26 miles and 4200' ascent from Kettlewell, via Nidderdale and Coverdale, organised by LDWA Nidderdale Group
The Walden Round takes in some beautiful Dales scenery, but you have to remember to stop and turn round to see it. The first view point is at the top of the green lane out of Kettlewell, at Cam Head. Here the route bears east to Great Whernside, over Nidd Head and down the Nidderdale valley to Scar House Reservoir. This section is into the sun so, with my sunglasses on, I can usually only see the reflection of my face on the inside of the lenses. This year I took a brimmed hat so I could see where I was going but, as it happened, I didnt need it because it was a chilly, misty morning and we were soon into the cloud.
From the reservoir it’s up over the hill and down to Coverdale then up again, and down to Waldendale. Buckden Pike now looms in the distance and, after a gruellingly steep climb, you pop over the ridge to the checkpoint at the memorial cross.
My legs started to give up at this point or, at least, the going-down-hill muscles did, and I wobbled uncertainly all the way down to Starbotton and trudged wearily up the other side of the valley till Kettlewell came back into view and inspired me to make a dash for it. As usual there was an excellent spread of cold salads to tuck into. I think the Walden round gets my award for "best post-event food".
In Kettlewell, it was the villagers’ annual scarecrow competition so we spent an interesting half-hour wandering around trying to spot them all. My favourites were the scarecrow-climber abseiling down the wall and the scarecrow-electrician up a ladder. Several scarecrows sitting outside the village hall turned out, when prodded, to be collapsed walkers.