~Great Whernside~
1st November 2014
The Summit
Today's walk in the Yorkshire Dales started and finished at Kettlewell in Wharfedale.
Sunrise close to home |
Pendle Hill |
Saturday wouldn't be Saturday without a good leg stretch. Kettlewell is about 30 miles from home and we arrive there at 09:45hrs. A quick look at the map and I decided to take a walk up Dowber Gill and see where that led us.
Kettlewell - The Blue Bell Inn
There are three pubs in Kettlewell and two cafes. Observations were being made for an after walk refreshment opportunity. The Blue Bell Inn has a welcomming sign board. Just need to pick up a dirty woman somewhere along the way ...
Racehorses Inn |
Kings Head |
Dowber Gill
A singposted route up to Providence Pot leads out of the north-eastern corner of Kettlewell.
Dowber Gill Beck
Easy to follow route up the beck.
Further Up
The rocks in the beck are a random mixture of limestone and sandstone.
Providence Lead Mine
Providence Pot is accessed via a scaffolded shaft in the bed of Dawber Gill, suitably locked so that fools cannot enter. The lead mine is long since abandoned and offers few clues as to past operations. We take a feint path up to the left of the spoil heaps and on to the moors.
Hag Dyke Gill Beck
Dowber Gill splits and Hag Dyke Gill Beck points directly towards Great Whernside summit. We take a more circuitous route up on to the higher reaches, an area of open access moorland devoid of footpaths.
Sunlight on Buckden Pike and Molly rushes across Whernside Pasture. When I think of all the narrow paths, canal towpaths, on-lead bits and best behaviour places - this open moorland is fantastic for the dog, she loved it!
Great Whernside Summit 2,310ft asl
The first two walkers we saw and one of them also hailed from Burnley. Blocks of Millstone Grit litter the summit territory.
Me n' Molly on Great Whernside
No place to hang around with a bitter wind forcing the extra layer on. We take the popular ascent route as our way down, I've heard it can be boggy.
The Boggy Bits
Hag Dyke
Hag Dyke is a hostel run by 1st Ben Rhydding Scout Group in Ilkley and the chapel on the right is the highest in England. We took the bridleway, seen here running out to the right of the enclosure.
Route down to Kettlewell
Kettlewell Smelting Mill (site of)
An information board informs walkers about the mill and its history. An intersting read, you'll have to go and have a look.
Chestnut Cottage
The cottage is for sale .... £549,500 as of 1st November 2014.
Great Whernside from Kettlewell
Walkers: Me n' Molly
Time taken: 3hrs 40 mins over a distance of about 6.5 miles.
Route: Kettlewell, Dowber Gill Beck, Whernside Pasture, Great Whernside, Hag Dyke, Hoobank Pasture, Kettlewell.
Weather: Bright start, clouding over on the tops and rather breezy.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2014 ©
Take me back to the start ....