A Dales High Way: Route Guide

For those who love long-distance walking, this new 90-mile route from Saltaire, near Shipley, to Appleby will be a delight. Taking in some of the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales, exploring its rich history, geology and culture, this pocket-sized guide divides the route into six sections with detailed maps and text to help you follow the way. 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. --The Westmorland Gazette, Nov 2008

For the more ambitious walkers, Tony and Chris Grogan have devised A Dales High Way, a 90-miles walk across the high country of the Dales. In their introduction they describe how the project came about. "In September, 2007, we set off to walk from our home in Saltaire to Appleby-in-Westmorland, following ancient trade routes, green lanes and packhorse trails wherever possible. Each day brought new excitement as we explored the spectacular landscapes of the high country, until finally, in the lush Eden Valley, the red sandstone of Appleby Castle came into view...." Their description of the route makes you want to pull your boots on and set off immediately. "It covers some of the most beautiful scenery in the Yorkshire Dales from the darkly mysterious Rombalds Moor, with its Stone Age rock art, to the dramatic limestone scars of Malhamdale. It meanders along the banks of the River Ribble, where in autumn, salmon can be seen leaping up the waterfalls of Stainforth Force, and passes the isolated splendour of Sunbiggin Tarn. It climbs mighty Ingleborough and in a breathtaking six-mile ridge walk crosses the velvety folds of the Howgill Fells." It does all this (or encourages walkers to do all this) in eight day-long stages, the shortest and first being 7.5 miles and the longest (Chapel-le-Dale to Sedbergh) 15.7 miles. The geographical and historical points of interest our outlined for each section, with the route details being covered by the splendidly-detailed maps. At £6.99 this is an excellently-produced, pocket-sized publication, printed in full colour on quality paper. It comes in a protective wallet and is available from local bookshops (including Saltaire bookshop) or via the website daleshighway.org.uk --Bradford Telegraph & Argus, Oct 2008

DO NOT be confused by the title of this book - it is not another book about the Dales Way. This is a guide to a new 90 mile high level route between Saltaire in West Yorkshire and Appleby-in-Westmorland. 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. The route descriptions divide the walk into six sections. The first part is over the gritstone, peat covered Rombalds Moor, which lies between Airedale and Wharfedale. Ancient tracks lead the walker to Skipton from where the route traverses Malhamdale with its spectacular limestone scenery. After Settle, the route climbs over Ingleborough (of three peaks fame) to Chapel le Dale and then follows an ancient packhorse route via Dent to Sedbergh passing Ribblehead viaduct and Whernside (an alternative over the top of Whernside is given). The route then crosses the entire range of the Howgill Fells to Newbiggin-on-Lune, then via the Eden Valley to Appleby-in-Westmorland. A small scale map plus several larger scale, well-annotated maps form the route description. These are comprehensive and appear easy to follow but OL2 and OL19 would be worth carrying for walkers who like the bigger picture. The walk itself is divided into eight days, ranging from 7.5 miles to 15.7 miles so combining two sections is a possibility. However, the authors suggest detours so it is well worth studying these options before rushing from start to finish. The route descriptions suggest diversions in the case of bad weather - bad weather in England! surely not!! Accommodation is not listed in the book but detailed lists are available on the official web site. This looks like an interesting walk linking areas which many members may have walked. For those of you who enjoy linear walks but hate the problem of finding your way back to the start, the authors recommend returning to Saltaire on the Settle - Carlisle railway. An excellent idea and what a brilliant opportunity to sit back and admire the scenery you have just walked through. --Strider magazine, Nov 2008