Yorkshire Dales Walks
Rise Hill
Date: 4th October 2004
Distance: 12.7 miles
Ascent: 1748 feet
Time: Too long ago to remember!
With: Lisa
Start Grid Ref: SD704870
Walk Summary:
A long walk covering nearly the length of Dentdale and visiting the summit of Rise Hill which dominates the northern side of the valley.
Route Summary: Dent - Barth Bridge - Lunds - Rise Hill - Snaizwold Fell - High Ellershaw Edge - Cowgill - Dales Way - Dent
Pictures:
1. Looking back at the village of Dent
2. Lisa with Great Coum behind her
3. Lisa on Rise Hill backed by the Howgill Fells
4. By the trig point on Rise Hill
5. Looking south to Deepdale and Great Whernside
6. A view of eastern Garsdale
7. Dent Station on the slopes of Great Knoutberry Hill
8. Lisa descending Snaizwold Fell
Walk Detail: Due to heavy rain in the morning we did not set out from our cottage in Dent until about 11am when the sun began to break through. We initially ran into some problems by the river Dee where some of the streams running into the river had flooded sections of the Dales Way which meant that we had to double back and follow the road to Barth Bridge. From there we started climbing up towards the western flank of Rise Hill along some steep though pleasant lanes.
Eventually we arrived where the footpath proper turned west for Sedburgh. This was a good spot for taking photos, particularly of the Howgill Fells and indeed Rise Hill as a whole offers excellent views of the larger fells surrounding it. We turned east and followed the wall all the way up to the summit.
It was a long hard slog particularly for Lisa and we encountered a few boggy areas although it probably seemed worse due to all the standing water from the heavy rainfall. Eventually we reached the trig on the summit of Rise Hill, which is marked on the map and generally known as Aye Gill Pike.
After lunch we continued our march along the ridge continuing to enjoy the views. The eastern end of Rise Hill is known as Snaizwold Fell and the ground underfoot changed quite dramatically as the underlying limestone became more prominent. This area provided some good views of Garsdale looking west back towards the Howgills.
From Snaizwold Fell we descended a somewhat wet but nevertheless delightful bridleway which led down to Cowgill. Along the way we got excellent views of Dent Station, Artengill Viaduct, Whernside, Crag Hill and Dentdale itself.
From Cowgill we followed the Dales Way all the way back to Dent along some nice riverside paths and also through some extremely dark woods. We were a little concerned about getting home before dark as the walk was longer than expected but in the end we made it with time to spare.
This was the first time Lisa and I had done a proper hill walk together. Despite the pain her knee gave her and her often slow pace climbing Lisa really enjoyed the walk. As for myself it was a special day for me to be able to share with my wife the joyous and life-affirming experience of hill walking in the Dales.
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