YORKSHIRE DALES EXPLORER – THE HERRIOT WAY A 5 night self-guided route from the quaint village of Aysgarth in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, with daily luggage transfers www.colletts.co.uk [email protected] 01799 513331 At a glance The Herriot Way is a spectacular 52-mile long distance path that offers a variety of scenery. Visit the succession of waterfalls at Aysgarth and why not stop off at Hardraw Force Waterfall, the highest single drop waterfall in England. Meander your way through the famous Dales, Wensleydale and Swaledale for overnight stays in the beautiful villages of Hawes, Keld and Reeth. Head up high onto the heather moorland and explore the disused lead mines. This walk is truly a perfect introduction to the Yorkshire Dales. Dates & Prices Walking season is from 1st April to 31st October – Standard accommodation £495 per person, accommodation upgrade from £595 per person, these are based on two people sharing a room. Single occupancy rates available from £695. If you wish to book out of season, please contact us to discuss potential options (prices may vary) We think the best months to visit are May, June & September Arrive any day in Aysgarth Prices are per person and based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Please note that all bookings are subject to availability in our chosen accommodation. Please do not make any travel arrangements until we have confirmed your accommodation dates. The minimum party size is two (for reasons of safety no single travellers are permitted). Grade : Moderate / Hard Ascents: 125-800m per day Descents: 125-750m per day Walking Time: 5 to 6 hours each day Terrain: All of our routes are along quiet country lanes/tracks, footpaths, and bridleways. Some paths may be slippery and loose underfoot especially when wet. All routes are well signposted and easy to navigate. This route has been designed to take you through picturesque villages and outstanding scenery the Yorkshire Dales has to offer. Included in the price • 5 nights B&B accommodation in handpicked inns, hotels, or guesthouses • Luggage transfers for 5 days of walking • Detailed route cards (including maps, route descriptions, places to visit, important telephone numbers) Not included in the price • Travel Insurance • Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk • Any public transport during your trip • Packed Lunches, Dinners (budget £15-35 pp per day) • Drinks and all extras Highlights – The Herriot Way Aysgarth falls, Hardraw waterfall, Wensleydale Creamery, endless moorland, wildflower meadows, Swaledale and more. The Itinerary It is possible to start the walk in any of these villages, the itinerary below begins in Aysgarth which is the traditional start and end point for people walking the Herriot Way. Day 1 (Sun) – Arrive in Aysgarth Arrive at your accommodation in the small village of Aysgarth. Arrive via your own transport or use the local public transport. Overnight in Aysgarth Day 2 (Mon) – Aysgarth to Hawes 16.3 km (10.1 miles), 5-6 hours walking, 125m ascent / 125m descent Follow the River Ure through beautiful Wensleydale as you meander through fields and alongside the river to the village of Askrigg, where the James Herriot TV series was filmed, take the chance to enjoy a bite to eat before reaching Mill Beck Falls. Continuing through the valley you will pass small villages where farming still dominates the landscape, all whilst towards Hawes, home of the famous Wensleydale Cheese factory, plus plenty of tea rooms and pubs to explore. Overnight in Hawes Day 3 (Tues) – Hawes to Keld 20 km (13 miles), 6 - 7 hours walking, 800m ascent / 750m descent This is probably the hardest day of the route, start by heading to the village of Hardraw and the chance to see the highest single drop waterfall in England. After which you climb out of Wensleydale reaching the top of Great Shunner Fell, the third highest summit in Yorkshire with spectacular panoramas of the surrounding hills and across to the Lake District. The descent leads into Swaledale and the quaint village of Thwaite where a potential coffee or late lunch break can be had in one of the tearooms. From Thwaite is another climb, shorter this time but no less impressive, onto the side of the valley above the River Swale and onto the hamlet of Keld. Overnight in Keld Day 4 (Weds) – Keld to Reeth High level Option – 17.6 km (10.9 miles), 5 - 6 hours walking, 450m ascent / 575m descent Skirting the edge of the valley, from Keld you will head towards Gunnerside Moor with stunning views down the Swaledale Valley towards your next destination of Reeth. This landscape is steeped in history from the lead mining that once took place, keep an eye out for the remains of this industry that you will find scattered across the moorland. You are actually walking a section of the Coast to Coast path for today, after undulating across the tributaries of the Swale, an easy descent brings you to Reeth. Perched on the side of the valley the village is home to a lively farmers market each Friday and boasts some fine views down the valley. Low level option – 19km (12 miles), 5 – 6 hours walking, 100m ascent / 225m descent A good option if the weather is bad as the route stays in the valley following the River Swale through the village of Gunnerside. Whilst a longer day the path is easy to follow and what ascent there is to do is easy and short. Overnight in Reeth Day 5 (Thurs) – Reeth to Aysgarth 15.9 km (9.9 miles), 5 - 6 hours walking, 450m ascent / 450m descent Head through the village of Grinton and a climb up onto Greets Hill, and the open moorland with impressive views across the north of the Yorkshire Dales. From here the path will drop down towards Apedale and Dents House, a welcome rest in poor weather. After leaving Apedale you will drop to the village of Castle Bolton where the remains of a beautiful medieval castle lie and the chance to enjoy a lunch in the café before exploring the castle remains. The route then completes the loop as you head back to Aysgarth passing the falls along the route. Overnight in Aysgarth Accommodation Most of the accommodation that you will stay in has been handpicked and are family run B&B’s or country pubs. We endeavour to provide en suite accommodation however in some more remote locations accommodation is limited and therefore we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms. We will let you know if this is the case. Please let us know the dates you would like to book as soon as possible as we need to contact all the chosen accommodation for availability at each stage of the route. If you require a single or twin room, please also try and book early as these tend to be quite limited and therefore sell out quickly. In the case of unavailability for some of your chosen accommodation we will endeavour to find suitable and an equivalent standard of accommodation. Luggage Transfer Option We will pick your bags up each morning and deliver them to your next overnight stop so that they are waiting for you when you arrive, this allows your walking days to be easier and lighter. Travel Arriving to the Yorkshire Dales by Car Detailed instructions on getting to your first nights accommodation by car or from the nearest train and bus station will be included in your route pack that will be sent to you 2 weeks prior to your trip. Please note that you can ONLY use your accommodations car parking facilities for that night you have booked, please do not leave it there during your walking trip, we cannot accept responsibility for your vehicle and it may be towed. Arriving to the Yorkshire Dales by Public Transport There are no train routes into any of the villages along the Herriot Way. The most convenient stations are either Northallerton on the London to Edinburgh line or Garsdale on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line. From these stations there would then need to be either a bus ride or taxi ride to your first nights stay. From Northallerton there are buses to Aysgarth however 2 changes would be needed, and a taxi ride will be approximately 50 minutes. From Garsdale again there is a bus to Aysgarth with a change in Hawes and a taxi would take approximately 35 minutes. “Your Own Risk” Your self-guided “Yorkshire Dales Explorer – The Herriot Way” holiday will be spent entirely at your own risk and it is important that you understand that whilst the route notes are accurate at the time of writing, the situation on the ground may change and this itinerary relies on your sound judgement and decision making throughout. Our self-guided “Yorkshire Dales Explorer – The Herriot Way” has been organised so that you might enjoy a route and associated accommodation you may not otherwise have discovered having organised the itinerary yourself. It represents nothing more than the opportunity to go out on a beautiful walk in a part of this wonderful walking area, with the support of knowing that many of the logistics have been arranged for you. It is a fact that walking can and is associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett’s Limited trading as Collett's Mountain Holidays will not be held responsible for your interest in the outdoors and your involvement in coastal walking, which can occasionally have tragic consequences.