Take a Drive
A circular drive via Ingleton
Very picturesque and a hidden part of the Dales
From Blades Cottage go to Hawes and take the B6255 road to Ingleton.
You pass by the Ribblehead viaduct, and then carry on to Ingleton.
From Ingleton turn off the main road to Thornton-in-Lonsdale and from here go onto Thornton Lane, which is opposite the Marton Arms Public house, towards Dent.
This road leads into Kingsdale.
As you go along Kingsdale to the right is Whernside, the highest mountain in Yorkshire and to the left is Gragareth the highest mountain in Lancashire.
Kingsdale turns into Deepdale and ends into the lovely Dentdale, turn right and pass Whernside Manor and follow the road to Cowgill
You will pass Dent railway Station and continue on the road known as the Coal Road, which takes you to Garsdale Railway Station.
From here it is only a short distance back to Blades Cottage.
Kingsdale / Deepdale
Circular drive via Tan Hill
Lovely drive with amazing views
(pick a clear day)
From Blades Cottage through Hardraw then turn left to Simon Stone follow the road and go over the Buttertubs Pass (Tour Du France route) and down into Swaledale.
Turn left go through the village of Thwaite and follow the road towards Keld.
Just through keld turn right this leads to West Stonesdale. Keep along this road until you reach the T junction where there is the world famous Tan Hill Inn (the highest inn in Britain).
Pass Tan Hill and follow the road all the way through Arkengarthdale and into Reeth and back into Swaledale. Turn left at Reeth and go to Grinton.
Over the river bridge and into Grinton.
Take the first turning to the right on to Swale Hall Lane, it is signposted towards Harkerside.
Keep on this single track road and eventually you will start to climb and go over the grouse moor, then back down into Wensleydale to Askrigg.
Buttertubs Pass
Circular drive via Tan Hill
A circular drive through Swaledale, Wensleydale and Wharfedale via Aysgarth Falls
From Blades Cottage through Hardraw then turn left to Simon Stone follow the road and go over the Buttertubs Pass (Tour Du France route) and down into Swaledale.
Travel down Swaledale to Reeth and onto Grinton and take the road up the hill and over the grouse moor to Redmire. Through Redmire and onto Carperby, when leaving Carperby turn left to Aysgarth and pass over the bridge near the falls.
Turn right at the Aysgarth Falls Hotel then take the first left to Thoralby, through Thoralby and join the B6160 turning right, pass the Street Head pub keep on this road and you will climb out of Wensleydale and then drop down into Wharfedale.
Pass the White Lion pub at Cray, and shortly after take the right-hand fork in the road to the George Inn at Hubberholme.
Turn right and follow the road onto Upper Wharfedale to Oughtershaw the road starts to climb out of Wharfedale at the summit passed the turning to Camm Houses you go down the steep hill of Fleet Moss and into Gayle then Hawes.
Then the usual road back to Blades
Aysgarth Falls