To wake up to the prospect of a fine sunny day is a delight any day, but to do so, on the first really sunny and warm day after a long and harsh winter, is something special.
The weather for the past few weeks has not been conducive to getting out and about on the many footpaths in the area, so, the opportunity for a longer walk was just too good to miss: work had to wait.
Since arriving at High Blean, in Raydale, we had wanted to walk up Bardale Head, and return on the Cam High Road, [the Roman Road] back towards Bainbridge, taking the route down towards Countersett and then onto High Blean, passing Semer Water on the way home.
We set off from High Blean and walked down through Stalling Busk to Marsett, and then out on the footpath from Marsett bridge up to Bardale Head. The first part of the route out of Marsett, follows the river and is very pretty, with some interesting small water falls, before the path turns away from the river and slowly climbs up the valley towards Bardale Head plantation.
There is a permissive path, off the official footpath, which provides access down to the river and takes the south bank to Marsett, though this is a walk to enjoy another time.
The climb towards the plantation is quite gentle until the last third of a mile when the path climbs 250ft before reaching Blind Gill.(OS: SD 873 853). A further ascent of 360ft over the next three quarters of a mile takes you to Bardale Head
The view from Bardale Head, looking down the valley towards Addleborough in the far distance and Semer Water in the middle distance made the walk even more enjoyable.
Looking down from Bardale Head.
Once we were on the Cam High Road, heading towards Wether Fell, we stopped just before the Common Allotments for our lunch, Albert & Victoria were very pleased to kick off their lunch with a segment of pork pie each then moving on to some cheese sandwich before they decided to bother with the dog biscuits they had been given.
After tea and home made ginger biscuits we set off back for the final leg home, in the knowledge that it was more or less all down hill, other than the last leg up from Semer Water to High Blean.
I would recommend this walk of around 11 miles to anyone, and it can be cut down to just under 7 miles, by parking at Marsett.
Next time we are planning to do the walk in reverse, as it will be nice to see the whole of Raydale valley, on the descent from Bardale Head.
For guests staying at High Blean B&B, Askrigg, we would be happy to provide them with a map of the route taken and some suggestions for alternatives, to make the walk shorter or longer.
