Wharfedale

A relaxed and steady walk up through the contours and folds which rise and form above Kettlewell. A low  but warm autumn sun highlighed  limestone green fields and long wall lines over golden fell sides on a pretty much perfect afternoon.  We brewed by Rain Slack Well before heading across rough ground upwards towards the long escarpment of Great Whernside.

A bit of huffing and puffing got me over the final steep pull onto the wide open expanse of rusty,rocky hill top. Here the warmth of the sun was taken away by a light but cold Northerly wind. A little nudge from a winter to come.

Must have had the tent up before 4 o’clock. Tucked away behind a low gritty crag I had shelter from the breeze and watched a beautiful sunset unfold as I sorted out camping domestics and brewed up.

I ate outside in the gloaming watching lights come on and mists begin to form in the dale below. When darkness came I could pick out the lights of Emley Moor Mast and from there the red lights of Holme Moss transmitter where I’d stood just a few days earlier gazing North at Great Whernside. “Wouldn’t mind a night up there soon” I’d said to myself!

Stillness and a cheeky frost settled in the night but I was comfy and warm with just the fly sheet and sleeping bag for shelter. Paddy snored and dreamed throughout in the way  dogs do. I had to tip him out of bed in the morning for a rather reluctant walkies!

We headed off for Buckden Pike, Buckden and Birks Fell in a 15 mile circuit around the head of the dale. A day of sun,cold autumn shadows,peat,long distant views North,soup in a Buckden pub and a dusk finish.