The Tour
02nd July 2014
The Tour
Regardless of the grey and hazy conditions, I had thoroughly enjoyable day touring the Fells that rise above the beautiful Dales village of Hawes.
The route made a large circuit of the hills south of Hawes (Wether and Dodd Fells) and included a Roman Road and a short journey along the Pennine Way.
Hawes looks and feels like it was formed by some geological event, as it's stone walled buildings thrusts up through the Limestone valley floor and stand like lines of grey, crags and buttresses. The village was, as expected, very busy, but there was an extra level of activity and excitement today. The villagers were preparing themselves for world's the greatest cycle race - The Tour De France.
The village's grey stoned buildings were adorned with red, white and blue bunting and a profusion of pink polka dots. These spots were adorned on old bikes that leaned against walls, or stood by shop doors, plus there were polka dot flags fluttering and pink splattered T-shirts worn by locals. The village was embracing the arrival of the race with great enthusiasm.
However, the pièce de résistance was the giant white bike marked out on the hills north of the village. Like a huge etched out prehistoric hill figure the bike could be seen from far down the Wenslydale valley and even from high up from Garsdale. The figure not only dominated the village, but the whole valley.
The walk took me high up onto Wether Fell, passing through recently cut meadows and joining a route that passes over an old Roman road. My ascent was accompanied by the plaintive calls of Curlew and the 'peewit' of Lapwings. These haunting calls reflect the wild spirit of the Dales, as the notes of the song pierce through the wind and echo off the limestone strewn fell sides emphasising the lonely, barren landscape.
On reaching the head of Fleet Moss, a large boggy expanse at almost two thousand feet, the route then headed towards Grove Head to join the Pennine Way. On this section the iconic Dales Three Peaks are revealed, and in particular the dominating presence of the steep escarpment of Ingleborough.
This section, though on an old, tarmac road, had stunning views down Langstrathdale. This is a long and lonely valley that encompasses a huge expanse of land that contains very few human dwellings. In such a cramped and heavily populated country it is not only amazing and but also a joy that such space and pure wild beauty still survives. It helps us to find a space to breath and space for both both our hearts and mind to roam.
The route, once on the Pennine Way, stays high above the valley of Widdale, that starts its descent from Ribblehead down to Hawes. However, more immediate and impressive, is the view from the path that follows the brim of Dodd Fell. This track over looks the remote Snaizeholme Valley. The views down into this quiet land display a remote, rural and quiet existence. It seemed I was perched on a cloud, looking through the mists of time, observing an older age.
The Pennine Way was the perfect route back to Hawes, as it gently eased me down to the valley. As I descended the White Bike once again dominated the view. Set into the ancient fells of the Yorkshire Dales, the bike looked like a cross between the ancient White Horse of Uffington and a Tony Hart cartoon animation.
The White Horse of Uffington has been attributed to a number of powerful historical figures, like King Alfred, as a symbol of his victory over the Danes. What ever the White Horse's history and meaning, the 'White Bike of Wensleydale' will be a symbol and celebration to the King of the Mountain and all the pink, polka dots wearing Vikings of Hawes.
Regardless of the grey and hazy conditions, I had thoroughly enjoyable day touring the Fells that rise above the beautiful Dales village of Hawes.
The route made a large circuit of the hills south of Hawes (Wether and Dodd Fells) and included a Roman Road and a short journey along the Pennine Way.
Hawes looks and feels like it was formed by some geological event, as it's stone walled buildings thrusts up through the Limestone valley floor and stand like lines of grey, crags and buttresses. The village was, as expected, very busy, but there was an extra level of activity and excitement today. The villagers were preparing themselves for world's the greatest cycle race - The Tour De France.
The village's grey stoned buildings were adorned with red, white and blue bunting and a profusion of pink polka dots. These spots were adorned on old bikes that leaned against walls, or stood by shop doors, plus there were polka dot flags fluttering and pink splattered T-shirts worn by locals. The village was embracing the arrival of the race with great enthusiasm.
However, the pièce de résistance was the giant white bike marked out on the hills north of the village. Like a huge etched out prehistoric hill figure the bike could be seen from far down the Wenslydale valley and even from high up from Garsdale. The figure not only dominated the village, but the whole valley.
The walk took me high up onto Wether Fell, passing through recently cut meadows and joining a route that passes over an old Roman road. My ascent was accompanied by the plaintive calls of Curlew and the 'peewit' of Lapwings. These haunting calls reflect the wild spirit of the Dales, as the notes of the song pierce through the wind and echo off the limestone strewn fell sides emphasising the lonely, barren landscape.
On reaching the head of Fleet Moss, a large boggy expanse at almost two thousand feet, the route then headed towards Grove Head to join the Pennine Way. On this section the iconic Dales Three Peaks are revealed, and in particular the dominating presence of the steep escarpment of Ingleborough.
This section, though on an old, tarmac road, had stunning views down Langstrathdale. This is a long and lonely valley that encompasses a huge expanse of land that contains very few human dwellings. In such a cramped and heavily populated country it is not only amazing and but also a joy that such space and pure wild beauty still survives. It helps us to find a space to breath and space for both both our hearts and mind to roam.
The route, once on the Pennine Way, stays high above the valley of Widdale, that starts its descent from Ribblehead down to Hawes. However, more immediate and impressive, is the view from the path that follows the brim of Dodd Fell. This track over looks the remote Snaizeholme Valley. The views down into this quiet land display a remote, rural and quiet existence. It seemed I was perched on a cloud, looking through the mists of time, observing an older age.
The Pennine Way was the perfect route back to Hawes, as it gently eased me down to the valley. As I descended the White Bike once again dominated the view. Set into the ancient fells of the Yorkshire Dales, the bike looked like a cross between the ancient White Horse of Uffington and a Tony Hart cartoon animation.
The White Horse of Uffington has been attributed to a number of powerful historical figures, like King Alfred, as a symbol of his victory over the Danes. What ever the White Horse's history and meaning, the 'White Bike of Wensleydale' will be a symbol and celebration to the King of the Mountain and all the pink, polka dots wearing Vikings of Hawes.