Route: Whisper Dales and High Dales
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 10th October 2014
Walkers: Andrew Gilly and Fiona
Distance: 9.0 miles
Ascent: 600 feet
Weather: Sun and blue skies
We were staying at nearby Derwent View in the beautiful and unspolit village of Hackness. We started our walk from St Peter’s Church and left the village along a quiet lane beside Lowdales Beck. When we reached the fords we forked off along Low Dales which is known as Whisper Dales further along – a well chosen name for this beautiful and quiet valley
At the head of the valley we climbed uphill through Broxa Forest to reach Reasty Hill Top, a well known local viewpoint with far reaching views over Harwood Dale. From there we walked along forest tracks before descending into another lovely valley – High Dales
At the end of the dale we rejoined the lane leading back into Hackness. Fiona remarked that this had been the best walk she’d ever had – a combination of perfect weather, beautiful countryside and great company. We didn’t see another soul all day
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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
The night before the walk, a full moon over Hackness
Tree sparrow in the cottage garden before we set off
We walk out of Hackness along a quiet lane
Further along the lane
Ford just before Lowdale Farm
Passing by Lowdale Farm
Low Dales
Approaching Whisper Dales
Hawthorn
Gilly and Fiona enter Whisper Dales
A view back along the valley
We climb up through the forest ……
......and emerge at Reasty Hill Top, with views of the North Sea
I make a quick diversion along the top to get a view of Scarborough Castle
Harwood Dale from Reasty Hill Top
We follow a forest track along the hill top
We descend through Broxa Forest back to valley level
Emerging from the forest into High Dales
High Dales
Newgate Farm (shown on the OS map as Highdales Farm) - odd that it’s boarded up when set in such an idyllic location
Hard Dale
We rejoin the lane back to Hackenss
St Peter’s Church Hackness
Our Auntie Marjorie lived in Hackness for many years and had a great love for it, as do we
