Langthwaite: The Path to Nowhere and a Muddy Landing

My latest walk in Langthwaite, Richmondshire, was a classic tale of two halves. It started as one of the most peaceful walks I’ve done and ended with me wondering how I’d managed to find a dead end in the middle of a moor.

A Peaceful Start

The route began with a beautiful stretch along the river. It was a little muddy underfoot, but nothing too dramatic. The sound of the small waterfalls along the way made the whole atmosphere incredibly calm—exactly the kind of peaceful POV walk I love.

The Dead End

As I pushed further along the river, things took a turn. The path simply started to disappear. I eventually found myself at a safety fence (the kind meant to keep people from falling) that led absolutely nowhere. It was a total dead end.

Not wanting to turn back, I had to climb over. It wasn't elegant—there was a lot of hanging on and hoping for the best—but I managed to haul myself over and push through the shrubs into the open fields beyond.

High Winds & Cold Rain

The higher I climbed, the more the weather decided to test me. A freezing combo of wind and rain blew through just as I was most exposed. In the Dales, that wind-chill is no joke!

The "Unwitnessed" Wipeout

Once the rain cleared, I started the descent back down. The wet ground finally got the better of me, I lost my footing and ended up sliding right onto my backside. Luckily, the hills were empty, so nobody saw my less-than-graceful landing!

After a final steep climb back to the car, I’m left with mixed feelings. It was tricky and a bit of a struggle in places, but the views were still great. I just wish I’d come back with cleaner trousers!