Hiya David. Glad you had a good day and a great walk. It’s a fantastic area to explore because it’s so chock full of history.
Regarding the footpath ccontinuation from Willam Gill: I had the same problems as you. Twice I’ve looked for the footpath heading onwards to Tan Hill. On the first occasion I climbed a steep bank up the gill side where I reckoned the footpath should have been and tramped through heathery moor. The second time I followed a bit of a track, and wwhen this petered out I just blundered on. I don’t think either was the route shown on the map. But after half a mile or so there is a vague path which passes a cairn on the crown of the moor, aand then another vague path to the pub. There was a nasty section which cut dowwn into a peaty grike, if I recall correctly.
Hope this is of some help. All the best, Alen

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Thank you for your comment, Alan. Had Adjustment Ground or The Disputes lain within the lead-mining area then I would have suggested that the name did indeed originate in a legal wrangle over mineral rights. But it doesn’t; it lies several miles to the west of the nearest lead mine. The nearest workings are the hilltop collieries, none of which extends to the area in question. The name occupies a basin of moorland where no mineral workings (certainly not commercially viable workings) can be found. It may well be that the dispute took place at a time before the extent of the veins was known and the participants were taking a gamble on future reserves. If this is the case then I stand by my original statement. “I haven’t a clue where these strange names originate”.
I’m inclined to agree with you on the Ellie Harrison programme. It was very shallow and disappointing.
Regards, Alen

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THE DEMISE OF THE LEAD INDUSTRY IN SWALEDALE AND ARKENGARTHDATE Bv Lawrence Barker,

Some of the underground workings were enormously complex. At one time it was possible to enter levels in Gunnerside Gill and, via crosscuts and waygates, to pass through the Surrender Mines and emerge at the mouth of Old Moulds Level in Arkengarthdale, a total distance of seven and a half miles. This pattern of small, isolated mines operated by partnerships of a few miners continued until the 17th century, when the boom in the industry brought in a number of mining entrepreneurs ??? men such as Dr. John Bathurst, physician to Oliver Cromwell, and his grandson, Charles, who mined much of the Arkengarthdale area. Lord Wharton, and later Lord Pomfret, also belong to this period, a period which also saw the rise of the larger mining companies, such as the London Lead Company. There were several disputes over mineral rights, particularly since the seventeenth century. A notable one was between Philip 4h Lord Wharton and John Bathhurst in the mid 1670’s over the boundary of the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale estates at Wet Shaw (later Surrender mines), a particularly rich mining area. The initial case was found in Bathhurst’s favour. A recurrence of the dispute took place in 1699. the result of which, after several more years, was finally resolved in Thomas, the 5h Lord Wharton’s favour.

A close reading of the numerous works by Arthur Raistrick,over and above those on making tracks might prove to be a very sold launch from the shoreline out into the vast ocean of ignorance with which we are all confronted. Someone recently sent me a copy of Ellie Harrison splashing around in this way at Tan Hill in a BBC programme Secret Britain – this episode was so appalling I could hardly believe my eyes and ears. I hope no one does this kind of song and dance over my grave!

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Hi Mavis. Thanks for your comment. What a great tale. I had a feeling the track had been more substantial at one time and had perhaps been paved. You get a feel for these things after a few years of tramping over moors. I, too, had not been aware of the bowl beneath Annaside Edge, and I was very impressed with the views and the way the path hugs the very rim as it makes its way round. That was completely unexpected.
I see Green Tracks on the Pennines is an Arthur Raistrick book and you can still get hold of copies, so I shall look into acquiring one. It’s a book I’ve not heard of before, though I have seen other books by Raistrick.
I walked over Kitley to Faggergill a few months back. It’s a beautiful area, but I bet those cottages were draughty and grim in your grandfather’s day.
All the best, Alen

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My heart went out to Madonna, with her privacy being invaded by all those screaming crowds in boots and waterproofs. If I remember correctly, Jeremy Clarkson had a similar run-in after buying a house that had a footpath running through its grounds. It’s a cruel world when you can’t get away from the people who contribute to your wealth.

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‘Unnecessary trouble’? Finding it hard to put my finger on what that might be. I understand his concerns, who wants to see Marxists picnicking on the grouse moor?
I recall all those wild, accusatory claims that were pushed out in the more than willing Rothermere/Black/Murdoch papers. My favourite was their concern for Madonna’s wellbeing on her estate in Wiltshire – they even printed a handy stalkers guide in the form of an arial photo of Madonna’s house. Obviously, had nothing to do with Rothermere’s estate just down the road.
All the best, Paul

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Hi Paul. Tory MP Nicholas Soames wrote in the Telegraph on August (the Glorious) 12th five years ago: “I bridled strongly when Labour introduced their Right to Roam, fearing that it would be misused by the hard Left to stir up unnecessary trouble in the countryside.” Give him his due, he admitted he had been wrong and that the legislation had worked for the good of all, but I think his attitude was typical of most landed types at that time. Quite what he thought the “hard Left” was going to get up to I have no idea.
All the best, Alen

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I remember the ’emotional’ response from the landed gentry, and their friends in the NFU and CLA, to the idea that other human beings might walk on open country when Countryside and Rights of Way Act was being debated. Can’t imagine the response if it had included turbary rights as well – actually I can imagine the response.

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Hi Mike. I like the idea of the air rifles. That sounds much more sporting.
I had not heard anything about the access/tax relief scheme so that one’s a bit of an eye-opener for me. Thanks very much for providing the link. I’ve just had a quick look at the site to see what it’s all about, and I shall return for a more leisurely look later.
Cheers now, Alen

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