Introduction

 

The idea of doing this route originated when my friend Chris suggested we undertake a backpacking trip and asked me to make some recommendations

I had come across the Dales High Way when doing the Pennine Way in 2018, and my brief research into the route stuck in my memory

The Dales High Way is a 90 miles between Saltaire, to the north of Bradford in Yorkshire, to Appleby in Cumbria. Unlike its namesake, the Dales Way, this route seeks out the higher and wilder areas. It crosses moorlands, follows dramatic limestone scars, ascends Ingleborough with an option for Whernside, and a six-mile ridge walk across the Howgill Fells. It goes through the towns of Skipton, Settle and Sedburgh and many small villages. It promises beautiful valleys: Ribblesdale, Dentdale and the Vale of Eden, All in all a high quality route in a moderate distance

So I presented a shortlist of one to Chris, to be done as a backpacking and mostly wild camping trip

His modifications to my plan were the addition of campsites, making the whole enterprise a little more civilised

Bizarrely, to my mind, we are taking a tent each. This does give added comfort and luxury, but at the expense of increased weight. Equally strangely we are both taking a stove and cooking equipment, and I was getting worried about what the weight of my pack was going to be.

But I have been ruthless with my equipment list. I have bought a new and remarkably cheap (less than £20) 45l rucksack. It is a whole 1kg lighter than my previous rucksack and seems to be OK on the training walks I have done. I have also invested in a Neolite inflatable sleeping mat, which I am hoping will be comfortable and only 400g. My pack weight, before adding any daily lunch items, is 9.9kg, which I am very pleased with

As I sit here two days before embarkation day, I am very much looking forward to this route

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