Hike alongside all creatures great and small – Herriot Way
Hike alongside all creatures great and small – Herriot Way
Escursionismo – Raccolta by Alex Foxfield
4
giorni
4-6 h
/ giorno
79,9 km
1.850 m
1.850 m
Britain’s most enchanting landscapes have always inspired great works of art and literature. From Constable’s Dedham Vale landscapes and Wordsworth’s Lakeland daffodils to Brontë’s stark West Yorkshire Moors and Turner’s romantic visions of Eryri’s mountains.
The beautiful Yorkshire Dales were the setting for James Alfred ‘Alf’ Wight’s much-loved series of eight novels about his life working in a veterinary practice. He wrote using the pen name James Herriot, who was also the series’ main protagonist, though it’s thought the tales are only partly autobiographical. Since the first book ‘If Only They Could Talk’ was published in the UK in 1970, the series has gone on to sell over 60 million copies worldwide and has seen multiple film and TV adaptations.
This Collection follows the Herriot Way, a circular, 52-mile (84 km), long-distance trail that visits places associated with the famous vet and is based on a route Alf once hiked with his son Jimmy. It reveals some of the Yorkshire Dales’ most cherished scenery, exploring exquisite valleys, charming villages, cloud-dappled fells and heather-clad moors. The region’s lead mining heritage is also laid bare, with thought-provoking sections that discover landscapes altered by the endeavours of an industrial past. Along the way, you’ll see many creatures great and small – there’ll be plenty of wildlife encounters and you’ll spend lots of time in the company of the Dales’ farm animals, such as dairy cows and the emblematic Swaledale sheep.
Highlights of the Way include Hardraw Force, England’s largest single-drop waterfall; the historic market town of Hawes, the home of Wensleydale Cheese; the sprawling Great Shunner Fell, one of Yorkshire’s greatest uplands; the beguiling lead mining remains above Swaledale; the magnificent Grade I-listed Bolton Castle, an impressive 14th-century fortress; and the spectacular Aysgarth Falls, a series of cascades on Wensleydale’s picturesque River Ure.
Typically, the loop is split into four days and starts in Aysgarth, with stops in Keld, Hawes and Reeth. However, there’s nothing to stop you from picking your own start point and splitting the route up as you please. There are two approaches to the stage between Keld and Reeth: the traditional higher route and the alternative route through Swaledale. The traditional approach is detailed in this Collection. For the alternative, see the Herriot Way website: herriotway.com/route
The Herriot Way is a moderately challenging hike. Three of the stages take to exposed moorland and Great Shunner Fell makes for a strenuous hillwalking day. However, the route sticks to well-trodden paths and tracks, often sharing the way with other long-distance trails. There’s often a pub for lunch on each stage and both Hawes and Reeth offer the opportunity to stock up on supplies.
Nevertheless, it’s worth carrying extra food and plenty of fluids on each stage. Quality hiking footwear should be worn and waterproofs and warm layers should be carried regardless of the forecast. Shelter can be difficult to come by on the moorland sections, so sun protection is vital during the warmer months.
While there’s plenty of accommodation along the route, it’s worth booking in advance. Hawes, Keld, Reeth and Aysgarth are all popular during the summer months. Aysgarth can be reached via the 156 bus, which runs between Catterick Garrison and Gayle, or the 856 bus between Northallerton and Gayle. Northallerton is accessible by mainline train services. There are a few parking options in or within walking distance of Aysgarth.
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Ultimo aggiornamento: 18 aprile 2024
Utilizza il Multi-Day Planner e pianifica questa avventura utilizzando le tappe suggerite in questa Raccolta.
La mossa iniziale di Herriot Way ti porta ad esplorare la deliziosa Wensleydale e due delle sue cascate più pittoresche, portandoti dall'incantevole villaggio di Aysgarth alla storica città mercato di Hawes. Con circa 500 piedi (150 m) di dislivello, ti facilita il passo in vista delle giornate più faticose…
La seconda tappa è la più faticosa della Herriot Way, con oltre 700 m di dislivello e 20 km da coprire. Nel suo percorso tra Hawes e il tranquillo villaggio di Keld, raggiunge il punto più alto del Cammino sul Great Shunner Fell, una distesa mostruosamente estesa di alta brughiera che si eleva fino a…
Ricevi consigli su singletrack, vette e tante altre avventure imperdibili!
Il delizioso Swaledale fa da cornice alla terza tappa della Herriot Way. L'importante patrimonio minerario della regione diventa evidente durante questa passeggiata, mentre segui le tracce dei minatori su Melbecks Moor. Dopo aver scoperto le rovine dell'antica fusione a Blakethwaite, c'è un'altra breve…
La fase finale della Herriot Way raggiunge un climax adeguato alle spettacolari Aysgarth Falls prima di finire ad Aysgarth, dove hai iniziato. Per collegare Swaledale con Wensleydale, sale attraverso alte brughiere, ammirando splendide viste sulla campagna di Dales.
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