Herriot Way

2nd - 4th September 2024.
Walked the Herriot Way over three days. We were staying in our touring caravan at Simonstone so started and ended my walk from there.

Day 1: Simonstone to Ivelet Bridge. Tough day with a lot of elevation. Great Shunner Fell was hard going, very boggy in places, many flagstones well under water and they were very slippery on the way down. Also I was in heavy cloud while up there so there were no views. After Thwaite there was another steep climb but then it levelled off. From Keld to Ivelet Bridge was very scenic and easy walking. 20 miles - 2898 feet elevation.

Day 2: Ivelet Bridge to Castle Bolton. Another long day with a fair bit of elevation. Easy walking to Reeth with some lovely views along the River Swale. Most of the climbing began after Grinton and over High Hawker Hill. The moorland track where the grouse butts were was quite stony in places and a bit tough on the feet, but I ended the day with a lovely grassy downhill track to Castle Bolton. Beautiful warm, sunny day. 19.3 miles - 2461 feet elevation.

Day 3 Castle Bolton to Simonstone. Much easier day today, less miles and much less elevation. Waterfalls at Aysgarth and Mill Gill were beautiful. Mainly grassy fields and stiles today. 15.75 miles - 1170 feet elevation.

Very lucky with the weather, apart from the cloud over Gt Shunner Fell. Warm and dry all three days, just started raining slightly as I reached Simonstone at the end of my final day. A beautiful walk with some fabulous scenery.
Overall a total of 55 miles and 6529 feet elevation.