Rob and I came up the idea of walking the whole length of one of our favourite dales many months before we actually started it in the early autumn of 2001. The total distance from the River Wharfe's source to where it flows into the Ouse is about 70 odd miles. For much of the walk we followed part of an existing long distance path called The Dales Way. It took us through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Yorkshire Dales... not the most dramatic of landscapes in the British Isles, but grand in a gentle way.

The following pages document each days walk in pictures and words. To see an overview of the route just click on the map button below.

Unfortunately this walk was never completed as we'd set out to do it. Rob and I split up before completing the whole challenge and I never walked beyond Ilkley, where the Dales Way ends. Rob, however did complete the far end of the walk on his own. As far as I was concerned I'd walked the most beautiful part of the walk anyway and there are plenty more long distance routes to keep me busy!