Day 11 Richmond to Danby Wiske

23.6kms (224.3kms) 89 m gained

This was a long day over flat often muddy farmland. We are walking on public "right of ways" that have been established by common law and often in use for a thousand years. Sometimes they are a metre wide with a crop on one side and a drainage ditch on the other.

Great views from along the river Swale as we leave Richmond and Swaledale (valley)

Lunch by the river

We had a drink and dinner in the local pub. Our host at our B and B, across the road from the pub, said he only serves meals to walkers and he is hardly ever open in winter. The locals had to sit outside and could only order drinks and crisps! A pity, the pub is after all the social centre in these small villages.

A few days ago we walked for an hour with a local from Muker in Swaledale. He was an eminent Oncologist (semi retired and working from home) and he was part of a committee to crowd fund the re-opening of their pub. They had 300 pledges and were also hoping to gain a grant from their local member ( Rishi Sunak). The next pub we visited in Gunnerside was also community owned since re-opening in January.

Talk again tomorrow!