Day 1/4 Yorkshire Water Way v1 66km Walk - Kettlewell to Middlesmoor - 17 May 2008

A short background of this Yorkshire Water Way walk: It will take me on a journey through Yorkshire from the source of the River Nidd in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales to Langsett Reservoir in the northern Peak District - one of the Yorkshire Water's most southernly reservoirs. It involves the steep climb up the Great Whernside and along the banks of Fewston Reservoir.


It was just before my final exams - I would be having my first paper on the 2nd day after my last day of walk. Taking a risk but I thought that perhaps walking a bit during the day would help studying during the evening. Just pray that I would not fall ill or anything would happen. :) All geared up...actually not exactly....made a big blunder of not wearing my waterproof ski jacket, thinking that wearing light would cut down the weight...till I ran straight into foul weather on my very first day...which I regretted terribly!!!

You could see from the photographs how dark the sky was. Thick dense clouds hanging above. Regretted not learning to change settings in my camera to higher ISO, hence all the photographs on my first dark were dull. I took a train to Leeds, then changed to Skipton, and finally a bus to Kettlewell - where my walk began. Day 1 was the most challenging day out of the 4-day walk. It involved a climb up from Kettlewell, above Dowber Gill to reach Hag Dyke Farm, from where a boggy path climbed steeply up across open moorland onto the summit ridge of Great Whernside - 704m. The climb itself was streneous across rough and rocky terrain. And in addition to that, heavy raindrops started falling and got heavier, heaVIER, HEAVIER... While ascending close to the peak, I was already drenched, soaking, dripping. I was crying for help within my heart. The strong chilly wind was unbearable! I was shivering, very cold, at the same time, panting due to the tiring climb. I wanted so badly to get over and done with it. But there was no turning back! I had overcome the steepest part of the climb and there's no way I was going to go back down again. When approaching the peak, I could see a very thick layer of fog/ clouds covering the mountain above a certain height. I walked straight into that, and visibility was within a radius of 5m. My spectacles lenses were blurred and covered with raindrops which could not be cleared. I was .... 80% blind.....




















Then came the part where the ground was boggy/ muddy. My pants were not waterproof, then oops...it went straight into the mud. Very sianz... Now I was not only drenched, but muddy as well. More muddy tracks soon after, but it was not going to slow me down. I wanted to get over to the other side of the mountain as fast as possible.


A boggy and rocky path followed the summit ridge of Great Whernside for almost 2 miles before a fairly steep descent into a 'saddle' of land in the shadow of Little Whernside from where a bridleway turned off across rough boggy moorland skirting across the flanks of Little Whernside to reach a stony track just as above Scar House Reservoir. Typing down the route I took seemed too easy now, but I could recall how long the walk took that day. I got off-tracked, and couldn't find the path. I was wandering aimlessly in a direction which I decided from the compass and intuition I had. I was frightened then. I thought I would never make it to 'safe land'. The terrible weather was making me sick and helpless.

Eventually, very fortunately, and I wondered how it happened, I came upon the correct stony path. I was so relieved. At least I wouldn't be trampling upon the muddy moorland again. The track followed down over the dam wall - a beautiful scenery where I took a few snaps. By then, the rain had subsided. Finally! Phew!













Next part of the route was a steep climb up across outcrops of Woodale Scar, which took me across the exposed moorland of In Moor (434m). Reached Middlesmoor eventually with great relief! I had taken 7 hours in total. Conquered 2 high ascents. Passed a huge reservoir.






What's next? Accommodation for the night. Found out that the 'Studfold Farm' campsite I planned to stay in was full. The reception was close by then. I was helpless once again. I needed facilities very badly for the night after being through a STORM. I was wandering around a carpark when a car suddenly stopped by me to offer help. I was so thankful that the people in the car were actually the owners of the campsite! The old lady offered to allow me to pitch my small tent in the caravan park, near the reception area. She also invited me into the house and served me hot coffee and cookies. I was so glad...so thankful...I didn't know what to say/ feel. It was just a very sweet touch in my heart - the people who appeared in our lives when we needed them. The night was a hectic one - thorough washing up, before climbing into the tent and tried sleeping. A freezing night. I only fell asleep for about 2 hours.