In March 2007
my wife, Gemma, and I (John) set off to
walk the Herriot Way. I became aware of the route when I met a couple
near Thwaite who were walking it when I was travelling in the other
direction on the Penine Way in 2005. It is a circular walk which takes
in Wensleydale and Swaledale and is normally completed in four days. We
split it into 5 sections in order that we could travel to and from
North Yorkshire on days 1 and 5. This required 4 overnight stops at
B&Bs, which I booked in advance, and had the advantage of a
shortish leg on the first day. Although many would consider this not as
a 'Long Distance Walk', if you have never been out walking for more
than a day at a time (as was the case with Gemma) then it provides for
a good introduction to LDWs. It is not a National Trail and is not
therefore marked on Ordnance Survey maps but does follow rights of way.
Part of the route coincides with the Penine Way (from Hawes to Keld)
and part with the Coast to Coast (from Keld to Reeth). The walk itself
is generally easy going although it does take in Great Shunner Fell
which at 716m (2349ft) is one of the highest peaks in the Yorkshire
Dales.
