Gipsy Bank, Wolfscote Dale and Narrow Dale

We were back to Alstonefield this week and parked in the free car park where the car boot is held every last Sunday of the month.
This was a completely different walk to last weeks. When we arrived it was drizzling and quite miserable compared to the heatwave we've had. We sheltered for a while and then set off towards Gipsy Bank and the river Dove in Wolfscotedale. A steady walk out of the village and down a farm track, over a couple of fields and onto Gipsy Bank. Gipsy Bank is a decent of over 300 feet down to the river Dove via a series of hundreds of steps. Geoff was struggling with his knee's and he was very glad to get to the bottom. It was a lovely stroll along by the river seeing lots of birds, even a heron. The walk through Narrow Dale was amazing just grass on both sides of the steep sided dale. and the route back to the car was a steady climb but not really noticeable.

This is Frank Mottram he has lived in this house all his life.

Thought we were seeing things when we came face to face with an 8 foot tall dinosaur 

Ike & Rob sheltering from the rain.

Baby calf feeding.

This looks like an old trackway

Gipsy Bank with great views down the Dale

Views on the way down to the river Dove

Views on the way down to the river Dove

Views on the way down to the river Dove

Me with Wolfscotedale in the background.

Geoff coming down the Gipsy Bank steps

Views on the way down to the river Dove

Geoff with Wolfscotedale in the background

Footbridge over the Dove with the old stepping stones alongside it.

Geoff, Rob & Ike

The river Dove running through Wolfscotedale

The river Dove running through Wolfscotedale

The river Dove running through Wolfscotedale

The river Dove running through Wolfscotedale

A dipper sitting on a rock 

The river Dove running through Wolfscotedale

The 4 of us after breakfast

Rob & Ike

We came across this old Lister  stationary engine in the middle of Narrow Dale

You can see where the Narrow Dale name comes from

Thirsty work

Rob & Geoff checking the position on the map

Me at the Alstonfield Green Well

Rob at the Alstonfield Green Well

The Green Well was the main supply of water to the villagers until about the mid 1800's until a couple of reservoirs were built and the water was then taken from a pump which is still in the village.

Village pump

This was another cracking walk taking us through 2 different dales, Wolfscotedale and Narrow Dale with a short hop into Beresford Dale. This was just over 6 miles with some beautiful views especially coming down Gipsy Bank. The river has numerous weirs which were originally put in for fishing probably over 400 years ago. Roll on next week
Cheers