A-Walking: The Gunnerside Gallop

"I galloped, they galloped, we galloped all eight!" ¹

Sometimes, A-walks are often described as being something of a gallop! Of course, that's not really true - even though we do walk fairly fast. However, we had to go at quite a pace today because of the reduced walking time that was forced upon us (see the pink
"Amendments to Route" button at the end of this posting for more details).

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Today's expedition (19th July, 2009) took us from the delightful Swaledale village of Healaugh {SE 018 990} in a northerly direction to Great Punchard Gill and then back on a southerly trek (via Jingle Pot Edge) to Gunnerside {SD 951 982}. Healaugh is located about 1.3 miles west of Reeth on the B6270 road.


We set off from the village at about 13.00 pm. There were 8 people in the group: JB, PB, RB, CH, JH, KF, JY and PY. PB led the walk.

We left Healaugh on an uphill, north-westerly bearing, following a minor road that took us first to Thirns and then to a track junction at {SE 008 997}. From here we took the right-hand track and headed for the relatively low ground between Cringley Hill and Calver Hill. At {NZ 004 009} we picked up a track that we followed in a north-easterly direction in order to join a minor road near Arkle Town {NZ 009 016}. We crossed Arkle Beck using the foot-bridge at {NZ 010 021} and then followed the river in a north-westerly direction to reach the small village of Langthwaite {NZ 005 025} - see the picture below.


We continued to follow the course of the river up through Arkengarthdale until we reached the tiny village of Whaw {NY 982 045}. We used Whaw Bridge in order to cross Arkle Beck and then headed west (via Whaw Bents) to reach Great Punchard Gill - our destination now being the old disused Punchard Coal Level at {NY 946 042}. From here, we headed south over Punchard Moor to reach a path junction at {NY 951 030}. At this point we changed our bearing to head in a SW direction to pick up a track at {NY 957 014}. Turning right along this, we passed the Old Gang Mines on our left as we headed west towards Gunnerside Gill.

After crossing the gill at {NY 938 021} we turned left and headed in a southerly direction towards Lownathwaite Lead Mines and then Botcher Gill Gate {NY 934 006}. Just after this point we were confronted with our final climb of the day. This took us up onto Jingle Pot Edge {SD 933 996}. From here we had some terrific views. Now heading in a SW direction, from here it was down hill all the way to the end of the walk at the small village of Gunnerside {SD 933 996} - a place that I have often visited in the days when I used to compete in the Swaledale Marathon (see the 'Memories' button below).


Despite the reduced walking time, we managed to get in a reasonable walk and also arrived back in time for refreshments at the Kings Head. Use the buttons below to obtain more details of our expedition.

    


Notes:
¹Adapted from Robert Browning - "How they carried the Good News from Ghent to Aix."

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