04 September Oxen Farm to Usher Gap Swaledale

 Grey dewy start to the day. We pack up and chat (or rather listen to) our neighbour Brian tell us about his impending 96 mile cycle around the Dales for prostate cancer and all the punctures he’s been having. Eventually we manage to leave.

We head north west to arrive at Buckden in Wharfedale where we park, put on walking gear and head off towards Buckden Pike. A 4 hour circular walk, with attractive views of the Dales ending with a walk along the river wharf from Starbotton. Cup of tea in the van, rather a lot of midges here, then head off up the road that takes us to the 20-25% gradients of the pass over towards Muker. We weren’t sure whether to take this road, but the alternative was much further. In fact it’s a beautiful road, single track and steep, but with good visibility  ahead and lots of passing places. It turns out we only met two vehicles on the whole route.

We arrive at Usher Gap camp site quite a long way up Swaledale at about 4:30. Lovely site on the left by the river. Nice facilities. A bit like and Alpine hut. Pasta and roasted veg brought from home for super with a Cotes du Rhône and then it’s just us in the dark of the van with the candle,  the river gurgling, the ducks quacking.