Not Quite A Walk Around Scar House and Angram Reservoirs

I felt a bit despondent as I read the sign saying that one of the bridges at the top end of Angram Reservoir was closed. No reason was given, but the reason didn’t really matter. If I couldn’t get over the River Nidd where it flowed into the reservoir, then I was not going to be able to complete my planned walk around Scar House and Angram Reservoirs. I thought about heading somewhere else, but decided that I would head out as I had intended, see what I found, and change my plan if I needed to. I was keen to do this walk, and the reasons I was keen didn’t change simply because a bridge was shut.

the Severe climberApril 7, 20244 Comments

Hiking

Nidderdale Way – Stage 5: Birstwith to Shaw Mills

The Nidderdale Way has many fascinating historical sites along its route, but this stage seemed to have more than the other stages I’ve walked. There was a castle, lovely villages, stocks, crosses, churches, and disused fishponds. All of this in a beautiful dale. Continue reading Nidderdale Way – Stage 5: Birstwith to Shaw Mills

the Severe climberJuly 27, 2023April 10, 20248 Comments

Hiking

Nidderdale Way – Stage 4: Bewerley to Birstwith

My fourth day on the Nidderdale Way had a folly, a close encounter with running deer, and a beautiful old packhorse bridge. All of this on a walk that took me over moors, along riverbanks, through woods, and across meadows. It was a walk with variety, great views, and fascinating historical sights. Unfortunately, this walk also involved a horrible path that has been my low point on the Nidderdale Way. Continue reading Nidderdale Way – Stage 4: Bewerley to Birstwith

the Severe climberJuly 13, 2023April 10, 20243 Comments

Hiking

Nidderdale Way – Stage 3: Middlesmoor to Bewerley

The third stage of the Nidderdale Way started with what must be one of the best views in the Yorkshire Dales, and took in hay meadows, rolling pastures, a pretty reservoir, a lovely valley, and the ruins of a lead mine. It was a gorgeous walk that an encounter with some irate cows couldn’t spoil. Continue reading Nidderdale Way – Stage 3: Middlesmoor to Bewerley

the Severe climberJune 26, 2023April 10, 20249 Comments

Hiking

Nidderdale Way – Stage 2: Lofthouse to Middlesmoor

Walking the second stage of the Nidderdale Way was a day of green fields, lush woods, caves, a disappearing river, moors, a castellated dam, and an abandoned village. It was brilliant. Even if you are not going to walk the whole Nidderdale Way, this loop through the upper part of the dale makes for a grand day. Continue reading Nidderdale Way – Stage 2: Lofthouse to Middlesmoor

the Severe climberJune 8, 2023April 10, 20245 Comments

Hiking

Nidderdale Way – Stage 1: Pateley Bridge to Lofthouse

It was an inauspicious start to an amazing walk. Within the first few minutes of starting on the 54-mile (87km) Nidderdale Way, I was a bit lost. My guidebook had directed me to walk down Mill Lane in Pateley Bridge before passing “between houses to reach a footpath that signs you up a narrow alley along the backs of houses.” I was now wandering around the cul-de-sac of Mill Lane wondering where the Nidderdale Way had disappeared to. The large number of signs on houses and gates proclaiming “private”, “no right of way” and “no footpath” suggested that I was not the first person to get confused about where to go, and that the people who had come before me had decided the way to go was through someone’s garden. Luckily, I spotted a small footpath sign pointing to an inconspicuous, narrow alley partly obscured by greenery. Continue reading Nidderdale Way – Stage 1: Pateley Bridge to Lofthouse

the Severe climberMay 26, 2023April 10, 202414 Comments