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

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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

Walking is the "new rock 'n' roll"!

The country's National Trails, which include the Pennine Way, the TV presenter Julia BradburyCleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way, have been walked by record numbers this year.

In the first six months of 2009, "people counter" devices buried under the Trails have shown an increase in footfall of between 27% and 40%. And in the last three months the number of people visiting the National Trails website has risen 41% on the same period last year.

These figures reinforce other evidence that many people have chosen walking holidays at home this year in response to the recession.

Sheila Talbot, the National Trails Specialist, said "The glorious autumn weather we have just experienced has made a difference, with many people deciding to book a last minute holiday in this country. All the signs are that 2010 will be another bumper year for visitor numbers to our countryside. I attended the "Walkers are Welcome" conference in September and for the first time heard the phrase "walking is the new rock 'n' roll!" The increase in media coverage this year, from walking articles in the press to walking programmes on TV with glamorous young presenters such as Julia Bradbury is certainly helping make walking cool".

According to Welcome to Yorkshire - the county's official tourism agency - it has been a record breaking summer for Yorkshire’s tourism industry. Helped by a weak pound and the staycation summer, Yorkshire has outperformed the rest of the UK by reporting increased visitor numbers, increased visitor spend and increased occupancy levels.

See the National Trails website, Welcome to Yorkshire and visit Julia Bradbury's website.

14 November 2009

Day school updates Dales Archaeology

The Prehistory of the Yorkshire Dales was examined at a public day Delegates gather at Grassington Town Hall for the Prehistory day schoolschool in Grassington on Saturday.

The latest archaeological research was presented to an audience of several hundred people who packed into the town hall.

An overview of the changing Dales environment during the late- and post-glacial periods was given by Terry O'Conner. He pointed out that the current Dales landscape, which we work so hard to preserve, is perhaps only a few hundred years old. For much of the last 12,000 years the area was covered by woodland, and wild bear and lynx roamed here at least until the Anglo-Saxon period.

The morning session concentrated on cave archaeology, with presentations by Roger Jacobi, Tom Lord and Tim Taylor. Radio carbon dating on carved reindeer antler rods found in Victoria cave near Settle show humans were present well over 12,000 years ago.

The important contribution of community archaeology projects featured in the afternoon sessions. New work on Prehistoric field systems in Swaledale and Upper Wharfedale were presented by Tim Laurie and Roger Martlew, with Alan King and Mark Simpson describing evidence from a new survey around the Ingleborough massif.

Finally Robert White, the National Park's Senior Conservation Archaeologist, gave an overview of current research and areas of concern in the Dales area. He highlighted the damage inadvertently done to archaeological sites by walkers building cairns and shelters. Those on Beamsley Beacon have already been removed and similar action on Ingleborough is planned.

The event was an addition to the annual history day school put on in April each year by the Dales National Park Authority. It was jointly organised with People, Landscape And Cultural Environment of Yorkshire (PLACE) and the Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust.

Speaking before the event, Robert White said: "It is a must for anyone interested in local history and, unlike the April day school which looks at a wide range of aspects of the historic environment, this will concentrate on the prehistory in the Yorkshire Dales - life before the Romans. One of the main subjects will be the changing environment in the late and post-glacial periods."

See the websites for PLACE and the Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust.

1 November 2009

New Met forecast for Dales weather

The Yorkshire Dales now has it's own "mountain area" weather forecast from the Met Office. The forecasts, which Weather forecasts to help Dales High Way walkerswill be updated twice each day, include a colour-coded hazards forecast to highlight key risks on the fells, including hill fog, thunderstorms, chill effect and blizzards.

Pat Boyle, Public Weather Service Manager at the Met Office, said: "The weather in the Dales can change with little or no warning and an unprepared walker can quickly find themselves at risk. Whether it's a well-planned expedition or a spur of the moment decision to go to the hills, it is important to check the forecast first".

Mark Allum, Access Projects Officer at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: "The Yorkshire Dales is a fantastic area for outdoor activities and, whether you are a hill walker, a caver or a mountain biker, an accurate forecast is a critical piece of information. The weather in the Dales is often very different to what is happening in Leeds or York, so this specific mountain weather forecast is very welcome."

The new forecasts for the Yorkshire Dales National Park will join the comprehensive forecasts already provided for the Brecon Beacons, Peak District, Snowdonia, Lake District, and West and East Highlands.

See the Met Office's Dales forecast here, or via our own Links page.

23 October 2009

Researchers investigate decline of summer birds

Researchers from the RSBP are heading to Africa to try and determine why there has been such an alarming decline in migratory birds who come to northern Britain for the summer.

Cuckoo

Cuckoo (www.northeastwildlife.co.uk)

A decline of around 40% in species such as the cuckoo, wood warbler and yellow wagtail has been recorded over the last three decades. Other species affected include the nightingale, turtle dove, flycatcher and winchat.

The RSPB and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), have joined forces to mount the largest research project of its type to understand more about our birds that spend the winter south of the Sahara desert.

The project will involve researchers monitoring birds along a corridor stretching from Ghana's Atlantic coast to northern Burkina Faso, spanning a range of habitats from coastal rainforest to the edge of the Sahara desert.

The RSPB's Dr Danaë Sheehan, who will be monitoring birds in West Africa, said: "The drastic declines of some of our best-loved summer-visiting birds, such as the cuckoo, turtle dove and nightingale, is one of the greatest concerns currently raging in conservation."

A number of potential causes for the declines of migrants have been suggested, including: climate change, changes in rainfall patterns, and land degradation. Predicted increases in human population and climatic variability in West Africa are likely to exacerbate these threats.

Of 105 widespread countryside birds in the UK, eight out of twelve of those declining most rapidly since the mid 1990s are summer migrants. According to the latest bird population estimates, published in the 2008 Breeding Bird Survey, the following summer migrants are suffering the greatest population declines between 1995 and 2007: turtle dove,-66 per cent; wood warbler,-60 per cent; pied flycatcher, -51 per cent; yellow wagtail, -49 per cent; whinchat, -43 per cent; nightingale, -41 per cent; spotted flycatcher, -38 per cent; and cuckoo, -37 per cent.

See the RSPB website and the previous posting.

13 October 2009

Fair policing for Cautley

Residents of Cautley, near Sedbergh, are appealing for better Transit site for Appleby Horse Fair at Cote Moor, north of Cautley policing in the run-up to next year's Appleby Horse Fair. They have arranged a meeting with Cumbria Chief Constable Craig Mackey in November hoping to resolve problems arising from temporary encampments for travellers in the area.

This year's fair was hailed as a success by organisers and Gypsy representatives, following the introduction of new regulations and a Multi Agency Strategic Co-Ordinating Group to oversee the event. Strict licensing regimes governed street trading and caravan sites, with access to the traditional Fair Hill site blocked until the start of the fair.

However, the new regime at Appleby led to greater pressure at the transit camps south of the Eden Valley, such as the one at Cote Moor, north of Cautley.

John Challoner, who set up a neighbourhood forum as a sounding board for residents in the area of Cautley, said: “We sympathise with the travellers because they are all being bundled together and they are living up the road in Cautley for weeks and it’s very unsanitary and unpleasant for them.

“We want better designated areas for caravans so they are not just crammed together in one little corner and they can graze their horses.”

“But our sympathies also go out to the police because they have to deal with large numbers of people and to the local residents because it is going on their doorstep.”

Local MP Tim Farron said Cumbria Constabulary had done a ‘brilliant’ job of policing the Eden district during the annual event but said the southern district past Cautley had been almost entirely ‘lawless’.

He said: “Cumbria Constabulary has taken the view that this is an Appleby problem but it affects villages all the way up the roads to Appleby.

“When the travellers get to Eden they can’t move any further than Cautley. There were plenty of police in Eden but only about two officers on Cautley road.”

The number of Gypsy and Traveller visitors this year was around 20 per cent down on 2008, with around 1,500 caravans at Appleby and around 1,500 horses sold.

3 October 2009

See the official Appleby Horse Fair site here. See Previous posting here.

More News >

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A Dales High Way Companion

A Dales High Way Companion

[ Buy Direct from Publisher ]

"If you fancy hiking the 93 miles from Saltaire to Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, this beautifully designed and illustrated book would indeed be an ideal companion to have in the back-pack."
- Jim Greenhalf, T&A

"I cannot recommend this guide highly enough."
- Mike Addison, Westmorland Gazette

"it would make a fine present for you, or a friend. Thoroughly recommended"
- Pete Shaw, FoSCL magazine

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

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