Dales Way Days Three and Four

Lee Bailey-Hague, Fantastic photo of Lee taking a well earned rest at the official finishing seat, ahead of Bowness on Windermere.

Congratulations to you,

An absolutely amazing effort Mate, I’m so pleased I was able to join you, and experience your challenge, great company, and an inspiration to all who are blessed to know you.

Cheers,

Dave,

P.S, anywhere in town that sell new size 10 Feet?

Day 4 - Photo's

Yet another selection of photo's from the final leg...

Day 4 - Patton Bridge to Bowness

This morning, for a change we got a nice leisurely start to the day as we weren't being joined by Andy and Steve until 10:00. The weather earlier on was torrential rain and high wind but the forecast promised it to brighten as the day went on.
Thankfully they seemed to be right and the rain stopped before we set off at 10:25, but the wind was still there in force.
We headed out today at a more leisurely pace - not in walking speed but as we didn't have as many miles to crunch today we had more time to take in our surroundings and stop to take photo's.
We made good time and added a detour into into Burneside to find the local pub at 12:00, only to discover it didn't open til 5:00. So instead found a local growler emporium (pie shop) and had lunch by the river on some picnic tables instead. We then pushed on to Staveley down a very picturesque river section and at Staveley found our pub - which was open. Stopped for a pint of local brew and then started to embark upon the last uphill sections of the walk as we approached Bowness. True to the forecast, the cloud made way to blue skies and sunshine to compliment the final stages of the walk.
Up here the scenery became very Cumbrian and we were rewarded with fine views of the Lake District to Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and the Langdale pikes. After a last push uphill, it became a case of descending into Bowness and we caught a first glimpe of Lake Windermere which was a most welcome sight. Easy going from here in to the finishing post of the Royal Oak in Bowness - the official finishing pub of the Dales Way. Before we headed in there for another well earned pint (or two) there was one more job to do - head to the lakeside for a victory paddle in lake Windermere. Job done - all to schedule, and the only casualties a few nasty blisters for Dave, and a big nasty blister for me. Taxi back from the pub to last night's B&B to collect Steve's car and then Steve kindly drove us all back to our doorsteps in Harrogate. Thanks to Andy and Steve for joining me, and Steve for driving - much appreciated.
Thanks to Dave for his company and towing me along on Wednesday. Biggest thanks of all to my fantastic wife Rach who did the much harder job of keeping the show on the road back home by herself whilst also doing 2 jobs.
Total miles walked today:  15 miles
Total walking time today:  5h 20mins

Total miles walked this week:  83 miles
Total walking time this week:  27h 50 mins

Day 3 - Photo's

Selection of photo's from day 3 although I was too weary to take many today :o)

Day 3 - Cowgill to Patton Bridge

Was joined last night by Dave Mansfield from the Fire Fighters Charity which was good, we had a couple of beers and he joined me for the last 2 days of the trek. The landlord of the Sportsman's Inn informed us that the walk from there to Sedbergh was easy and all downhill which we were pleased about after a tough day yesterday. Turned out he was wrong as the first thing we did was head up into the hills.
Managed to navigate our way along the Dales Way despite some lack lustre waymarking and ended up descending to follow the river Dee until we got to the village of Dent.
Here we met the minister from Harrogate Baptist Church, Revd Alan Mair who accompanied us for about 4 miles towards Sedbergh before heading back to Dent to collect his car. It was great to see Alan and that he was able to join us for some of the walk.
After leaving Alan we departed from the river and headed up into the Dentdale hills which was fabulous. It would have been even more so if the weather had been better - we had drizzle on and off all day with a particularly wet spell half way through. But you can't plan the weather so on we plodded. Eventually left the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and over the M6 via a cattle bridge and into some very muddy territory which was a bit of an energy drain.
Have seen many fabulous viaducts over the last few days which continued to be a theme today. I seem to have taken lots of photo's of bridges and viaducts.
With about 7 miles to go it started to become a bit of a trudge with a longing for the finish point to arrive, but this was a long time coming as due to some more poor waymarking we got lost once again adding some extra mileage to our already lengthy day.
Finally got back on track and into Patton Bridge from where our B&B was about a 10 minute walk. Arrived about 7:45 having set off about 9:20 this morning.
Was great to have Dave along today keeping the pace up with his long legs and being the master of gate opening for my weary frame to lumber through. Dave has some choice blisters as his waterproofs were about as much use as a chocolate teapot so we'll need to patch him up ready to go again tomorrow...
Looking forward to tomorrow as it will be a shorter day and we are being joined by Andy Bagot and Steve Humphrey to add to the total of 'jump on jump off' members of this trek.
Total miles walked today: 23.5
Total walking time today: 8h 3mins

Day 2 - Photo's

A selection of photo's from day 2 now I have mobile coverage. Day 3 update and photo's to follow...

Day 2 - Kettlewell to Cowgill

A day of highs and lows, in both senses. Started out great - the weather was bright and the walk between Kettlewell and Hubberholme via Starbotton is just stunning. After yesterday's quick pace I wanted to slow down a bit today and take in my surroundings. At Hubberholme it started to drizzle, but my spirits were high as the section between there and Oughtershaw continued to be fabulous with the river Wharfe meandering and tumbling down a prefabricated limestone riverbed. Stopped for lunch at Deepdale then forged on and eventually left the river Wharfe to head up the hill to Oughtershaw where I was held up by a crazy old man who was obviously desperate for someone to talk to :o)
From here the pace started to get really slow as I had to trudge through a peat bog on Oughtershaw side over terrain that from the side profile would resemble an oscilloscope reading. This continued for what seemed like hours until eventually I headed through a wood and then out onto the tops and joined the Pennine Way for a while. Up here was surreal as the sun came out and cast a hazy mix of sunshine and cloud. I was treated to great views of Ribblehead Viaduct and some silhouetted hillsides in the distance making it almost worth the harsh journey to get there.
Just as I thought I had finished with peat bogs, I crossed the valley to find another one to traverse on the way to Cowgill.
By this point I was willing on the end and looking forward to seeing the Sportsman's Inn which was to be my resting place for the night. Constant references were made to my GPS to see how long was left. Just before arrival I washed my boots in the River Dee (nice change from the Wharfe) and was then unexplainably pleased to see the pub. A pint or two and another well earned pub meal will now top off my day nicely.
No signal round these parts so this update will have to wait until I near civilisation once more.
Miles walked today: 21.5
Walking time today: 7h 30mins