Many of us choose to carry a phone to record our runs. While phones have improved over the past few years, batteries are not guaranteed to last when running GPS navigation apps, and especially in cold conditions. In addition, they should always be carried in a waterproof pouch.
When reccying the routes, the single most useful piece of navigational equipment was a print out of a digital map, with the route highlighted, which was placed in a polypocket or map case to prevent it from getting wet and the ink running. This was always in my hand. It was easy to fold up into something small enough to carry, and it did not matter if it got a bit scrunched or dirty. Having it at hand meant I often referred to it, unlike the full-scale map in my rucksack, which seldom came out. Frequent referencing meant I was quicker to notice if I went off route, reducing the chance of getting lost.
Maps and navigation aids: a map in a polypocket is simple and effective
Safety and mountain rescue
A runner is responsible for their own safety as they move through the mountains. There are a few precautions that should always be taken to minimise the chance of a small slip or slight navigational error escalating into a larger incident.
First, always carry the appropriate level of kit for the run. It is also important to recognise when you should put on that waterproof jacket or hat and gloves. Many runners on longer runs find that they can keep going the extra distance, while all the time their bodies may be cooling down if the weather conditions are poor. Runners need to be aware of the causes and effects of hypothermia and how to prevent it.
Running regularly inevitably means you are likely to have a small slip or take a tumble at some point. How you respond to these incidents is important in preventing the situation getting worse. To begin with, check you are ok to carry on. Do you need to take a shorter route back to the start? Consider walking for a few minutes to give your body time to settle down; or, if need be, walk all the way back. Consider putting on extra clothing. If the injury is serious and you cannot continue, then consider calling mountain rescue. Call 999, ask for the police and inform them that you need mountain rescue. They will ask you to provide some basic information: current location – preferably a description with place names and a six-figure grid reference; the nature of the injury; and your details. Although phone coverage in the Dales has improved over the years, you are not guaranteed to get a good signal. If your phone reads ‘emergency calls only’, your 999 call will ‘roam’ to another network, enabling you to reach the Police; however, please be aware that no one will be able to ring you back. In this situation call 999 again ten minutes later, so that someone with local area knowledge may be able to clarify your initial information. Also consider sending a text message (which is more likely to work than a voice call) to someone who is able to help.
Remember, mountain rescue teams are staffed by unpaid volunteers who will leave their jobs and families to respond to a call-out. Always consider whether you really need their help. If your smartphone signal is strong enough to send data, a mountain rescue team can use the SARLOC system to pinpoint your location if you follow their texted instructions. Runners can register their phones with www.emergencysms.org.uk, which allows text messages to be sent and received in areas where mobile phone network coverage is poor. If you have an accident and cannot move, blow your whistle six times in succession each minute; this is the internationally recognised distress call for requesting help.
All the above becomes more important if running solo. Before setting out on a run, a sensible precaution would be to leave a route description and estimated finish time with someone, with instructions on what to do if you are not back, or in contact, by a certain time. But make sure you remember call them to say you’re safe.
The weather can affect run times and conditions considerably. Accurate weather forecasts are available from many sources. A good starting point would be either the Mountain Weather Information Service (www.mwis.org.uk) or the Met Office (www.metoffice.gov.uk). The weather in the mountains can be much more severe than many runners from outside the area are used to. Combined with the minimalistic nature of running clothing, it can potentially have a greater impact on runners than walkers. Always carry additional clothing and be prepared to modify your route if weather conditions change for the worse.
Cattle, not usually high on any safety list, can occasionally cause problems in the Dales, generally in early spring when bullocks are let out of their winter barns on to the spring pastures. These giddy beasts can stampede, and cows with calves may pose a greater risk if they feel their calves are threatened. Consider using an alternative route to avoid them. This potential threat is much more pronounced when running with a dog. Dogs should be kept on a short lead, and if the cows approach aggressively, let go of the lead, as the cattle see the dog as a threat. The cows will chase the dog, which can out run them; runners probably not.
Giddy cattle
Using this guide
The forty runs follow an arc from Skipton in the south through the southern Dales, ending at Arkengarthdale in the northern Dales. Most runs are a mixture of trail and fell, with a few runs being solely one or the other.
The runs are split into four areas.
The south-west Dales and Three Peaks
This area is typically mountainous, with some of the mountains being quite rocky. The hills are criss-crossed by a good network of footpaths, tracks and bridleways. Being the most popular area of the Dales, it caters to a wide range of outdoor sports, including running, caving, paragliding, mountain biking and cycling, as well as to tourists who visit the area for the scenery. The area is served by the popular towns and villages of Settle, Horton in Ribblesdale and Ingleton.
The north-west Dales and Howgills
This area is also mountainous, but the mountains are grassier and rounder in nature, while the Howgills are noted for their steepness. It has a more remote atmosphere, and although there are paths and tracks, some of them require greater concentration to follow; additionally, there are fewer signposts. The towns and villages of Sedbergh, Dent, Ravenstonedale and Tebay serve this area.
Outstanding running in the Howgills (Route 15)
The north-east Dales, Swaledale and Wensleydale
This area contains fewer mountains but has excellent running terrain, with some of the best trail-running in the Dales. The two dales are rich in human history, especially in terms of lead mining. While the valleys are popular with tourists, the hills have relatively few visitors. This is especially true of the northern moorland section. Rights of way are marked on the map – although they are often small and indistinct on the ground. A good degree of self-reliance and navigational ability, therefore, is needed in poor weather. The area is served by the towns and villages of Hawes, Reeth and Leyburn.
The south-east Dales and Wharfedale
This very popular area features a mix of mountain and valley runs on mainly good paths and tracks. Wharfedale and its subsidiary valleys display the classic limestone scenery that the Dales is famous for, one of the highlights being Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, which regularly appear in television shows on the Dales. The area is served by the towns and villages of Grassington, Malham, Kettlewell and Skipton.
The Pendragon to Skipton Ultra
Most of the runs in this book can be readily achieved in a day. To provide a stiffer challenge the Pendragon to Skipton Ultra is a route designed to be spread over 1, 2 or 3 days depending on the runner. In this book, the ultra is described across three legs, which are described seperately as Route 19, Route 29 and Route 40. The route is not waymarked separately although sections of it follow Lady Anne’s Way, the Pennine Way and the