Trek Notes - England

The Herriot Way


General Information
The Herriot Way is a delightful walk around the northern Yorkshire Dales of Wensleydale and Swaledale. It is based on a holiday taken by James Herriot with his son, which he described in his book ‘James Herriot’s Yorkshire’.
Starting from the bustling little market town of Hawes, the Herriot Way begins with a visit to Hardraw Force waterfall, and then meanders down Wensleydale to the charming village of Askrigg. After exploring Askrigg it follows the River Ure to Aysgarth, with its famous waterfalls, before continuing down the valley to the imposing bulk of Bolton Castle. From here an old miners’ track leads over East Bolton Moor, with breathtaking views over Swaledale, before descending to the charming village of Reeth, the ‘capital of Swaledale’. After passing through the tiny village of Heaulaugh, the trail once again follows in lead miners footsteps over heather moors to the hamlet of Keld at the head of Swaledale. The last day of this scenic walk begins with a visit to the pretty little village of Thwaite. The trail then follows the Pennine Way over Great Shunner Fell, with glorious views over Wensleydale and Swaledale, before descending to Hawes.

Total distance: 52 miles (83km)
Duration: 5 nights, 4 days walking
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 13 miles (21km)/13 miles (21km)
Season: All year

Starting point of holiday: Hawes
End of holiday: Hawes
Most convenient major city and International airport: Manchester Airport. 3 hours to Garsdale Railway Station via Leeds.
Outward journey from London to Hawes: Train from London King’s Cross to Leeds, then change trains for Garsdale (4 hours). The first night’s accommodation in Hawes is a short (6 miles) bus or taxi ride from Garsdale station.
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Taxi or bus from Hawes to Garsdale Railway Station.  Train to London King’s Cross (change trains at Leeds).


Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Hawes where your first night’s accommodation has been booked.   Either explore the charming little market town of Hawes or follow one of the short walks provided to Gayle, Burtersett and the waterfall at Aysgill Force.  

Day 2: Hawes to Aysgarth. 13 miles/21km. The day begins with a visit to Hardraw Force, England’s highest waterfall; then leads down Wensleydale to the village of Askrigg, before following the River Ure to Aysgarth. Askrigg is a fascinating place, seeming of another age to the ‘typical’ Dales village. Originally a market town and famous clockmaking centre, Askrigg gave way to Hawes as the centre for upper Wensleydale. The heart of the village still recalls those days; three-storeyed houses line the main street and 15th century St. Oswald’s church overlooks the market cross of 1830, with its bull-ring set in the cobbles.  

Day 3: Aysgarth to Reeth. 13 miles/21km. After visiting the famous Aysgarth Falls, the route leads past Carperby, where Herriot spent his honeymoon at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, to the massive ruin of Bolton Castle, where Herriot proposed marriage. An old lead miners track is taken over East Bolton Moor, which provides some glorious views across Swaledale, before descending through Grinton, an attractive village of snug stone cottages, an ancient inn and St. Andrew’s church, the ‘Cathedral of the Dales’, to the delightful village of Reeth, the ‘capital of Swaledale’.  

Day 4: Reeth to Keld. 13 miles/21km. From Reeth the Herriot Way heads upstream besides the River Swale to Healaugh. After passing through the village an old miners’ track is taken over the heather moors above Swaledale, past the ruins of smelt mills, peat stores and crushing mills – the relics of a long-deceased lead mining industry - before descending through the dramatic ravine of Swinner Gill to the tranquil hamlet of Keld at the head of Swaledale.

Day 5: Keld to Hawes. 13 miles/21km. The final day follows the Pennine Way around Kisdon Hill to the village of Thwaite, before returning to Hawes over Great Shunner Fell with its far-reaching views over Wensleydale and Swaledale.  

Day 6: Another chance to explore Hawes before departure.


Accommodation & Meals

5 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms (where available) in selected hotels, inns and guesthouses.
Full English breakfast.


What’s Included
Door to door luggage transfer.
Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook describing the trail.
An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night, town plans, information about facilities and places of interest along the trail and a kit list. Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it. Emergency assistance

Extra nights/Rest days

Appleby is one of the most picturesque towns in the north of England, with a fine castle, a wide tree-lined main street and many attractive buildings including the Moot Hall, St Lawrence’s Church and the Almshouses. Patterdale is a lovely little village and is a good choice if you would like to climb Helvellyn, one of the finest mountains in the Lake District. There is plenty to see and do in the pretty village of Grasmere. Consider an extra day in Troutbeck if you would like to visit Townend, a remarkable 17th century ‘Statesman’ farmhouse which is packed with original furnishings, documents and domestic and farming implements. Kendal is another good choice. It has plenty of interesting shops, numerous ‘yards’, ‘ginnels’ and ‘alleys’ to explore, a fascinating museum and wonderful art gallery.
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