CAR FREE WALKS FROM RICHMOND
Introduction
Leaving
the car behind and walking is fun – and excellent for your physical and mental
well being. Travelling on local
buses is also fun – you can see more from the higher seats, and drivers can
concentrate on the landscape not on the car in front. There are no parking problems. Above all it enables you to undertake
linear or point to point walks, which are by far the best and most enjoyable
kind of walks in the Yorkshire Dales – along and through the glorious
landscapes of the Dales, or even climbing across the high country between one
dale and the next. A car can
restrict you to circular walks, which means some of the finest walks in the
Dales are not available to you.
So here’s a selection of
six half or full day walks in Swaledale and Wensleydale. All are fully
accessible without a car using the local Dales Bus network.
By using the local buses you are not only helping the environment
by reducing global warming CO2 emissions,
you are also helping to support vital services that local communities in the
Dales need – a double benefit.
Most are linear walks, but
Walk 1 is a circular walk starting and finishing in Richmond Market Place, so there is no need to
worry about any form of transport on that walk, and you can combine it with a visit to both
Richmond Castle and Easby Abbey.
How
it Works
To make it easier we have done the hard work for you by suggesting the actual buses to use on the linear routes, all starting from Richmond town centre, leaving from the Market Place. Times were correct at April 2017, but please check before travelling - see www.yorkshiretravel.net, www.dalesbus.org or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.
In most cases, if you are
catching an outward and a return bus to do the walk ask the driver about Day
Return or Rover tickets, but single tickets – typically
costing between £2.20 and £3.00 are also available if you are only using the bus one
way.
Drivers who are reluctant
to leave the car behind totally, can, of course, park and get the bus to start
the walk, then not feel nervous about walking back to their parked vehicle
rather than worrying about bus times. But catching a bus too can be part of the fun, and if you
have plenty of time in hand it means time for a cup of tea or even a pint of
excellent locally-brewed Yorkshire ale (no need to worry about drinking and
driving) at the end of the walk.
A
few Tips
– and Requests
The text has been designed to help walkers who are reasonably experienced walkers, but the information is intended to supplement, not replace, good quality maps. We have no hesitation in recommending either the OS Explorer 1:25000 series - OL30 Northern and Central Dales and Explorer 304 Darlington & Richmond.
Also very good are the new
Harvey Dales Maps; Dales North covers most of the six walks, though not sadly
Richmond itself. All these maps show field boundaries, so you can quickly work
out exactly where the path goes even if it not visible on the ground, to avoid
getting lost or missing a path. Almost without exception, only public rights of way have been
suggested, as indicated on current maps, and where this is not the case with
well established permissive routes or short section of CROW Act Open Access
land, this is clearly indicated in the text.
None of these walks are
over difficult terrain, but it is sensible to have at least a lightweight pair
of boots for comfort and protection – Dales paths can be muddy on even the
driest days. Always carry an
extra sweater and rainwear because even the finest morning can turn wet in a
matter of hours. Carry at least a
litre of water per person with you, and, even if you intend to buy lunch at a
pub or a café, enough emergency supplies (fruit, chocolate) to keep you going
if there is a problem. Many people
these days also carry a mobile phone – but remember in some isolated parts of
the Dales reception can be problematic.
We’ve also included,
with each walk, the phone number of an especially helpful local taxi firm -
Amalgamated Taxis of Richmond - who will provide a get-you-home backup service
if you have an emergency, miss a bus or something goes wrong. It rarely happens,
but it will give you more security and confidence.
They will also quote for journeys if and when public transport is not
available, whether for individuals, couples, families or larger groups.
Also always remember to
treat our magnificent Dales countryside with the kindness it deserves. Take all
litter back home with you, and especially on all farmland, please keep to marked
paths. Dogs should be kept on
leads, especially when there is livestock about, and close all gates behind you
unless they are clearly propped open for a purpose. Never climb drystone walls
– they are fragile and you can easily injure yourself badly and do hundreds of
pounds worth of damage. When walking across meadowland, especially in late spring or
early summer, farmers are especially appreciative if you walk in single file,
reducing the damage to what is an important winter crop for their livestock. Do
these things and you will always be sure of a warm welcome in the Dales.
Finally whilst we have taken every care to be as accurate as possible, details do change and mistakes do occur - we cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience or loss, but please let us know if there are any problems and we will update the information as soon as we can – Car Free Walks, c/o Westend Guest House, 45 Reeth Road, Richmond, DL10 4EX.
The Walks
Walk 1 - Easby Abbey and Round Howe
Walk 2 - Kisdon Gorge - Keld to Gunnerside
Walk 5 - Castle Bolton to Reeth
Acknowledgements
This series of walks has
been jointly sponsored by
Westend
Guest House, Transport
for Leisure Ltd and DalesBus. The text is by Colin Speakman and is
copyright – © May 2005.