Thank you, to Paul, Sue, John, Victoria, Kevin, Alison, Helena, Steph, Emma, Avril, Andrew, Jan, Jen, Gary, Hilary, Mark, and the furry wanderers Tilly and Dora who all had a Weekend Wander with Sam, Lilla and me. We met at 9:45 for a 10 am at Little Blakey which is the parking area near to the disused Rosedale mine railway line, about half a mile before or after The Lion Inn. Our route consisted of two loops with a total distance of circa 15 miles. As we set off the rain started, contrary to weather reports which had suggested it would be clearing up...Following the disused line we ran towards Rosedale Head where the line runs on an embankment over the River Seven which has its headwater at the northern tip of the dale. From there it arcs round through a series of embankments to Reeking Gill, a tributary running into the River Seven from high up on Sturdy Bank. Over the past few years there has been a lot of work done on the walkway, from Chimney Bank to the old furnaces at Rosedale east, which makes for a few miles of running where a good pace can be maintained.
We left the walkway just after Nab Scar and followed the footpath down to Dale Head Farm. There is a tearoom at the farm which is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm from October to April, then from May to September opening Wednesday to Sunday 11 am to 3 pm. Dropping down into the bottom of the dale we crossed a footbridge over the fledgling River Seven and followed a signed footpath through fields to meet up with Daleside Road. Once the main thoroughfare up and down the dale it is now, for the most part, a rutted car track. Most of us had encounters with shin deep, shoe grabbing mud which lurked unseen beneath large puddles. By the time we reached High House farm and turned back up onto the fell side there were no dry feet left in the group, all our puddle dodging had been in vain...We then had a steady climb up to join the walkway near to Sledge Shoe Bents.This is an old path that runs parallel to the Hutton le Hole road, I have not been able to find any information as to why it is so named. If anyone knows I would be interested to hear from you.Our route then took us back to the start point at Little
Blakey.After a quick pitstop of flapjacks, pop,Jaffa cakes and assorted sweets we started the second loop. The beauty of doing a figure of eight route is that it gives the option to do a shorter run if you wish. It also brings a further element for those doing the whole route, mind training, having to resist the urge to stop when you must run past your vehicle.
Our route then took us down into Farndale on a minor path winding down the moor side to High Bragg House. In places no more than a sheep trod, strewn with boulders and withering bracken, which dragged at our feet as we picked our way down. A good path to run on to build confidence in your descending on technical terrain by picking where you want your feet to land whilst landing as lightly as possible, skipping from foot placement to foot placement. Once in the dale bottom, we followed a path that runs alongside the River Dove, this rises high up on Farndale Moor flowing southwards for 19 miles before flowing into the River Rye below Pickering. We followed the Doves riverine meanderings for around a mile and half to the hamlet of Old Mill. After a quick photo call and pit stop to the public conveniences we followed a minor road to start the climb out of the valley bottom.Where the toilets are situated there is a small free car park and a coffee shop, so a good place to start a run from and explore the many paths that radiate from Farndale up onto Rudland Rigg to the west and Blakey Ridge to the east.
The ascent up onto The Crag was of the same ilk as our earlier descent into Farndale. Steep at times, mostly indistinct, with boulders and bracken littering the path, meaning that finding any running momentum was difficult. Leaning slightly into the hill and driving upwards with the power coming from your glutes and quads, trying to keep an even pace the best option. You want to get to the top of the hill or climb and then be able to open the pace and run strongly off the top.Having reached the top of the climb we headed across Blakey Road to join a shooting track which we followed to join the walkway once more at Thorgill Head.As we turned northwards in the direction of our vehicles the sun came out and blue sky became the dominant feature above our heads. A little under two miles later we arrived back at our starting point having covered just over 15 miles whilst climbing around 2,500ft. We had mixed weather with wind, rain, sunshine and blue skies, but most of all we had good trails and good company for our Weekend Wander, until next week "Trot on"...💪🦍
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