Upper Wharfedale

Upper Wharfedale has a new Area Ranger, Michael Briggs, based at the National Park Authority's Grassington office. Michael's area stretches north from Grassington to the top of both Wharfedale and Littondale.

Michael works closely with local organisations and the community on a range of access projects and issues.

There is also a new Access Ranger for Upper Wharfedale, Rebecca Heaf, whose work is varied and includes liaising with landowners, managing the public rights of way network and carrying out improvement works.

Projects

Pitching on Plover Hill

Pitching work has just begun on a remote section of footpath on the northern slope of Plover Hill. Despite its location this is a popular path which is used as a route onto Pen-y-ghent -one of the Three Peaks. A short section has become severley eroded by a combination of water and walking boots where the path traverses a steep granite outcrop.

Earlier in the year we had contact from HF Holidays Ltd, a guided walking company, who use this route with their groups. They offered to fund repair works to this section with money donated to their Pathways Fund from their guests, going some way to alleviate their impact on the footpath network.

Due to this site's remote location and terrain it was never going to be cheap. We've had to fly in stone to the site and employ a contractor to lay it in the traditional style of pitching. This involves digging the stones two thirds into the ground to make a solid, graded surface, trying to avoid creating a staircase. The surface must also shed water to the side to prevent further erosion.

After consideration, HF Holidays agreed to wholly fund the £17,000 project, by far their largest contribution to any single project in the Pathways Fund's 10 year history. If HF Holidays had not made the offer this work would have never been a realistic proposition and may have become much worse over time.

Access

Littondale Ridge

The ridge that separates Wharfedale and Littondale has stiles and gates at wall crossings in Open Access land all the way from above Kettlewell in the south to above Beckermonds in the north. The stiles are on the north-east (Wharfedale) side of the ridge and open up this fantastic walk, which you can tackle in one go or as part of a shorter circular walk from Wharfedale or Littondale.

Buckden Pike Ridge

We are asking walkers following the popular Open Access route between Buckden Pike summit and the Polish War Memorial to walk on the west (Wharfedale) side of the wall, avoiding the badly eroded area to the east. There are two stiles in place and the views are just as good! We are beginning to see some recovery in the vegetation on the east side, so thank you to everyone who has already followed the new route.

Traffic Regulation Orders
There are a number of Traffic Regulations Orders (TROs) currently in place across the National Park. In the Upper Wharfedale area these are:

• Mastiles Lane
• Horsehead Pass
• Foxup Road

See our page on green lane management for more details.

Advice

If you're planning a trip to the Dales this winter it will pay to make a few preparations before you arrive.

Plan your route ahead so you can let someone know where you'll be going. With shorter days and unpredictable weather the consequences of an injury or getting lost are intensified. If someone at home knows where you went and what time you were expected back then rescue is much more likely to succeed.

The MET office has just launched a mountain forecast for the Yorkshire Dales. It's fairly new and as yet unproven. However, today's forecast of gales and showers has been accurate so far (hence the reason I'm updating my webpage today). Check it out before you come to the area.

Contact details

Michael Briggs
Upper Wharfedale Area Ranger
Colvend
Hebden Road
Grassington
Skipton
BD23 5LB

01756 751631