Читать книгу The Dales Way. From Ilkley to the Lake District through the Yorkshire Dales онлайн

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After the dissolution of the monasteries, cattle and sheep rearing continued, especially among the rocky folds of south Lakeland, although there was an increasing incidence of small-scale arable farming slotted into riverside land holdings. But it was the demand for food during the 19th century that saw many farms turning to producing milk from cattle raised on the riverside pastures, and sheep on the higher ground. While agriculture in one form or another continues to be a staple of the rural economy, tourism has increasingly figured since the 18th century. This grew once the railways reached the north of England in the mid 19th century, and expanded hugely with the designation of large areas as national parks: the Lake District in 1951, and the Yorkshire Dales in 1954.

Local residents, near Yockenthwaite (Stage 3)

THE DALES WAY: ILKLEY TO BOWNESS

Old grassy track, near Crook of Lune (Stage 5)

WHARFEDALE

STAGE 1

Ilkley to Burnsall

Start Old Bridge, Ilkley (SE 112 480) Finish Burnsall Bridge (SE 032 611) Distance 13 miles (20.6km) Total ascent 1033ft (315m) Total descent 835ft (255m) Walking time 6-6½ hours Terrain An easy start to the Way, largely on good paths, tracks and lanes with no significant climbing; woodland, open pasture Accommodation Addingham, Bolton Bridge, Burnsall

This first stretch into Wharfedale presents no real challenges other than coping with a surfeit of beautiful landscapes and joyful walking. For the whole way, the River Wharfe is never far distant, and its easy-going nature is a hint to how the walking might best be undertaken: at a leisurely and gentle pace. There are no significant ascents, and for the most part the route crosses low-lying riverside farmland and woodland.