Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of Swaledale And The North Pennines

Welcome to this part of my site featuring some exciting pictures from my cycle tour of Swaledale and The North Pennines. Pictures in the order of 1 to 18 feature Swaledale and Arkengarthdale and is the most northerly part of the Yorkshire Dales. Due to the lack of busy A roads through this Dale it draws less visitors then nearby Wensleydale and providing you don't pick a busy bank holiday weekend or scorching hot summer holiday week, cycling can still be a great pleasure for exploring this Dale. The B6270 between Reeth and Kirkby Stephen is one of the most narrow sections of roads in the country to be designated as a second class road and as a result this is why this Dale is very quiet compared to its neighbours. Swaledale is also the most beautiful parts of The Yorkshire Dales ranging from its steep wooded hillsides in the mid section of the Dale to the rugged green hillside country in the upper section around Thwaite and Keld featured in pictures 11 to 18. Centuries ago Lead Mining used to be the order of the day in this part of the Dales and its main industries nowadays is Sheep Farming which makes the Dale famous for its Swaledale Wool and tourism that keep this Dale moving. In winter this Dale has been known to be completely cut off with most moorland roads disappearing in snow and as public transport is very scarce through the Dale, life can be difficult for elderly people that don't have any other modes of transport. Pictures 6 and 7 feature Reeth, the largest village in Swaledale noted for its lovely village green and the last real place of civilisation for 20 miles, so I would make sure you are well kitted up food wise if venturing in the westerly direction of this Dale. Arkengarthdale featured in pictures 8 and 9 is the most isolated and northerly part of The Yorkshire Dales and also forms part of the national cycle network route 71 to the Lake District. The isolated village of Langthwaite featured in picture 9 is famous for filming of The James Herriot TV series, All Creatures Great And Small and The Red Lion Inn was one of the locations. Picture 10 features The Tan Hill Inn, England's highest public house and stands at the foot of Arkengarthdale in one of the most remote and barren stretches of The North Pennines. The Pennine Way from Keld also passes by this pub. Although there used to be coal mining in this area centuries ago, the mines have long gone and the pubs open coal fire still burns 365 Days a year. Pictures in the order of 19 to 30 feature my visit to East Cumbria and as this website is really supposed to be a site relating to The Yorkshire Dales, why have I included Cumbria you may ask? The gap between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake district is only about in some cases 15 to 20 miles and lies in some of the nicest and most scenic cycling country in northern England with its nearby towns and villages having the same characteristics of the Dales. Picture 19 is looking back towards the Eden valley near the market town of Kirkby Stephen featured in picture 20 and was taken while venturing back on the B6270 into Swaledale. Kirkby Stephen is a lovely market town, served with plenty of cafes and pubs. It also lies on the Cumbria Cycle Way and The Coast To Coast Walk. Kirkby Stephen is also well served with a Youth Hostel and a Railway station located east of the town on the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway. Pictures 21 and 22 feature the North Pennine town of Appleby In Westmorland, also located on the Settle to Carlisle Railway and Like Kirkby Stephen it is well served with teashops and pubs. Appleby In Westmorland is famous for the largest gypsy gathering in the country as it hosts its Horse Fair every year during June. Pictures 23 to 30 feature some of the most outstanding Pennine scenery in Cumbria with many quite roads and makes it ideal cycling country. The village of Dufton featured in the pictures of 23 and 24 is located on the Pennine cycleway of route 68 and is also served with a Youth Hostel and Pub. At the time of writing this page on 12.10.08, the shop in Dufton village has reopen but no longer has a Post Office. Pictures in the order of 25 to 30 feature my day walk of the Pennine Way north of Dufton towards Langdon Beck, in Teesdale. More on Cumbria can also be found on my following new link Pictures From My Cycle Tour Of Cumbria Featuring The North Pennines And Lake District