The first half of a winter solo hike on the Dales Way, 80 miles through the dales of North Yorkshire and the Lake District. This four day journey starts at Ilkley Old Bridge and progresses mainly following the River Warfe through the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The second half of the journey heads in a westerly direction through the Lake District National Park to finish at Bowness on Windermere.

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This video is the fist part of the journey covering the start at Ilkley and ending with a wild camp on Blea Moor. Thus we start on Ilkley Old Bridge admiring the waters of the River Warfe before leaving the bridge to view the old stone built bench that is the official start of the Dales Way.

Walking alongside the River Warfe we are mainly on flat surfaces using well marked and trodden paths through fields and banks of the river side. Our first significant cluster of houses represent the village of Old Mill where we discover the converted gatehouse that has be remodelled in to a domestic dwelling and has a sign denoting the name of Penny Hole, this is a reminder that late workers in the past would have been fined a penny for late attendances.

Next we come to the village of Addingham where we discover the Ancient Parish Church of St Peter. In addition, we visit the nearby suspension bridge and the Addingham Mill, which was painted by J M W Turner and a copy of this picture is portrayed on an outbuilding in the village near the mill.

An umber of miles later we are very much in the country side and we are met by the ruins of Bolton Abbey (priory) which had originally taken 400 years to build but was destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. When we now cross the River Warfe we watch others taking the more dangerous route across the stepping stones with views of the Abbey in the background. Further progress see us nearby to the very dangerous Strid where many have ended their life as they attempt to jump across the torrid rapids. However we wait until outr next crossing which takes place at Barden Aqueduct.

Onwards to Grassington where we admire the many tearooms and ancient cobbled streets. Next we walk onto the moors seek out a 150 year old Lime Kiln before pressing on to establish our wild camp for the night.

Daybreak see us the next day depending off the moors to enter the village of Kettlewell and see the village Maypole. Then we enter the area of Upper Warfedale which is mainly managed by the National Trust. Our main target now is to visit the shop for resupply in the village of Buckden. Here we alter potential travellers that whilst coffee, tea and pies can be purchased cash is the only form of payment excepted.

We are now heading to Blea Moor following Oughtershaw Beck admiring the distant views with Penyghent and Ingleborough mountains looming large in the landscape with the man made Ribblehead Viaduct nestled in the valley.

Whilst the winter wind wips at the freezing landscape we find shelter for our wild camp beside a corpse of trees. However, the sunset forces a golden glow on to the nearby landscape without creating warmth for our campsite. Now we settle for the night.