BOOTboys

BB2416 : Goodbye Occupation Road

Thursday 16th May 2024

I know it's daft but I couldn't help thinking about Elton John.

You may remember that at one time he was Chairman of Watford Football Club.

You probably remember that one of his biggest hits was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

So popular was he that the town changed the name of the street on which the ground is situated to Yellow Brick Road.

What had it been called previously? Occupation Road and that's where were going today. Not the Watford one but the one in Dentdale though it seems likely that the names had the same origins.

The Occupation Road above Dent is in effect the access track through lands that had been partitioned into large fields for grazing following the Parliamentary Enclosures Act. The road itself is much older, being the droving route between Barbondale and Kingsdale (near Ingleton).

It was Robin who mentioned Occupation Road. I hadn't heard of it though we had previously travelled part of it, heading south from above Dent, on BB2327. On the OS map it's just called Green Lane. Robin's plan was to head north this time.

To reach Occupation Road we walked through Dent. It seemed somewhat strange that next to the Zion Chapel is the Congregational Manse followed by the Methodist Manse.

As before when alongside the beck we stepped onto the Dancing Stones. However, this we time didn't venture far- the recent rain had left them exceedingly slippery.

So much so that I must have wobbled when I took the photo, judging by its lack of clarity despite the best efforts of Photoshop.

Instead, we followed the regular path, passing the Wishing Tree (and its siblings) where you are asked not to insert coins as they can kill the tree, though why there should be a problem escapes me. Does Dent have no enterprising young children to remove them?

We emerged at the tiny farming museum barn then, a little further on, the viewpoint with its orientation panel.

On reaching the Occupation Road we turned right, heading towards the Barbondale Road. In the far distance we could see Megger Stones that we had visited last time here.

Ahead of us were the slopes of The Calf, on which were some remarkable stone walls built, centuries ago, on impossibly steep terrain. Robin reckoned that the stones had been taken up by horses. How they coped with the terrain baffles me.

We said Goodbye to the Occupation Road and continued north, looking back at the upper reaches off Dentdale....

..... then down a lovely path to and past Combe House.

At Dillicar Farm a really ugly brute of a dog, (was it a cross between a Border Collie and a Pit Bull?) had a go at Holly before being called back by its owners. What a tip of a farm. We should have listened to Mike who had wanted to take the road route. Poor sheep.

Down at the river was the perfect lunch stop. The sun came out and Martin donned his mirrored, magnetic sunglasses, bought so that he could admire young ladies without being suspected.

We then followed the Dales Way, noting the many small plaques marking the route.

Eventually we reached Dent.

It's an ancient village, looking very much like a film set.

Unfortunately neither of pubs were open. Consequently we had to jump into the cars and finish our outing in the usual fashion in a wild flowers beer garden in Sedbergh. I suppose you could call the drive to the Black Bull as us our way of saying Goodbye Occupation Road!

Don, Thursday 16th May 2024

Comitibus:

Robin (+Holly), Mike, Martin, Don

Map: Hug map level 9

STATISTICS	BB2416 : Goodbye Occupation Road
Date:	Thursday 16th May 2024
Features:	Occupation Road, Dent
Distance in miles:	7.9
Height climbed in feet:	945
GPX track:	BB2416.gpx
Comitibus:	Don, Martin, Mike, Robin (+ Holly)

Smiling Along

Engraved on the orientation panel is this poem by Kathleen Partridge

Roaming the byways outside the great city
The sky seems too large for my little concerns
Worries are lost in the green of the landscapes
A sense of wellbeing and wonder returns

A good wholesome breese sweeps the frown from my forehead
Here is simplicity fragrant and free;
It is enough to be living this minute
To feel and to hear, to think and to see

My values of living take on a fresh aspect,
With every green leaf that I notice unfurled,
Roaming the byways is good as a tonic,
I come home renewed to the work-a-day world.

Do you have any comments or questions?

If so, please click on . We look forward to hearing from you. If you do NOT want your comments to appear on this website, please say so otherwise we will assume that we have your permission for publication in whatever responsible manner we consider appropriate. Alternatively you can leave a comment on Facebook.

If you would like to become a BOOTboys Follower click on to let us know and you will receive automatic notification of new reports.

For the index pages of our various earlier outings click on the relevant link below:

Home	BB04	BB05	BB06	BB07	BB08	BB09	BB10	BB11	BB12	BB13	BB14
BB15	BB16	BB17	BB18	BB19	BB20	BB21	BB22	BB23	BB24		Archive

Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.
I apologised if I have failed to acknowledge properly the source or infringed copyright.
Please let me know and I will do my best to put things right.
Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.

BOOTboys2024

E-mail addresses on this web Site are protected by Email Riddler

Spam Trawlers will be further frustrated by Spam Blocker: help fight Spam e-mail!