I don’t like the name “Smardale”; it seems to me to be too harsh in describing what is a beautiful dale. This walk of c.9.5 miles starts in Ravenstonedale, takes in the nature reserve that extends up the dale and then cuts back down Smardale Gill to return to the start point. (see map below).
I enjoyed Bruce’s walk on Sunday 27th. January. So much so that I said I would write a little report about it. So here goes.
I’ve decided that I need to walk longer distances so I opted for Bruce’s 10-12 miles around Masham to start off with. I wasn’t going to be put off by 50 mph wind ( perhaps I exaggerate slightly ) and joined Bruce, Peter and Brian in Masham market place on a very windy, yet bright Sunday morning.
This is a picture of an apparently rare natural phenomenon which we encountered on last week’s walk led by Geraint. The picture itself was taken by a local photographer just a few hundred yards upstream from Green Bridge.
The conditions must just have been just right for the formation of these ice forms. It was cold. We left home at 9.00 a.m. in a temperature of -6C and it did not get a lot warmer thereafter. The Swale was also unseasonably low. In fact I do not recall such little water in the river at this time of year.
