto rejoin the Dales Way at Stoops Moss, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Gearstones.[9]
From Stoops Moss the trail descends steeply intoDentdaleby a minor road, which it follows for 3 miles (4.8 km). An alternative high level route follows the Pennine Bridleway before descending pastDent railway stationinto Dentdale atCowgill.The Dales Way passes through the village ofDentand then crosses a fell to reach the banks of theRiver RawtheyatMillthrop,just outside the town ofSedbergh.[10]
From Sedbergh the trail follows the River Rawthey downstream, then follows theRiver Luneupstream through the Lune Gorge. The Dales Way eventually crosses the river by the historic Crook of Lune Bridge, the border of the oldWest Riding of Yorkshire,and shortly after finally leaves the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The trail then follows field paths west. It crosses theM6 motorwayand descends the valley of theRiver Mint.It continues west to cross theA6 road2 miles (3.2 km) north ofKendal,and reaches the large village ofBurnesideon theRiver Kent.[11]The Dales Way follows the River Kent north toStaveley.In its final section the trail crosses higher ground with views of the Lake District mountains to end at a dramatic viewpoint just above Bowness.[12]
Logistics
[edit]Planning an itinerary is generally easy. Public transport (includingWindermere"steamers" ) is good at both ends of the route (railway stations atIlkleyandWindermere). The popularity of the walk (and the area generally) means that there are many choices of accommodation – for instance, many pubs along the route offerbed and breakfast.
Many walkers walk the Dales Way in sections, using public transport. Between Ilkley and Sedbergh theDalesbusnetwork serves the route at many points, and theSettle–Carlisle railwayalso assists the sectional walker. At the northern end of the route there are frequent trains on theWindermere branch line,andStagecoachbuses betweenKendal,Windermereand Bowness.
The largest settlements on the route are Ilkley and Bowness at either end. Grassington and Sedbergh have a range of facilities, and provisions are also available at Kettlewell, Dent, Burneside and Staveley. The larger town of Kendal is not far from the route.
Warnings
[edit]The most difficult section is over thewatershedfrom Buckden to Gearstones. This section has the greatest ascent and descent, and passes through remote country with limited accommodation and no other facilities. The distance from Buckden to the next public transport at Ribblehead is 13.5 miles (21.7 km), and it is 16.5 miles (26.6 km) from Buckden to the first accommodation in Dentdale, near Cowgill.
For much of its length the Dales Way follows riverside paths in upland areas. Paths may become flooded and impassable and alternative routes may need to be followed. The Dales Way Association[2]maintains up-to-date information on flooding and other hazards on its website and publishes suggested route alternatives.
Connecting trails
[edit]From its initial conception the Dales Way was planned with link routes to Ilkley from three urban centres in theWest Riding of Yorkshire:Leeds,BradfordandHarrogate.The Leeds Link runs for 17 miles (27 km) fromWoodhouse Mooralong theMeanwood Valley Trailand overOtley ChevinandIlkley Moorto Ilkley. The Bradford Link is 12.5 miles (20.1 km) long fromBradford CathedralviaShipley Glenand Ilkley Moor to Ilkley. The Harrogate Link is 16.5 miles (26.6 km) long, running from theValley Gardensin Harrogate byHaverah Parkand theWashburn Valleyto Ilkley.[13]
At Ilkley the Dales Way connects with theEbor Way.On its course through Wharfedale,Lady Anne's Wayruns in conjunction with the Dales Way.[14]At Cam Fell between Langstrothdale and Ribblehead the Dales Way briefly coincides with thePennine Wayand thePennine Bridleway.At Ribblehead the trail connects with theRibble Way.Just before it reaches the end atBowness-on-Windermerethe route connects with theWindermere Way.
TheDales High Wayis a high level route which runs parallel to the Dales Way betweenIlkley Moorand Dent and on to Sedbergh.
References
[edit]- ^Speakman, Colin (2011) [1970].The Dales Way.Skyware (original publisher: Dalesman Publishing). p. 6.ISBN978-0-9559987-2-0.
- ^ab "The Dales Way".Dales Way Association.Retrieved28 January2021.
- ^ "Dales Way".Long Distance Walkers Association.Retrieved28 January2021.
- ^ Marsh, Terry (13 April 2018).The Dales Way(Third ed.).Cicerone Press.ISBN9781852849436.Retrieved28 January2021.
- ^Speakman 2011,pp. 13–16.
- ^Plowright, A. (1998).A Glimpse of Yorkshire.Moorfield Press. pp. 73–82.ISBN0-9530-11-92-5.
- ^Speakman 2011,pp. 19–46.
- ^Speakman 2011,pp. 47–54.
- ^"The Route".Dales Way Association.Retrieved17 June2021.
- ^Speakman 2011,pp. 59–70.
- ^Speakman 2011,pp. 71–82.
- ^Speakman 2011,pp. 83–88.
- ^"Link routes to the start of the Dales Way".Dales Way Association.Retrieved23 June2021.
- ^Gordon, Sheila (2013).Lady Anne's way.Saltaire: Skyware. p. 8.ISBN978-0-9559987-6-8.
External links
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