Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: North and East

Howgills, Mallerstang, Swaledale, Wensleydale, Coverdale and Nidderdale

By Dennis Kelsall

ISBN

9781852847982

Availability

Published

17 Apr 2015

Reprinted

22 Mar 2022

Edition

Second

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

300g

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This guidebook contains 43 circular day walks in the north and east Yorkshire Dales. It explores the dales, hills and moors between Kirkby Stephen and Pateley Bridge. Walking ranges from gentle 3 mile strolls to more strenuous day-long rambles across the Howgills, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Nidderdale, Mallerstang and Coverdale.

Seasons

Year round walking in the Yorkshire Dales, but be properly kitted out on the tops in winter.

Centres

Hawes, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Aysgarth, Reeth, Kirkby Stephen, Pateley Bridge

Difficulty

From gentle three-mile walks to more strenuous day-long walks and suggestions for longer routes, not technically demanding but you should be able to use a map and compass

Must See

The Howgills, Wild Boar Fell, Cautley Crag, Brimham Rocks, Nidderdale

ISBN

9781852847982

Availability

Published

17 Apr 2015

Reprinted

22 Mar 2022

Edition

Second

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

300g

Overview

A guidebook to 43 circular day walks covering the northern and eastern Yorkshire Dales. The walks range between 3 and 11.5 miles in length, and there are suggestions for devising longer days by combing routes. Step by step route directions include lots of information about the area, and each walk is illustrated with clear OS mapping and vibrant photographs.

From Pateley Bridge and Aysgarth in the East to Kirkby Stephen and Richmond in the north, each valley has a character and history of its own and this guide covers the varied fell and dale landscapes of the Howgills, Mallerstang, Swaledale, Wensleydale, Coverdale and Nidderdale. The north and eastern regions of the Yorkshire Dales are full of wild, rugged fell tops carved by limestone crags, deep scooped-out dales with lonely farms far from villages, the ruins of medieval castles as well as the warm bustle of Dales villages and good pubs. The Howgills north of Sedbergh have a different look, with their wide domes, steep sides and long miles of grassy ridges.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Route symbols on OS map extracts

Coverage of volumes 1 and 2

Location of the walks

Introduction

The Dales landscape

Evolution of the landscape

Geological history

Human settlement

Industry and enterprise

Farming in the Dales

Plants and wildlife

The Northern and Eastern Dales

The Yorkshire Dales National Park

Practicalities

Navigation and maps

Careful planning

Clothing and footwear

Food and drink

Taking your car

Leaving your car behind

Using this guide

1 The Howgill Fells

Walk 1 Sedbergh and the River Rawthey

Walk 2 The Rivers Rawthey and Lune from Sedbergh

Walk 3 Winder, Calders and the Calf

Walk 4 Carlin Gill and Fell Head from Fairmile Gate

Walk 5 The River Rawthey from the Cross Keys Inn

Walk 6 Cautley Crag and the Calf

Walk 7 Around Wandale Hill

Walk 8 The River Rawthey’s higher reaches

Walk 9 Grisedale

2 Mallerstang

Walk 10 High Seat

Walk 11 Pendragon Castle and Little Fell

Walk 12 Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell

3 Swaledale and Arkengarthdale

Walk 13 Apedale and Harkerside Moor

Walk 14 Grinton and Maiden Castle

Walk 15 Fremington Edge

Walk 16 Slei Gill

Walk 17 Whaw to Dale Head

Walk 18 Old Gang and Surrender

Walk 19 Beside the River Swale from Gunnerside

Walk 20 Gunnerside Gill

Walk 21 Ivelet Bridge from Muker

Walk 22 Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat from Thwaite

Walk 23 Muker, Thwaite and Kisdon Force from Keld

Walk 24 Whitsundale and the head of the River Swale

4 Wensleydale and Coverdale

Walk 25 A walk in Coverdale

Walk 26 West Witton and the River Ure to Redmire Force

Walk 27 Aysgarth to West Burton

Walk 28 Aysgarth Falls

Walk 29 Ivy Scar from Aysgarth

Walk 30 Whitfield Gill Force and Mill Gill Falls

Walk 31 The Wensleydale railway and River Ure stepping-stones

Walk 32 The Wensleydale railway and Skell Gill

Walk 33 Bainbridge to Semer Water

Walk 34 Aysgill Force

Walk 35 Dodd Fell Hill and Drumaldrace

Walk 36 Cotterdale

Walk 37 Great Shunner Fell from Hardraw

Walk 38 The High Way

5 Nidderdale

Walk 39 Brimham Rocks

Walk 40 Ashfold Side

Walk 41 Middlesmoor and How Stean Gorge

Walk 42 Nidderdale

Walk 43 Little Whernside

Appendix A Route summaries and suggestions for longer routes

Appendix B Where to find out more

Updates

September 2020

Walk 25 detour

Walk 25: Coverdale
The foot bridge spanning the River Cover to cross from Hindlethwaite Hall Farm to reach Horsehouse is closed and is not due to reopen until February 2021.

You can reach the nearest bridged crossing by continuing through the fields to Arkleside and joining the lane back over the bridge to Horsehouse, adding around 2km to the walk (see map below)

W25 Coverdale Detour to avoid damaged bridge (6.979 MB)

July 2020

2020 reprint updates

798 Reprint 2020 (973.368 KB)

January 2020

Walk 38 – The High Way – Amendment of final 2 paragraphs

page 216

Make your way through successive enclosures across the slope of the hill, heading for buildings set in a nest of trees, marked as 'Low West End' on the map. Through a final gate a track winds down towards the farm.

After the first building, turn off right at a footpath sign to go between West End Farm House and the adjacent ruin. After crossing Lockshaw Gill, turn immediately left through a gate and head away by the right-hand wall. Beyond a fence stile bear left to a track, your outward route. Follow it left back to How Beck Bridge and keep left again back to the road at Shaw Paddock.

Walk 38 The High Way Amended map

June 2017

Route updates and corrections

Walk 31 -

Revised route description for passing the farm before crossing the river: "Guided by a sign to Middle Borwins, swing between the abutments of a dismantled bridge and then go right across the top of a field following the waymarks through a large gate into a paddock. Reaching the lean-to at the top end, bear left into a small enclosure and go through a small gate on the left down to a line of stepping stones across the river."

Walk 32 - Revised route description: “… eventually passing below a large house at Hill Top to reach a junction of tracks.

Carry on straight ahead for twenty metres to a kissing gate onto the lane, where you should turn left.

At the end by Old Cams House …”

The paragraph beginning “Guided by a sign” should be ignored.

Please note the route shown on the map for this walk is incorrect. The route line should continue directly from the disused railway line onto the track at SD 915 904, rather than passing through the farm at SD 914 903.

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Dennis Kelsall

Dennis and Jan Kelsall have long held a passion for countryside and hill walking. Since their first Cicerone title was published in 1995, they have written, contributed and illustrated over 50 guides to some of Britain’s most popular walking areas and have become regular contributors to various outdoor magazines. Their enjoyment of the countryside extends far beyond a love of fresh air, open spaces and scenery. Over the years Dennis and Jan have developed a wider interest in the environment, its geology and wildlife, as well as an enthusiasm for delving into local history, which so often provides clues to interpreting the landscape.

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