Route: Reeth
Area: Yorkshire Dales
Date of walk: 20th August 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.8 miles
Ascent; 500 feet
Weather: Rain, rain and more rain
After a hat trick of fair weather walks this week my luck had to run out sooner or later, and today was that day
I parked on the village green in Reeth where there is a simple parking tariff – £2 per day or £1 per half day – and encouraged by some sun breaking through the clouds I set off towards my intended destination, the village of Langthwaite in the valley of Arkengarthdale
A few minutes later there was some light rain, just a passing shower, or so I thought. As I plodded on the rain became heavier and heavier. The views disappeared and the camera had to be stowed away
Luckily there are a couple of escape routes along the way in the shape of footbridges over Arkle Beck and as soon as the first one came along I seized my chance to shorten the walk and return to Reeth along the other side of the beck
I can’t say that I enjoyed this walk, but that was entirely due to the miserable weather. I saw enough to persuade me to return another day, hopefully in better conditions
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrels in the garden before I set off for the Dales…
Later that day I arrive in Reeth and pay my £1 for half a day’s parking on the village green
A momentary burst of sunshine over the church
Heather on the moors beyond Reeth
I follow the road out of the village
Fremlington Edge
As I set out on the path to Langthwaite the rain starts - and doesn’t stop
Looking back towards Reeth
Fremlington Edge again
Arkle Beck flows below the Edge
Ruined buildings on the far side of the beck
Decision time - do I carry on along the valley to the left, or descend along the track, cross the bridge and head back?
It’s chucking it down by now with no sign of respite so I decide to shorten the walk and return to Reeth
I cross the bridge over Arkle Beck
I follow a path with the beck on my right
The ruined buildings which I’d seen from the other side of the valley
Arkle Beck
Torrential rain made it impossible to take any more photos. From here I walked through the fields and crossed over Reeth Bridge and back to the start
