30th March 2024 - Raydale and Wether Fell

Walk Details

Distance walked: 14.1 miles

Total ascent: 2063 ft

OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas

Time taken: 7 hrs

Route description: Hawes-Gayle-Pennine Way-Hawes-Brunt Acres Road-Sedbusk-Cams House-Yore Bridge-Bainbridge-Gill Edge-Marsett Lane-Countersett-Crag Side Road-Crag-Common Allotments-Wether Fell-Drumaldrace-Wether Fell Side-Gayle-Hawes

To make the most of a weekend of good weather I'm going to head out for a walk on both days. Today's destination is Hawes in Wensleydale and a route that I worked out that would take in footpaths and bridleways new to me between Hawes and Bainbridge, before heading up into Raydale to visit the hill of Crag and then Wether Fell, more familiar territory. Setting off from Hawes in the morning there was a mixture of sunshine and cloud, but into the afternoon the sun gained the upper hand so that I enjoyed plenty of blue skies and sunny spells for taking in the views from Crag and Wether Fell.

From the car park in Hawes I walked up the lane to Gayle and onto the trail of the Pennine Way. I then followed the Pennine Way north through Hawes, along Brunt Acres Road and across Haylands Bridge, before taking a footpath on the right up through fields to the Hardraw to Askrigg road. After crossing the road I took the footpath opposite up through fields to reach the hamlet of Sedbusk. From Sedbusk I walked east along the lane to Litherskew, then from its end I took a footpath down through fields to cross the Hardraw to Askrigg road, and take the footpath opposite east to Cams House. A bridleway took me east along the lane past Cams House until I reached the left hand bend up to the Hardraw to Askrigg road, from where I followed a footpath east along the course of the former Wensleydale railway to Yore Bridge. After walking up the road into Bainbridge I stopped for lunch. Once I'd had my break I continued by walking past the Corn Mill tearoom, then taking the lane on the right uphill to its end, and the footpath up the hillside to Gill Edge on the road to Countersett. I then walked along the road down to and through Countersett, and up Crag Side Road to the sharp right-hand bend, from where I took a bridleway up onto the hill of Crag. Once I'd taken in the view from Crag I followed the bridleway west across Common Allotments to the track of Cam High Road, which I walked up to reach Wether Fell. I left Cam High Road to make my way up to Drumaldrace, the summit of Wether Fell, and once I'd taken in the view I returned to Cam High Road to pick up the bridleway on the western side of Wether Fell. I followed this north and east across Wether Fell Side and to the bridleway down to Burtersett. I followed this bridleway for a short distance downhill until I reached a footpath on the left, which I took and followed downhill through fields to Gayle. I then walked through Gayle onto Gayle Lane and down Gayle Lane back to the car park in Hawes.

Route map

Gayle and Gayle Beck, with Wether Fell above, as I take the Pennine Way to Hawes

On the Pennine Way north through Hawes

The River Ure from Haylands Bridge

and from Brunt Acres Road..

I leave Brunt Acres Road for the footpath up to the Hardraw to Askrigg road

Looking back to Hawes

Having crossed the Hardraw to Askrigg road, heading up the footpath to Sedbusk

Looking across Wensleydale and over Mile House Farm to the hillside that I'll be making my way down as I return to Hawes at the end of the afternoon

and back to Hawes, with Wether Fell on the left, and Dodd Fell Hill and Ten End to its right

In the hamlet of Sedbusk

I leave Sedbusk on the lane to Litherskew

Looking back to Sedbusk

and across Wensleydale to Wether Fell, Dodd Fell Hill, Hawes, and Ten End

I reach the end of the lane at Litherskew..

From Litherskew I take a footpath down through fields to the Hardraw to Askrigg road

Looking back to Litherskew, with the limestone scars of High Clint above

I'll cross the road below, and take the footpath opposite to reach Cams House

At Old Camms Barn

Walking along Kettlewell Lane past Cams House

Onto the footpath along the line of the former Wensleydale railway, which will take me to Yore Bridge

It's a lovely spring day in Wensleydale

After having to deal with some really muddy fields, it's a welcome change to have firm ground underfoot

Looking back up Wensleydale as I near Yore Bridge

Yore Bridge over the River Ure. I'll cross it and walk up into Bainbridge.

The River Ure, looking upstream..

..and downstream, from Yore Bridge

A beautiful spring afternoon in Bainbridge. After a stop for a break at The Corn Mill tearoom it's time to move on.

From Bainbridge I follow a footpath above the River Bain up to Gill Edge on Marsett Lane

Great views of the steep sided valley of the River Bain..

..and across Wensleydale to Askrigg Common and Ellerkin Scar

At Gill Edge

Walking down Marsett Lane to Countersett

Looking across Raydale to Blean High Pasture

and to Addlebrough and Water Ling Pasture

Passing through the hamlet of Countersett..

Semer Water from Countersett

A steep walk up Crag Side Road to the sharp right-hand bend

I leave the road and take the bridleway up onto Common Allotments and to Cam High Road

First though, a detour to take in the view from the edge of the hill of Crag. At the northern end of Crag, and it's worth the effort of leaving the bridleway to Common Allotments for this view of the length of Wensleydale. Widdale Fell in the distance on the left, then Swarth Fell, Wild Boar Fell and Lunds Fell, with Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat on the right.

and looking down Wensleydale to Askrigg, Ellerkin Scar and Ivy Scar, with Addlebrough on the right

The crags above Raydale give me a great view across the dale to Addlebrough and of Semer Water..

Looking south across Raydale to the hamlets of Stalling Busk and Marsett

Back onto the bridleway and heading west across the moorland of Common Allotments

To my right is nearby Yorburgh, then in the distance Swarth Fell, Wild Boar Fell and Lunds Fell; with Great Shunner Fell on the right on the other side of Wensleydale

Onto Cam High Road, which I follow west up onto Wether Fell

I have a great view down Wensleydale when I look back

As Cam High Road runs along the southern side of Wether Fell I'll leave it to head up to the cairn of Drumaldrace on the summit of Wether Fell

At the cairn of Drumaldrace on the summit of Wether Fell. Great Shunner Fell, Lovely Seat, and Askrigg Common to the north.

Looking west to Dodd Fell Hill, Whernside, Great Coum, and Great Knoutberry Hill

Fountains Fell and Penyghent in the distance on the left, and Dodd Fell Hill on the right

Finally, the moors to the north of Wensleydale in the distance on the left, with Addlebrough and the moorland of Stake Allotments above Raydale behind the cairn

I leave the summit behind and follow the bridleway along the northern edge of the fell, which gives me improving views of the fells around the head of Wensleydale...