Sedbusk, Simonstone & Hardraw - Tuesday 7 September 2021
Route
Hawes - Haylands Bridge - Sedbusk - Simonstone - Hardraw - Haylands Bridge - Hawes
Parking
We started from the Caravan Site just outside Hawes however this is just a short stroll from the town where there is plenty of parking.
Mileage
3.5 miles
Terrain
Farmland, tracks & quiet lanes
Weather
Sunny and warm - perfect.
Time Taken
2hrs 35mins including an hour stop at the Simonstone Hotel.
Total Ascent
229ft (70m)
Map
OL30 Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Areas (Wensleydale & Swaledale)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Hawes - Haylands Bridge - Sedbusk - Simonstone - Hardraw - Haylands Bridge - Hawes
Parking
We started from the Caravan Site just outside Hawes however this is just a short stroll from the town where there is plenty of parking.
Mileage
3.5 miles
Terrain
Farmland, tracks & quiet lanes
Weather
Sunny and warm - perfect.
Time Taken
2hrs 35mins including an hour stop at the Simonstone Hotel.
Total Ascent
229ft (70m)
Map
OL30 Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Areas (Wensleydale & Swaledale)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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GPX File
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Route Map
Drumaldrace & Wether Fell from Hawes
From the Caravan Site the route heads along the road towards Hawes to then turn right at the junction ahead
Entering the road junction the Pennine Way is joined on the right and transits over field paths towards Haylands Bridge
After crossing Haylands Bridge the route leaves Brunt Acres Road to head over fields towards Sedbusk
Crossing a lovely old packhorse bridge as we continue to Sedbusk
Another good view of Drumaldrace & Wether Fell
Indignant looks from the locals as we cross their manor
Approaching the tiny hamlet of Sedbusk
Before reaching Sedbusk the path rises quite steeply to pass these 2 feed barns
Looking back down the sharp rise to the first of the feed barns
Reaching the road a sign points the way to Simonstone
From the signpost the path crosses a field diagonally to a wall stile then heads to the left across several fields
To the right is High Clint
The route continues across fields to pass through several highly sprung gates which stand ready to trap the unwary.
Arriving in Simonstone. The route now heads towards Hardraw (spelt incorrectly on the sign for some reason) however we were going to proceed off path for a welcome beverage in the grounds of the Hotel.
The extremely plush Simonstone Hotel. Staying here is way out of our price bracket and the cost of drinks was one of those eyebrow raising "Jesus Christ" moments. However we were on holiday therefore why not? The Simonstone, whilst a very nice place is not without its share of incident notably when in March 2015 an allegedly drunken Jeremy Clarkson assaulted Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon. Apparently the fisticuffs happened because poor old Jezza could not get any hot scran and therefore took it out on poor old Oisin on the patio to the left of shot.
Fudge waits patiently for his Mum to come back from the bar with the drinks muttering "you'll never guess how much these were"
A pint of excellent but very expensive Scrumpy - but what an evening and what a view.
Fudge sits on the wall and soaks it all in
Mrs W and Fudge - Angie had just about recovered from her "open purse surgery" and was starting to smile again.
Heading down to Hardraw as dusk draws in
The sun sets as we continue down to Hardraw
The ornate bench near Hardraw in memory of Lawrence Dewes from Hawes who was tragically killed in April 2019 aged just 25.
The Green Dragon in Hardraw. As of 2021 it is under new management and we enjoyed a lovely meal here the following day. The famous waterfall can be visited and the entrance is just around the corner through a turnstile (there is a charge to visit). Both the artist J M W Turner and the poet William Wordsworth visited the waterfall and both men stayed at the pub. The falls were also used as a location in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in the scene where Maid Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) catches Robin Hood (Kevin Costner) bathing under the waterfall (I wonder if they shelled out £4 each to get in).
Made me chuckle
The lychgate to St Mary & St John's Church in Hardraw................
......... and the church itself
Opposite the pub the route returns to the Pennine Way heading back towards Hawes
For those that are familiar with this area you will probably be aware of the popular Sheep Dog demonstrations that take place weekly near Haylands Bridge. We had a chat with a local near this spot who informed us that the annotated painted stones were in memory of the Sheep Dogs that formed part of the demonstrations over the years.
The flagged pathways so indicative on many of the routes over farmland in the Dales
Big woolly ones they were
No explanation needed
The River Ure and Haylands Bridge
A closer view of Haylands Bridge
Sunset and what a cracker it is. Looks like the sky is on fire.