Circular Walks in Yorkshire and Cumbria: My Diary of Adventures

A Comprehensive Guide to the Castleton Walk in the North York Moors

Hello, everyone! I’m excited to share a new guide on my website: ‘Castleton Walk: Trekking Ancient Pathways in the North York Moors.’ This circular walk covers 12½ miles and takes about 5¾ hours to complete, offering a splendid way to enjoy the stunning landscapes of the North York Moors.

Starting in Castleton, the walk begins just south of the road bridge over the River Esk. The route crosses a variety of rugged terrains and historic paths, including the Esk Valley Walk, Quakersʼ Causeway, and Panniermanʼs Causeway. Each path has its own unique appeal.

On your route, explore the charming village of Commondale. After completing the walk, Castleton itself offers an excellent opportunity for further exploration. The path leads you through expansive moorlands, over the ancient stone slabs of Quakersʼ Causeway, and through the tranquil Danby Park’s Silver Birch woodland, which is just one of the many highlights of the walk.

Interested in this adventure? For a detailed guide to one of the best circular walks in Yorkshire, visit my website:

https://www.paulbeal.com/castleton-walk

The Ultimate Guide to Four Reservoir Circular Walks in Yorkshire

Explore the beauty of the English countryside with these circular walks in Yorkshire, featuring trails of varying lengths around picturesque reservoirs, catering to walkers of all abilities.

Discover the Swinsty Reservoir circular walk, perfect for enthusiasts of all ages. Spanning a distance of 3 miles, this scenic route offers tranquility and leisure.

https://www.paulbeal.com/swinsty-reservoir-circular-walk

For those just beginning or bringing along their children, the Fewston Reservoir circular walk is an ideal choice. Covering 4 miles, it’s designed to be user-friendly while still capturing the essence of the reservoir.

https://www.paulbeal.com/fewston-reservoir-circular-walk

The Swinsty Reservoir walk provides a lengthier experience at 7 miles and allows walkers to enjoy the beauty of Fewston Reservoir en route.

https://www.paulbeal.com/swinsty-reservoir-walk

Lastly, for those seeking a comprehensive experience, the Fewston Reservoir walk spans 10 miles, exploring not just the Fewston but also the vastness of the Swinsty Reservoir.

https://www.paulbeal.com/fewston-reservoir-walk

Launching the Danby Walk Guide Through the North York Moors

Exciting news for all you walking enthusiasts looking for great circular walks in Yorkshire! I’ve just launched a detailed guide to the North York Moors’ Danby walk on my website. A 12½-mile journey through the breathtaking landscapes of the North York Moors, featuring spectacular views of Little Fryup Dale and Great Fryup Dale.

Highlights of the Danby walk:

• Start from the heart of Danby, a lovely village.
• Explore the Ainthorpe Rigg moorland.
• Marvel at the views into Little Fryup Dale and Great Fryup Dale.
• Conclude with a peaceful trek through Danby Park’s woodlands.

I’ve made it easy for you to dive into the details. Visit my website for in-depth route descriptions, and access handy tools on OS Maps and Outdooractive platforms – including route downloads, 3D fly-overs, and more!

Click the link below to explore the Danby walk guide and start planning your next outdoor adventure:

https://www.paulbeal.com/danby-walk

Embracing the Mountainous Landscapes of the Lake District

The topography of the Lake District, characterised by its mountain ranges and valleys, naturally lends itself to numerous horseshoe walks. These are circular, high-level routes that frequently incorporate a ridge or a series of peaks, typically winding around the top of a valley.

Examples of such walks include the Fairfield Horseshoe, the Coledale Horseshoe, the Mosedale Horseshoe, the Deepdale Horseshoe, and the Newlands Horseshoe.

Adding to this list is the Kentmere Horseshoe, details of which I’ve just published on my website. This route is fairly lengthy and challenging, spanning about 13 miles and taking 7-8 hours to complete, but, like the others, it offers amazing views and is exceptionally rewarding.

I recommend attempting the Kentmere Horseshoe on a pleasant spring or summer day. For further details, including parking, walk statistics, maps, and photos, please visit my website page here:

https://www.paulbeal.com/kentmere-horseshoe

A Memorable Expedition to Great Gable from Honister Slate Mine

Last year, my friends and I decided to tackle a Great Gable walk, starting from Honister Slate Mine, on the B5289 Honister Pass road between Rosthwaite and Buttermere in the Lake District. We had four Wainwrights in our sights: Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, and Great Gable – not that we’re hardcore Wainwright Baggers or anything!

After parking, we hopped out of our cars and were immediately greeted by the daunting sight of the steep path leading up to Grey Knotts. A quick look around confirmed I wasn’t the only one thinking, “What have we gotten ourselves into?” accompanied by a few mumbled expletives from the group. But, ever determined (or maybe just too stubborn to back down), we started the climb.

Slow and steady, we made our way up, reaching the summit of Grey Knotts and ticking off our first Wainwright. Next, we headed south-west towards Brandreth, our boots squelching through the boggy bits. Pro tip: sticking close to the fence line helps with not getting lost!

Our journey then took us south across the grassy expanses, down into Gillercomb Head and back up again to Green Gable, the third Wainwright. After a brief dip into Windy Gap, we faced the rocky ascent to Great Gable. Reaching the summit, we took our time exploring, especially around Westmorland Cairn and White Napes, taking in the incredible views down to Wast Water.

The descent from Great Gable was a bit of a nerve-wracker, carefully picking our way down the north-west slopes, through rocky terrain and slippery sliding scree. We then veered east, passing under the imposing Gable Crag, and headed north, below Greengable Crag, along Moses’ Trod and across the fells.

Wrapping up, the path eased up, leading us past Fleetwith and down a stone track by Bell Crags, back to where we started at Honister Slate Mine. Though it was challenging, our Great Gable walk was definitely a memorable experience, filled with a mix of laughter, a few grumbles, and of course, the usual sense of achievement.

For more details about the walk and to see some of my photos, have a look at the page:

https://www.paulbeal.com/great-gable-walk

Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise Around the Lake District Newlands Horseshoe

A few weeks ago, I shared details on my website about the Newlands Horseshoe walk, a remarkable high-level walking route encircling the Newlands Beck valley in the Lake District. The route, starting from Gutherscale just north-east of Skelgill, proceeds in a clockwise direction, encompassing the five Wainwrights: Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head, and Hindscarth. The walk offers spectacular views throughout its 10½-mile length. Further information about this walk is available here:

https://www.paulbeal.com/newlands-horseshoe-walk

Of course, the Newlands Horseshoe can also be undertaken in an anti-clockwise direction, starting from various points. I’ve just published a variation of the route starting from Little Town, incorporating a shortcut that reduces the distance to 9½ miles. I invite you to explore this engaging alternative:

https://www.paulbeal.com/newlands-horseshoe

The webpage provides comprehensive walk statistics and includes some of my photographs, offering a glimpse of what to anticipate on the trail.

Reflecting on a Challenging Trek in the Lake District’s Varied Terrains

I’ve just republished an account of a trek we took just a couple of years ago in the Lake District, and oh, how I wish we had gone the other way round!

Starting from Bowscale, we ventured westward, climbing towards Bowscale Tarn through beautiful landscapes. The initial part of our journey was simply enchanting.

After descending to cross the River Caldew, we passed through the stunning valley between Bowscale Fell and Carrock Fell. The climb to Coomb Height, however, proved challenging due to the steep path and the scorching heat.

The journey along the Cumbria Way to High Pike and the ascent of Carrock Fell were all fairly straightforward, offering peaceful moments and delightful views along the way.

However, the descent from Carrock Fell was a challenge, and quite nerve-wracking. The steep slope covered in slippery, unstable scree made things rather precarious, and we often found ourselves slipping on our backsides.

Reaching the small tarmac road at the bottom, which led us back to our starting point at Bowscale, was a relief. Being back on solid ground never felt so good.

Looking back, understanding now that climbing up Carrock Fell on the scree would have been easier than climbing down—a common case with Lake District scree slopes—I’d recommend taking the route anti-clockwise instead of clockwise.

Despite these challenges, this walk is one I thoroughly recommend. The views from High Pike are exceptionally stunning, making all the effort well worth it.

Interested in this walk? Check out all the details on my website, including maps and statistics, to help you on your journey. Here’s the link to the page:

https://www.paulbeal.com/carrock-fell-walk

Discover Teesdale Using My Guide to the High Force Waterfall Walk

Have you had the chance to explore the High Force waterfall in Teesdale? If not, I highly recommend it. I’ve just updated and republished a guide for a 7-mile circular walk on my website.

The journey begins at Bowlees, leading you down well-marked paths that not only bring you face to face with the majestic High Force but also take you past the serene Bleabeck Force and the picturesque Low Force waterfalls. This route offers a unique opportunity to experience some of the most stunning waterfalls in the area, all within a manageable distance.

I’ve detailed the entire route, complete with personal photos and tips, to help you make the most of your adventure. Check out the guide on my website here:

https://www.paulbeal.com/high-force-waterfall-walk