Dodd Fell 13 December 2009

Quite a nice day today, which makes for a really nice change – I didn’t even have to wear my gloves – although, as the pictures will testify, it was a bit dark from early afternoon.

We’d been to the bank to get money for the car park, and initially investigated the Ropemaker’s car park in Hawes, where a £3.20 charge is made for knipemobiles.

We had no change, so we visited the spar shop and bought a box of festive Mr Kipling cakes – and then repaired to the Gayle Road car park, where there was no charge for parking today. (dhuuhhhhh) – but the cakes were nice anyway.

Gayle

We walked up by the Hawes creamery, home of Wensleydale Cheese, Grommit, and then by the Pennine Way to Gayle, where we got lost for a while, but found our way after asking directions from an old, probably retired farm collie, who had one blue eye and one brown eye and a severe limp – but he was friendly enough to Superdawg, who wanted to play.

Cam Road – looking North

We used the Cam Road to get up onto the Pennine Way, and then straight up to Dodd Fell’s trig. On the way we were briefly investigated by five foxhounds who were busy ignoring a lad on an ATV who was vainly calling them to follow him. They decided that superdawg was superdawg and not a fox and continued sniffing and , generally investigating things and doing some howling and hound-type noises. Bruno wasn't very impressed.

Some fox hounds

After visiting the top, we made for Kidhow Gate where we met the farmer from Duerley Bottom farm having a little contretemps with a two-way radio which was refusing to work. He confirmed that he’d turned it off and turned it on again and that he’d sworn at it. He’d now resorted to hitting it, which seemed reasonable. He was looking for the lad with the hounds, apparently. I suggested he might have to shout instead. Later, he offered me a lift down the road which I refused because I was enjoying myself, innit. In a rainier weather, I might have accepted…..

Oracle and Grommit of the Baskervilles (Its going dark)

In view of the lack of daylight (it was already starting to fade by half two) – I plumped for a quick trek along the Roman road that heads for Bainbridge and then the Beggerman’s road down to Gayle, but went off on footpaths in the Dale bottom to have a look at Aygill Force – a very attractive waterfall in a deep, square slot, very much like the Tyne Gorge at Garrigill, in fact – maybe a bit deeper.

Aygill Force

I got muddy, then rejoined the Pennine Way back to the start.

The Penny Garth Cafe sold me a very nice fresh coffee for thirty bob (£1:50), whilst Bruno was abandoned to his thermal blanket (I really spoilt that dog) in the back of the car.

Good weather today, though – very light wind, dry, with views as far as the Scafells and freezing from about 560 metres and above – but not really feeling cold and the boggy bits were only just crunchy.

12 Miles and 1700 feet.

A different route that I did earlier in the year includes Drumaldrace, but I wanted to do that one separately from Semer Water.

How tickled hi ham, anyway, missus. Have you ever been tickled in the Dales missus?

Ken Dodd died. Did he? No, Doddy. That’s enough of that, now….

Dodd Fell is a Doddle

I’ve been having some difficulty getting walks in for the last few days. I was supposed to do this walk yesterday, but an electrician’s visit to fit two wall lights and do a few other, apparently minor things turned into an epic all-day visit by three electricians and their little mascot who did the running around, used the vacuum cleaner and had the mickey taken out of him by the others.
Its all done now, short of paying the bill, so I bundled superdawg into his travelling harness thingy that smells of wet dog and went via crook co-op for some precious things to eat on a walk.
My TGO Challenge training programme says that I should strive to walk a 14 mile walk in February (16 miles in March) – and I thought this one was 14 miles. I’ve done this walk several times before, with minor variations. I was sure it was 14 miles. Turned out to be 13.4. doh! Near enough, though, I suppose.
On this walk I was also trying out several new things.
New thing number one – a “thermal tee shirt” price £3 from the pound shop. Actually, they’ve loads of these and in reality, they’re base layers. And rather good ones too. I shall buy a few more.
New thing number two – some hi-tec walking boots £30 at the Original factory Store – shudder been £60. very comfy, apparently waterproof (at the moment), light, springy and a bargain. (Note that the walk took place on the Pennines, which are always soggy) Are they robust enough for a TGO Challenge, though? I shall try to find out by treating them badly and walking through soggy peat and wet snow. This may lead to their downfall in terms of remaining useful as a boot…..
New thing number three – as recommended in a breakfast thread on the TGO challenge forum – a Jordan’s superfood bar. Quite nice. I liked it cos it has no added salt. I don’t do salt. Tracy, the cardiac nurse wags her finger at salt.
And a blueberry muffin for the fun.

And so, on a driech Wednesday, we eventually pitched up at the ropemakers car park in Hawes. An unpromising start in drizzle, hill fog and a “fresh” wind which had me Paramoed up from head to foot to fingers.
We plugged our way up through the rough pastures and along an off-road-motorbike trashed bridleway to the top of Drumaldrace. The location of the summit appears not to be at the point containing the summit cairn by the way – but such is often the way with yer peaty lumps.
This hill has a ring of deep shakeholes, all of which were full with old snow. This cheered up the dog no end – almost as much as being accidentally locked in the kitchen with a beef joint would…..
I went all the way around to the Roman road before climbing to the top so that I could have the wind behind me.
Onwards – In brightening weather with a lifting cloud base, we doddled off into a perishing headwind along the Roman road towards Lancaster for several miles till we came to the Pennine Way, at which point we turned back towards Hawes, bagging the top of Dodd fell Hill on the way. The wind started to get its act together at this point and whilst I was merely being blown sideways, superdawg was actually in flight at times – though he does tend to leap along. The leaps were much longert than expected and he wasn’t landing where he expected to land.
The walk became a struggle till eventually we dropped down below the lee of the hill.
Half a mile short of the 14 miles I should have done. The headwind made up for it, though. Hard work at times. Bruno enjoyed the old snow drifts and the short flights.
I enjoyed the blueberry muffin and the view of Whe****de.