Upper Swaledale

The day was spent in Swaledale after securing a lovely B&B for Friday night at the Chapel House in Muker. We awoke (very early!) to clear blue skies which proved the inspiration for a short run (to try to energise myself) before breakfast. And what a breakfast! I'm usually just grabbing a morsel on the hoof as I'm getting the bike organised or dashing for the train so it was a complete delight to sit down to fresh fruit and yogurt, a mushroom omlette and toast from freshly baked bread.

We walked along the one stretch of the dale that we had yet to explore, between Muker and Gunnerside, taking the valley path before climbing up to get a view of the village. I left TJ to explore Gunnerside (and more stone barns) to take in a run up to the old Lead Mines before returning down a side valley to get back in time (just!) to catch the Little Bus back to Muker.

This community bus service was a great discovery. Created just this year, to serve Swaledale and Wensleydale following the termination of the original bus service, it provided us a chance to stay a little bit longer and explore more before returning home on the train from Garsdale Head. It was proving a bit of a headache trying to work out exactly how we would get back to civilisation using just our feet and public transport but our volunteer driver (John, leader of the local council no less and a mine of information about the local people) told us that after his final scheduled run he was heading back with the bus to Hardrow where he lived and was happy to take us over with him. We could then pick up the Wensleydale service to the station.

It all worked out perfectly, and gave us the chance for one last walk along a section of the Pennine Way to Thwaite. After a swift half and a bit to eat we killed the last hour with a short bimble and chanced upon a secluded swimming hole in which to cool off on a very hot and sticky day. That swim was just about the highlight of my day!

Back home to a house full of guests and a lovely evening filled with cycling talk. A day where everything just seemed to click into place.