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Finally getting back to a few catch up reports, these two from the May/June last year.
Yarlside and Wandale Hill, 7th May 2022, 10.5km, 813m, 4hrs 20mins
This was walked on a beautiful day in early May with just me and Hughie the Westie present. I was forced to park along the road as even though I was quite early as there had been some very inconsiderate parking by the Cross Keys (and even more by the time I returned) and I felt better just keeping out of the whole situation. Where these inconsiderate parkers had got to was fortunately, nowhere near my route as I saw not another human being, even at distance until I got close to the Parking (dumping) area at the end of the walk.
Primary target for the day was Yarlside, a hill that is very steep from any side and also the most independent of the main Howgill Fells. I decided to just plod my way up Ben End which if you take your time and have a few stops to enjoy the beautiful views over the Vale of Rawthey isn't that bad. Once up the going is very easy over the two tops until the summit is reached, typical of Howgill summits with a small cairn and a lot of flat grass.
Starting off up Yarlside
Views opening up
Cautley Spout
Looking towards the Vale of Rawthey
Hot Work
Looking across to one for later, Wandale Hill
Yarlside South top mono
Somewhere between Yarlside's tops
Cautley Crag
Yarlside Summit
Watering hole
Westerdale from YarlsideIf they way up Yarlside was steep the way down to the Saddle with Kensgriff is steeper still. I managed to keep to grass the whole way and also didn't end up on my backside, progress from my last visit then.
Kensgriff traversed I headed down to Spen Gill to have lunch by the waterfall as I was aware it was a beautiful secluded spot.
A rather dry looking fall in Spen GillProblem was I seemed to pick up quite a few woolly followers on the way down
who started to make their way up the gill to my lunch spot. I felt quite un-nerved by this
for some reason so cut lunch short, scrambled out the top of the gill and headed off up my last target of the day, Wandale Hill.
Moody on the way up Wandale Hill
Wandale Hill Summit
Hughie on Wandale HillWandale Hill is a bit of an innocuous green/brown lump but the views from the top were nice enough. We didn't linger as I had a final place to visit on the way back to the car.
I had in my mind I wanted a bit of a closer look at the abandoned Farm House named 'Mountain View' on the OS map. As we made our way downwards and it came into view it was obvious a close inspection was probably not the thing to do. The ground around the house is clearly still used for sheep grazing and looks to be private. This apart I didn't feel right invading the old house's space, It's location is stunning, nestled in this seldom visited valley and on a day like today the hardships of living here were probably forgotten. I felt a deep melancholy looking down at the derelict building, imagining just how it would have once been, washing blowing on a line, kids playing in the garden and now left for nature and sheep to reclaim. It's hard to think anybody would take on the challenge of making the place habitable again, even building it in the first place must have been some effort. I left this scene of achingly beautiful sadness behind and headed for Narthwaite.
Westerdale
Mountain View
Heading towards Narthwaite
End of Westerdale
Looking back up WesterdaleMy feelings of what had been lost only intensified once I arrived at Narthwaite, there are quite a few sizable farm buildings with almost all of them disused. I saw nobody and the deathly quiet of the place made the clanging of the gates as I closed them behind me sound ridiculously loud. It felt almost like a ghost farm with only slight signs to suggest anybody ever spent much time here anymore. I was happy to close the last gate and leave the place behind so I could cross Backside Beck, make my way past the parking carnage at The Cross Keys and home.
Crossing Backside Beck
Final stroll back to the carBuckden Pike, 17th June 2022, 12km 535m 4hours 30 minsA walk with my wife Nicola and Hughie the Westie to celebrate my 50th birthday. Me and Hughie had previously completed this walk with my daughter Grace a few years back. Probably best to check out that report for the main details, it can be found at the link below.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56150The weather was largely lovely with the breeze taking the edge of the temperatures as we completed a largely blissful and uneventful wander over Buckden Pike (still don't know why it's a Pike) and down to Starbotton of a pint of Yorkshires finest. (Why can't all hill walks have a pub half way around?
)
Turned out we timed the walk well as the cloud lowered and little rain arrived as we walked along the Dales Way and back to Buckden. All in all a fine way to spend a birthday.
Buckden Beck
Looking back early in the walk
One of the nicest falls on Buckden Beck
View from the little scramble
Upper falls a mossy trickle
Another mossy trickle
Looking back down the beck
Approaching the top of the back
Start of the old mine workings
Remains of the old mine
Hughie
Above the mine and heading for the summit
Trig point
Epic Hughie pose
Cairn and random detritus on the summit
Memorial to the lost Polish airmen
Views down to Wharfedale
Wharfedale from further down
Track down to Starbotton
River Wharfe
Clouds starting to lower onto the tops