The Old Coal Road runs between Cowgill in Dentdale and Garsdale high up in the Yorkshire Dales.
There were twenty-five coal pits which formed part of the extensive coal workings and lay on the moorland either side of it. These coal pits were worked by local people, initially to produce domestic fuel, but by the 18th century, the poor quality coal was also being used in lime kilns. Commercial coal mining went on in Garsdale until the 1870s when the Settle-Carlisle railway started bringing in cheaper, higher quality coal from the Lancashire and West Yorkshire coalfields.
If you aren't adversed to a bit of road walking then I should imaging a trip up on the Settle-Carlisle train, getting off at Dent Station and then walking up to Garsdale Head (or Hawess Junction as it was once known), would be a grand day out. For good measure it should include a couple of pints in The Moorcock Inn before getting the train back down.
On Garsdale station stands a statue of Ruswarp, a collie. Ruswarp belonged to Graham
Nuttall, the first Secretary of the Friends of the Settle–Carlisle Line,
which was formed to campaign against the proposed closure of the line.
Ruswarp's paw print was put on his own objection as a fare-paying
passenger. The line was finally saved in 1989. In January 1990 Nuttall
and Ruswarp went missing in the Welsh
mountains and on 7 April 1990 a lone walker found Nuttall's body, by a
mountain stream. Nearby was Ruswarp, so weak that the 14 year old dog
had to be carried off the mountain. He had stayed with his master's body
for 11 winter weeks. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
awarded Ruswarp their Animal Medallion and collar for 'vigilance' and
their Animal Plaque for 'intelligence and courage'. The brave dog survived long
enough to attend Nuttall's funeral.
From Garsdale station I took the road to Hawes and then came back over the tops to Kettlewell where I finished an excellent day off with a pint in the Blue Bell Inn.
 |
| Dentdale |
 |
| Dent Head Viaduct |
 |
| Dentdale |
 |
| Dentdale |
 |
| Raven above Dentdale |
 |
| Arten Gill Viaduct |
 |
| Dent Station |
 |
| Dent Station |
 |
| Dent Station |
 |
| Dent Station |
 |
| Dent Station |
 |
| Clock on Dent Station |
 |
| Above Garsdale |
 |
| Above Garsdale |
 |
| Lichen |
 |
| Lichen |
 |
| Old Coal Road |
 |
| Old Coal Road |
 |
| Ruswarp |
 |
| Ruswarp |
 |
| Ruswarp plaque |
 |
| Garsdale Head Station |
 |
| Garsdale Head Station |
 |
| Near Garsdale Head Station |
 |
| Blue Bell Inn Kettlewell. |
Love the story about the dog........imagine! He stayed out there in the cold for eleven weeks beside his owner.
ReplyDeleteI love this set Norman. I'd love a ride on a train again!
Never been on one here...
Kathleen
Bird in picture is a Jackdaw I think, not a Raven
ReplyDelete