In June 2013 Bob and I (accompanied on some days by several other friends) walked the whole of the official route of the Dales Way from Ilkley in Yorkshire to Bowness-on- Windermere in Cumbria. For the most part we were walking by delightful rivers in valley bottoms; the Wharf, the Dee, the Lune and others. But as we walked, our eyes we were constantly drawn to the hills around us and we promised ourselves that we would return to the area to enjoy their views.

Whilst walking one day we found a flyer that refrred to The Dales High Way, which sounded exactly what we were after. Having agreed some dates in September 2014 Bob was delegated to sort out the details of a route over 5 days and book accommodation. I obtained a copy of Tony and Chris Grogan’s excellent book “A Dales Way Companion”.

We had hoped our friend Dave was going to join us for part of the walk but a serious illness ruled that out. Then a week before we were due to meet up Bob’s Mum died and he had to abandon the plan.

With all the accommodation booked and baggage transfers arranged and paid for with Brigantes and the weather set fair, I decided to do the walk on my own. It was only then that I looked more closely at Bob’s route and realised that it was not following the exact route of the official Dales High Way.

The path starts at Saltaire but we had agreed to start instead at Skipton. Bob’s route stopped in Sedburgh, two days short of the paths’ finish at Appleby-in-Westmorland. This would have missed out on a dramtic walk across the Howgill Fells, which was too good a prospect to miss.

I notified all the pubs and Bed and Breakfasts that only one room was required and with a few more calls I booked myself two more nights along the route and extended the baggage transfer arrangements with Brigantes. At Appleby I could catch to train back to Skipton and enjoy one of the best train journeys in the country. All set.