A-Walking: The Swaledale Slogger

Our expedition today (14-06-2009) took us into the heart of Swaledale. This week's trek took us from Reeth (see the picture below) to Booze, Washfold, Orgate, Marske and Applegarth to Richmond - our final destination.


We left the village green in Reeth {SE 038 993} at about 11.10 am. There were 9 people in the group: JB, PB, RB, KF, CH, JJ, WM, JY and PY. PB led the walk.

We set off in a northerly direction along the minor road from the centre of the village (see picture above). At {SE 349 000} we turned right, leaving the road, in order to take a footpath that led us in a north-westerly direction towards, and along, the western bank of Arkle Beck. We crossed the river using a footbridge at {NZ 010 021} and then 'backtracked' down the other side of the beck towards Storthwaite Hall. Just before the Hall, at {NZ 016 021}, we turned onto a northerly bearing in order to follow a path up along the west bank of Slei Gill. As we went north, we got some wonderful views of the waterfalls on our right. We had our lunch stop in Slei Gill.


After lunch, we held our northerly bearing until we reached Slack Wife Gill {NZ 022 036} and then we swung onto an easterly course¹ in order to reach Moresdale Road. From here we followed a clockwise, semi-circular route (via Schoolmaster Pasture) in order to get to Washfold {NZ 055 027}. Now turning east, we chased the route of Padley Beck and then Shaw Beck so that we could get to Helwith Bridge {NZ 074 028} (where we should have² crossed the beck using the footbridge!) and then continued on to Telfit Farm {NZ 086 026}. We had our short tea break just before the climb up to the farm.

After tea, following the route of Marske Beck on our left, we now made a south-easterly trek along a good farm track to arrive at the small village of Marske {NZ 105 006}.

Leaving Marske in an easterly (turning north-easterly) direction along the road, we found a footpath on our right at {NZ 109 009}. We followed this across the fields to Applegarth Scar {NZ 117 015} where we joined a good track that took us in an easterly direction to West Applegarth and then East Applegarth {NZ 134 017}. We stayed with this track, following it in an easterly direction through Whitecliffe Wood and onwards to Richmond where our expedition ended in the car park at {NZ 168 011}. As usual, our 'faithful' coach (and Duncan our driver) were awaiting our return.


Although the weather was a 'bit hot' for serious walking, we had a great day. We saw some terrific scenery and had some good climbs. Use the buttons below to see where we went and how we did.

  

Notes:
¹ because the people at the front of the group were not sure of the route, we had to make a couple of minor 'amendments to route' in order to get back onto the planned route. These deviations added a little extra distance to the actual route as walked. Click this link to see the details.

² because the people at the front of the group were not sure of the route, we had to make a major 'amendment to route' in order to get back onto the planned route. This deviation added a little extra climbing to the actual route as walked. Click this link to see the details.

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