Pennine Journey - Bainbridge to High Force

Pennine Journey continued - Bainbridge to High Force

Day 4 Wednesday 25 April 2012 Bainbridge to Keld
12.8 miles 1875 ft ascent

 

After driving from Pickering we parked Geoff's car up (Yvonne and Jennie stayed overnight in Askrigg) and we walked from Bainbridge (after a late start) to Keld, where we stayed at the excellent Butt House. 

Yvonne - Jennie - Judy - Geoff at Gyhllfoot Tearoom in Gunnerside where wet & muddy walkers are welcome

Day 5 Thursday 26 April 2012 Keld to Bowes
13.8 miles 1330 ft ascent

We walked from Keld to Bowes via Tan Hill from where we needed to use the wet weather route suggested in the book. Prior to that on the way up to Tan Hill we had to leave the Pennine Way at Lad Gill which was impassable as the picture below shows. We stayed at The Ancient Unicorn Inn in Bowes. Good food, but very poor accommodation, however there was nowhere else to stay.

Lad Gill between Keld and Tan Hill was blocked by a swollen beck
Left to right: Geoff, Phil, Jennie, Yvonne

We spent two hours at Tan Hill drying out. They made us welcome. The Ciabatta sandwiches are much nicer than the Lasagne was! Not recommended, the Lasagne that is...

You can see the amount of water in the River Greta near Bowes

To get off the same bridge we had to climb the fence. The gate was awash.

Day 6  Friday 27 April 2012 Bowes to Middleton in Teesdale
12.8 miles 1570 ft ascent

I had never walked in this area before. We enjoyed lovely sunny weather and stayed that night at the Teesdale Hotel which was excellent in all respects.

A much more pleasant day. We made the detour over Goldsborough Hill to find a pleasant lunch spot in a hollow.

Middleton in Teesdale now in sight

Day 7 Saturday 28 April 2012 (Half day walk) Middleton in Teesdale to High Force
7.1 miles 750 ft ascent

We walked from Middleton to High Force, the first time I've ever been there. There was plenty of water coming over the fall from previous days, yet it wasn't raining that day. Perfect!

My first visit to High Force in Teesdale

We walked back to the High Force Hotel for lunch and then used Hodgsons's Taxis from Barnard Castle to return us and our luggage back to Bainbridge.

We are continuing up to Hadrian's Wall in October and have pledged to finish up back in Settle in September 2013 80 years to the day that Wainwright completed his Pennine Journey.

Best wishes to all Pennine Journey Supporters!

Phil (Report Writer)

Judy 

Geoff

Yvonne 

Jennie 

Link to Day 8 - 12 High Force to Greenhead ....