Yorkshire Dales

Mike Bagshaw is a freelance travel and nature writer with regular columns in various regional magazines and newspapers. A Lancastrian by birth and an ecologist by training, he has lived and worked in North Yorkshire for 28 years. For many years he was a teacher of outdoor education and has explored the nooks and crannies of the county by bike, foot and canoe. With a love of the wildlife and landscapes of the region and a keen interest in its crafts, architecture, local history, folklore and pubs, he is well placed to paint a very personal picture of this special place.

Going Slow in the Yorkshire Dales ...........................8
A Dales timeline 10, Flowers of the Dales 11, Sheep of the Dales 13, There's lead
in them there hills 14, Car-free travel 16, How this book is arranged 18
1 T hree Peaks Country......................................................21
Self-powered travel 22, The southern fringe 24, The Cumbrian corner 37,
Ribblesdale 47
2 Craven & Wharfedale.....................................................53
Self-powered travel 53, Craven 55, Mid Wharfedale 66, Upper Wharfedale 77
3 Swaledale............................................................................85
Self-powered travel 86, Upper Swaledale 88, Mid Swaledale: around Reeth 93,
Lower Swaledale: including Richmond 99
4 Wensleydale.................................................................... 109
Self-powered travel 109, Upper Wensleydale: Hawes, Gayle & Hardraw 111,
Mid Wensleydale: Askrigg to West Witton 117, Lower Wensleydale: Wensley to
Bedale 126
5 Nidderdale, Harrogate & around...........................137
Self-powered travel 139, Upper Nidderdale: Nidd Head to Pateley Bridge 141,
Eastern Nidderdale 148, Knaresborough & Harrogate 151, North from Harrogate
to Masham 160