New stepway on the riverside at Low Park, Addingham.
Some newly engineered steps mark a major improvement to the footpath between Addingham and Farfield.
The stepway has replaced a difficult, steep sloping section of the path leading down to the rivers edge. Thanks go to rangers at the Bradford Countryside Service for the work.
The tricky section has been the subject of a number of comments from Dales Way walkers, which have been passed on the the council by the Dales Way Association Footpath Officer for the area – Gordon Tasker.
Gordon said “Walkers and local users inform us when they identify issues on any stretch of the path. Please continue to do so through the website email contact address. We can then work with the appropriate stakeholder to progress. It may not always be possible to complete immediately where land owners and boundaries and responsibilities are involved, but jobs are completed as this one shows.”
Colin Speakman (left) joins the group at the start in Ilkley, Monday May 17.
Ramblers throughout Yorkshire are delighted to be welcomed back to the Yorkshire Dales, especially now that inns and guest houses can welcome walkers along the 81-mile Dales Way.
The Dales Way footpath, linking Ilkley in Wharfedale with Bowness on Lake Windermere, has long been one of Britain’s favourite walks, attracting many repeat visits and also visitors from overseas. Sadly, the pandemic had virtually closed much of the route for staying visitors since autumn 2020, but now that hotels and guest houses are open, walkers can once again enjoy a wonderful short break along the magnificent scenery of the Dales Way.
The first group to do so was a group of ten people from the Leeds-Bradford area who set off from Ilkley on Monday May 17th the first day guest houses were open and arrived in Bowness on Saturday. Members of the group, all “empty nesters”, people of a certain age whose teenage children had left home allowing their parents new freedom, had planned the walk and booked their accommodation months ahead.
Tim Barber, from Burley-in-Wharfedale, leader of the group commented: “Everything was great and the welcome from all the accommodation providers was wonderful – they were so happy to be back doing what they do best, providing a great warm welcome”.
Colin Speakman, Chairman of the Dales Way Association added “We are so pleased that walkers are coming back as staying visitors to the Dales. Spending up to £100 per day on food and accommodation, Dales Way walkers will provide a significant boost to the Dales economy, helping struggling catering and other rural businesses to survive after what has been a dreadful 16 months of pandemic.”
However, he also warned would-be walkers to book accommodation in advance, especially evening meals, as demand in this summer of staycations is likely to be high, and there could be some pubs and cafes that don’t reopen because of the impact of the long lockdowns.
Another short diversion is in place near Sedbergh as further work is needed to make safe a path eroded by river flooding.
The short section of footpath is to be found beyond where the Dales Way crosses the road bridge from Millthrop across the River Rawthey, then turns left across a field and through a section of woodland (SD 6585 9135). The affected section is the part where the path passes through a narrow, enclosed dip. Similar work took place here last summer.
An alternative, easy to follow section of permissive path leads off to the right just before this point, to rejoin the main footpath just before leaving the wooded area.
The work is expected to continue throughout the summer.
TV presenter Selina Scott walking a section of the Dales Way in Wharfedale was shown on BBC TV last night.
It’s part of a series of Winter Walks with celebrity walkers being shown on successive nights. They can be watched again on BBC iPlayer.
Selina sets off from Thorp to walk up to Linton Falls, then joins the Dales Way to walk from Grassington to Appletreewick. It was filmed in February 2020 before Covid restrictions were introduced.
Filming herself and all that is around her on a 360-degree camera, Selina wanders through the countryside, often deep in thought and stopping only to chat, recite poetry and reflect.
Along the way, she learns of extraordinary philanthropy, meets walkers and a fisherman, and ends her journey drinking local ale in a pub famed for ferret racing.
A new Dales Way Information Board has just been installed at Barden Bridge, after the old frame of the previous one finally rotted away.
The new frame was constructed at the National Park’s Maintenance shop in Grassington, fitted with the last of our new Information Boards and installed by National Park rangers. The frame is made of Accoya acetylated wood, sustainably sourced with FSC® certification and it has minimal environmental impact throughout its entire life.
The £675 cost of construction was covered by a donation from the Dales Way Association. This is one of 9 Information boards along the route of the Dales Way.
The boards first appeared in 2004 thanks to hard work by DWA members Margaret and Ken Staines. The sketch drawings are by Patricia Hickman.
Upper Wharfedale Ranger Rob Wilson and his hardy team of volunteers have just finished path repairs and resurfacing to a stretch of the Dales Way footpath at Hubberholme.
Rob Wilson and his volunteers resurfacing the path at Hubberholme
The path, which runs along a steep bank above the river, has suffered erosion through a combination of heavy rain and cattle grazing. Rob has had his work cut out, with some difficult revetment work on the path. Some preparatory work was undertaken in 2019.
The £600 cost of resurfacing materials for the section has been met by a generous donation from long-term DWA member Philippa Hudson, who lives nearby at Beckermonds.
The team expect to do further strengthening work to the path section in the near future.
A short diversion to part of the Dales Way footpath near Sedbergh will be in force throughout the summer whilst work is undertaken to repair damage caused by recent flooding.
This section is closed, take the path on the right.
The short section of footpath is to be found near where the Dales Way crosses the road bridge from Millthrop across the River Rawthey, then turns left across a field and through a section of woodland. The affected section is the part where the path passes through a narrow, enclosed dip (see map below).
An alternative, easy to follow section of permissive path leads off to the right just before this point, to rejoin the main footpath just before leaving the wooded area.
The closure is for public safety owing to land subsidence at the root plate of two substantial trees caused by the recent heavy rain and high winds.
The recent bad weather has caused a section of path at Baildon to collapse – alongside Glovershaw Beck. Bradford Council are in the process of obtaining a temporary closure of the route while they assess what they can do to restore the path.
Below is a plan showing the section of path (part of Baildon 18) which is not safe to walk – there is an alternative route available via the edge of Baildon Moor/Shipley Glen and Footpath 2 Baildon to reconnect with the link route.
The collapsed section of path affects part of the route as described in paragraph 2 of page 3 of the self guided walk – link below and shown on Map 2.
Millthrop Bridge – Photo courtesy of Cumbria County Council
Millthrop Bridge in Sedbergh has now fully reopened. Cumbria County Council would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding throughout the works.
Parapet damaged on Millthrop Bridge (photo: YDNPA)
Millthrop Bridge – which takes the road from Dent to Sedbergh across the River Rawthey – has been damaged by a vehicle and is now closed to motor traffic.
It is open to walkers at the moment, so Dales Way walkers can still cross with care.
The north-eastern parapet has been knocked down, making that side dangerous, but walkers sticking to the south-western edge should be o.k.
Should the bridge be closed altogether in the future, there are a couple of alternative routes for Dales Way walkers:-
To rejoin the Dales Way at Birks Mill, follow the road beside the river westwards for a little under half a mile, then join a footpath that leads to the crossing of the River at Birks Mill footbridge (itself only recently fixed with help from the DWA);
To head in to Sedbergh, follow a footpath alongside the River heading east for half a mile, to cross at New Bridge.
Dales Way News 