| Troller's Gill - A walk from Barden Bridge - 23rd December 2008 | |
| Today's walk starts from Barden Bridge
and follows the Dales Way north along the banks of the
River Wharfe to the small hamlet of Howgill then on
through Skyreholme to Troller's Gill. We then head s/west to the hamlet of Woodhouse where we rejoin the Dalesway and following the River Wharfe back to Barden Bridge. Distance 9.5 miles / 15.25 km. |
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| A group of walkers hurry past as we head north along the River Wharfe towads the hamlet of Howgill. |  |
| These chimney pots and metal plaques
illustrating the local wildlife add interest to the
otherwise drab garages along Howgill Lane. We stood a while, reading about the various birds and animals. Information that was to prove vital in the later part of our walk. |
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| We pass through a gate leaving Howgill
Lane and head down across the fields to Skyreholme where
we cross the beck and follow the walled path up into the
village. After following the road north for about 0.5km we reach the road junction at Middle Skyreholme and pick up a path leading to Ridge End House. |
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| Crossing the wooden bridge then immediately turning right brings us to the start of Trollerdale alongside Skyreholme Beck. |  |
| Still heading north we head up into Trollerdale. |
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| We pass
through the remains of the former Skyreholme Dam. The
dam, which supplied water for a paper mill in the
village, burst in 1899 and was never repaired. The mill
is said to have had the largest waterwheel in the North
of England. A short distance further we arrive at Troller's Gill. |
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Troller's Gill An erie limestone ravine at the head of Trollerdale said to be the haunt of Trolls and Goblins! |
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| Needless to say - we didn't linger long in Troller's Gill! |  |
| We now head south west to the small hamlet of
Woodhouse where we rejoin the Dales Way heading south
back to Barden Bridge.
As we casually strolled back alongside the riverbank we spotted a Tree Creeper - a bird that we had read about back at the garages earlier in our walk. We were fascinated by the creature and could immediately see how it got its name - rather like a sparrow in colouring, it was creeping too and fro along the trunk of a tree (in search of insects I suspect), just like a small mouse! An interesting and easy walk. All that remained now was to head for the nearest tearooms! |
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