Day Ten - Reeth to Richmond - 3 May

Time Departed: 9.30am Time Arrived: 3:30pm Distance: 18 kms Cumulative Distance: 191.9 kms Percentage Completed: 59% Weather: Overcast, cold Accommodation: 16 Beechfield Rd, Richmond We had a group of seven today as Mylo and Cliff joined us. We arranged to meet at nine thirty at the B&B where Ron, Chris and Neil were staying as it was on the path out of Reeth. Ron and Chris had slept in until eight thirty-five as Chris’s mobile phone alarm went flat overnight and consequently it did not go off. However, due to a mad rush they had their bag packed just in time for Packhorse to pick it up and to join us at the prearranged time.

Today’s walk was described as the easiest of all the sections and we took it slowly. Although the weather was heavily overcast and cold it was a good day for walking. We moved away from the Swale River at Reeth and only joined it again when we arrived at Richmond. We had minor hills to cross over and the path was good with occasional mud along the way. Early on we passed Marrick Priory which was surrounded by a large working farm and an outdoor centre. Only the tower remained to suggest a twelfth century priory ever existed to accommodate Benedictine nuns.

From the priory we climbed the path through pretty Steps Wood which is the “Nun’s Causey” and still links the priory to the very tiny village of Marrick at the top of the hill. At the half way mark we reached the very sleepy village of Marske down a long descent on a minor tarmac road and it was time for lunch. There are no shops. It was here twelve years ago that a very friendly lady made our walking group a huge pot of tea and we drank it on a ledge outside her house.

There was no friendly lady today but Henk, Cliff and I sat on the same ledge with Mylo and enjoyed our lunch. Neil sat sheltered on the nearby steps and Ron and Chris sat on a bench across the road with a Canadian walking couple. When we stopped we appreciated how cold it was and it was good to keep moving. We walked high above the River Swale below Applegarth Scar and Whitcliffe Scar and it was here that we left the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The path took us through Whitcliffe Wood which was quite pretty with flowers starting to bloom. When we emerged from the wood it wasn’t long before we could see Richmond in the distance. We slowly descended into the town and passed an AA sign which recorded the solar eclipse of 1927 and the beautiful Friary Gardens. We all went our separate ways to find our accommodation. Cliff caught the bus back to Reeth to collect his car. We re-met at seven o’clock and we went to Henk’s and my favourite cheap and cheerful pub, Wetherspoons.

Ron and Chris weren’t so sure on the choice but they did enjoy the local beer. However, just to show that Ron and Chris aren’t drinking too much beer I have included a photo of the both of them enjoying a coffee at Wetherspoons! Cliff and Mylo return to Guiseley tomorrow and they will join us next week when we finish the walk.