A Dales High Way: a 90 mile walk across the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales

Home Route Guide Accommodation Forum Links

A Dales High Way 

An exhilarating 90 miles across the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales

Walk this spectacular landscape from Saltaire to Appleby-in-Westmorland

Explore its rich history, geology and culture

Return with a breathtaking train ride along England's most beautiful railway

More than just a walk

"For those who love long-distance walking, this new 90-mile route from Saltaire, near Shipley, to Appleby will be a delight."
- Ann Clarke, Westmorland Gazette

"Their description of the route makes you want to pull your boots on and set off immediately." 
- Mike Priestley, T&A

"An excellent and innovative route which is to be highly recommended for dedicated fell walkers - my feet are itching to get started on this walk!"
- Peter G. Davies, FoSCL magazine

"The authors suggest the return journey should be by train along the stunning Settle-Carlisle Railway and I can think of no better way to end this spectacular walk."
- Ann Clarke, Westmorland Gazette

News en route

A Tale of Two Festivals

The eighth Dent Folk Festival got under way on Friday, in a field just outside Sedbergh. Meanwhile the first Dentdale Music and Beer Festival got underway, in Dent.

Dentdale Music and Beer Festival

The Dentdale Festival site on Saturday afternoon (Above).
Andy Irving plays at the Dent Festival on Friday night (below)

Andy Irving plays at the Dent Folk Festival

Confused? Some of those who turned up certainly were, unsure which festival they were at. But it all ended well as both events looked to be resounding successes, with the scorching June sunshine emerging just on cue. Plenty of people and a few performers ended up travelling to and fro between the two festivals.

The Dent Folk Festival has gained a deserved excellent reputation on the folk circuit. But it's growing success led organisers to look for a new venue.

"In a nutshell we have outgrown our original site in Dentdale and although we are very sad to leave we didn't really have much choice if the festival was to continue. So we are moving to an absolutely stunning setting at Buck Bank Farm under the Howgill Fells near Sedbergh, Englands book town" organisers said.

But some Dent locals didn't want to lose their local festival and so decided to organise their own to fill the void. And what a fine job they made of it. A true community festival combining beer and music - and all completely free. 

As they describe it: "Musicians have been coming to Dent for many years to enjoy the views, meet friends and enjoy the crack, so The Dent Folk Festival was born out of this initiative and continued to grow year on year until 2008, when it reached bursting point. This is why Dent has a new name for 2009 - Dentdale Music & Beer Festival, as the old committee and the name has moved several miles up the road to a brand new home / venture to accommodate the full growth potential it deserves - we wish them well!

"So here's to a brand new chapter in bringing great music to Dentdale."

The Dent Festival's Sedbergh campsite was packed by Friday evening. Camping at the new site generates additional income for the festival and allows some top performers to be booked. Kila and the FOS Brothers were sold out a month in advance. Others appearing include the legendry Andy Irving, Solas, Ade Edmundson and the Bad Shepherds, and Black Umfolosi.

Meanwhile back in Dent the line up was more modest but no less entertaining, with perfomers including Martin Stimpson, Last Orders, the Duncan McFarlane Band and Gordon Giltrap. The atmosphere was fantastic, campsites were heaving and getting a pint in the local pubs for the packed impromptu music sessions was proving to be a difficult task.

Both festivals look certain to be repeated next year. Can Sedbergh and Dent sustain two festivals? Judging by this weekend the answer seems to be an emphatic Yes.

See Previous Posting. See also Dentdale Music and Beer Festival site, and Dent Folk Festival site.

28 June 2009

Crisis for hill farmers could damage upland landscape

Hill farmers are facing a crisis as their incomes plummet and youngsters turn away from the hard, precarious lifestyle. And fears that a collapse Swaledales at the foot of the Howgill Fellsin hill farming will also damage the landscape were expressed to a new inquiry into the plight of upland communities, which begins preparing its final report this month.

"Without hill farmers, much of the beautiful British countryside which we take for granted could very quickly become unkempt, inaccessible and poorly maintained" said Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale. "The average income of a hill farmer is around £8,000. Up to 85% have no one in place to take over the business when they retire."

Evidence given to the inquiry shows that the average net income for a hill farmer dropped from £17,459 in 2004 to £10,786 last year, a fall of 40%. The average age of hill farmers is 59 with over one in five already past retirement age. Changes in subsidies, designed to reduce overgrazing, have generally meant cuts in income for hill farmers. Many are selling up. The number of small farms in the Dales National Park area has halved since the mid 1950's.

The Inquiry into the future for England's upland communities will release an initial draft report in July with the final report going to the Prime Minister in September. The Inquiry has been held by the Commission for Rural Communities, created in 2005 to provide independent government advice.

Countryside Tsar Stuart Burgess, who chairs the Commission, set about visiting rural farms, pubs, homes and businesses. He was shocked by what he found and urged the government to initiate the inquiry, telling the Prime Minister: "I believe the future of our hill farming communities merits particular attention. There needs to be a stronger recognition that the management of these upland landscapes and environment has a real economic and social value, alongside the production of food and crops.".

Burgess, the former leader of the Methodist Church, was made a CBE in the Queens birthday Honours List this weekend.

Visit the website of The Commission for Rural Communities.

15 June 2009

Record turnout expected for Horse Fair

As the temperature soars Appleby is preparing for a huge turnout this week at the annual Horse Fair. Around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers are expected, Horses are washed in the Eden at Appleby Horse Fair with another 30,000 visitors who come to enjoy the spectacle. All this in a town with a normal population of just 2,500.

The fair is based around Fair Hill, where some 1800 caravans will gather, and runs from this Thursday to next Wednesday, with the weekend being the busiest time.

The annual fair is run under a Royal Charter and has been held since at least 1750. It is not an organised event as such, just a traditional gathering of Romany and Irish families travelling to meet up with old friends, celebrate their culture and conduct business - particularly buying and selling horses. It is probably the biggest and oldest such gathering in Europe.

There's a definite touch of the wild west about the event but the anarchic atmosphere doesn't suit everyone's sensibilities.

Chief Superintendent Steve Johnson said he recognised the mixed emotions that the local community had about the fair and the police's responsibility to manage the potential for public disorder.

"It is also vital that we respect the traditions of the fair and make sure that we are sensitive to the gypsy and traveller cultures, which have been around far longer than our policing operation" he said.

An estimated 1500 horses will be sold over the six days. Sellers wash them in the River Eden and run them on the so-called Flashing Lane in front of potential buyers. This year the RSPCA has doubled the number of inspectors it has attending to 20.

The Horse Fair has been growing in popularity in recent years and the best way to visit is by train. The chances of booking accommodation in Appleby at this time are nil.

Find information about the fair here or click below for a flavour of the 2008 fair. 

2 June 2009

Brigantes offer baggage service to A Dales High Way

Brigantes, one of the best known baggage couriers for walkers in the Yorkshire Dales and the north of England, have now added A Dales High A Brigantes van passes Ribblehead Way to the routes they cover. For a modest fee they will pick up and transfer your baggage from stop to stop, giving you the freedom to enjoy each day's walking carrying only a day bag.

They can also offer a full holiday service, arranging and booking accommodation for the entire walk.

Mike Schofield of Brigantes said; "We have already had quite a few enquiries regarding the Dales High Way, and indeed secured a number of bookings. From past experience we have found that new routes tend to take up to two years to become known, so for us to have even one booking for a new walk is good news. Everyone we have spoken to about the new walk has given a good opinion of it and we are sure it will prove to be popular."

A Dales High Way was launched as a new long distance route last September. Author Chris Grogan said: "A lot of people have asked us if any baggage couriers covered the route, so we are really pleased Brigantes have picked it up. They are a well known local company with a good reputation and I'm sure they will help make the walk a real experience to remember."

Brigantes have been in business transferring baggage and providing walking holiday packages for the main long distance routes in the north for twenty years. The Pennine Way, the Dales Way, the Coast to Coast, the Cleveland Way and the Inn Way walks are amongst the most popular. It looks like A Dales High Way is set to join them.

See The Brigantes website here

23 May 2009

More News >

  [ Search Site ]   [ Check Route Updates ]

A Dales High Way: Route Guide

A Dales High Way: Route Guide

[ Buy Direct from Publisher ]

"At £6.99 this is an excellently-produced, pocket-sized publication, printed in full colour on quality paper." 
- Mike Priestley, T&A

"This pocket sized book contains many interesting photographs and informative descriptions of the history, geology and the culture of the area - worth buying for these alone."
- Jay Dingley, Strider

"It contains large-scale coloured maps for every two to four miles of the route, and these are full of detailed helpful directions."
- Keith Wadd, West Riding Rambler

This website makes use Sun Microsystem's Java and Adobe Flash Player. If you have trouble with loading certain features, try installing these free software elements.

Java

Adobe Flash Player

 

 

 

 

 

  A Dales High Way