Hawes to Baldersdale (May 14th)

Light shower, cloudy, chilly wind.
Today was going to be a long one to make up for short days, made a little shorter by taking the buttertubs road for first section.
Hawes was very nice little town and i’m sure would be a good place to explore but many miles ahead so back on the trail, on leaving B+B soon pass old rail station where amazingly sits a steamer on a shot piece of track, there is hope of the line being relayed so it may yet gain freedom.

 

The buttertubs road has some testing climbs and gives great views of steep sided valleys, i was actually very pleased to have gone this way.

“The Buttertubs Pass is a high road in the Yorkshire dales. The road winds its way north from  near Hawes towards Thwaite and past 20 metre deep limestone potholes called the Buttertubs, It is said that the name of the potholes came from the times when farmers would rest there on their way to market. During hot weather they would lower the butter tubs they had produced into the potholes to keep it cool.”  Excert from website explaining the passes name.

 

My photo looking down a buttertub.

At keld i stopped at a bunk house and camp site for a cup of tea, talking to the owners couldnt of been more helpful calling a place they knew ahead to check vacancies and book me in (i had intended heading for Bowes but they knew its accommodation was fully booked.

Another climbing challenge got me to tan hill inn for lunch, here i found 3 lambs curled up against the entrance door (guess they are bottle fed orphans).
Next section was in contrast open moorland with white topped wooden posts as guide to route, further on i lost the trail and used the compass until i could see the A66 and get back on track through the tunnel under the main road. Soon after i passed 3 what i found out later to be Canadian girls doing the pennine way as they were staying at the same place as me.
The moors really are a wondrous environment with bog loving plants, curlews aplenty and grouse moaning noisily as im on their patch.
So onward to clove lodge farm where im in a mobile home (£10 + £7 for breakfast), the pennine way goes through their  farm yard so really it couldn’t be more convenient.