Wednesday 13 June 2007

Day 8. 1 June 2007, Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes



Wonderful weather and a shallow if rough climb out of Horton to the tops of Cam Fell and Dodd Fell. The books report this as an easy path, but the rough construction of the path is an obstacle in itself…I wonder how many broken ankles it claims per annum?

Despite the path problems, the views on this stretch of the Way are outstanding. This is one of England’s wildest and most remote areas and is truly beautiful.

It is a straightforward climb up to 560 metres (1840 feet), leaving Dodd Fell at 668 metres (2192 feet) for another day!

A gentle meander (through a field with several cows and a bull) and we drop into the very busy tourist village of Hawes. Excellent ice-cream in this old Roman market town…and also some scones at the local tea rooms which had obviously been there since Roman times! (the scones…maybe also the tea rooms…).

Worth knowing that there are two outdoor shops in the village, to top up on essentials…and a chemist with a good stock of Dr Scholls foot treatments.

Overnight in the YHA, again fairly busy, this time with a party from the Ramblers’ Association and some German schoolchildren. On an admin point, this YHA doesn’t open till 5.00 pm, so no point in arriving early to register but you can get access to the building for shelter, tea / coffee etc. Bunk beds again, with me on top this time; years since I’ve done this…doesn’t it shake when the person on the bottom rolls over! And getting back out of bed is a nightmare! Margarette couldn’t stop laughing.

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