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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Walking > Walking in Wensleydale |
Walking in WensleydaleWhen 22 of us met at Castle Bolton we were greeted by an encampment of Civil War Parliamentary soldiers who had just besieged the Royalist forces in Bolton Castle in a Son EtLumiere performance. We left them and walked westerly through pleasant Wensleydale pastureland - sheep and stone walls - until we reached Ivy Scar beneath which we stopped to look at the Bronze Age stone circles and Wet Groves Iead mine. Although dry at the start the weather had now changed to a drizzle making jackets necessary (first time for some weeks!) Past Disher Force and its old pump, which I assume used to supply water to the mine, we dropped to the picturesque hamlet of Woodhall and then to the River Ure. Following the river downstream it was difficult to believe that the water could ever be so high as to leave its flotsam and jetsam high in the willows - but it can! Until recently one could see a dead calf high in a tree - victim of a flood. Lunch and onward to Avsgarth Falls. The weather was now good and lots of tourists were present around the falls and the National Park Centre. After paying our respects to the Falls and talking about coppiced woodland we walked up to Hollins Farm across to Thoresby Lane and down Watery Lane to the stepping stones across the River Ure - Slapestones Wath. From here we tried to follow the permissive path to Redmire, recently developed by Bolton Estates. We did eventually reach Redmire Force after encounters with nettle beds and a pheasant rearing unit, but after the steel girder bridge across Apedale Beck we had further problems in finding the right track. We did reach Redmire and its old propped up oak tree then followed field paths up to Bolton Castle again - alas too late for the tea shop - sorry folks. Thanks to all who made the walk a very pleasant experience - about 11 miles. John Deighton |