Possible routes through the Dales

It is difficult to tell how Fox chose his route through the Dales. He mentions only a few people — James Tennant, a kinsman of John Blaikling's, Major Bousfield — which suggests he was not depending on personal contacts, as in the next stage of his journey. It also seems likely that he would have gone through fairly populated places in his mission to warn and exhort people to repent.

The 17th-century route from Skipton to Richmond via Wensleydale goes up Wharfedale to Kettlewell, then across to Coverdale towards Middleham: see orange route in Google Map below. (Route based on Ogilby, 1675.) But First Publishers says that he did not stay overnight in Wensleydale ‘that is remembered’, which suggests a quick raid into Askrigg rather than a long walk from Middleham.

If Fox followed the Wharfedale route, he could have continued up to Langstrothdale and Scar House (yellow route) where he stayed with and convinced James Tennant and his family.

If this took place before his visit to Askrigg, he could have carried on over the tops to Raydale and Semerwater, and on to Bainbridge and Askrigg (turquoise route), as suggested by David and Anthea Boulton.¹ The lefthand branch would however have taken him past Countersett, and he did not meet Richard Robinson then: Robinson was convinced by what he had heard of Fox.

It seems likely that at some point he would have used the major route provided by the Roman road, Cam High Road, from Bainbridge to Ribblesdale (purple route). This joins the current B6255 at Far Gearstones. Gearstones Inn, a few yards down the road, was a thriving cattle mart for drovers.

He seems to have entered Dentdale from the head, and left it possibly at Cowgill to go across into Garsdale, and thence up Grisedale. It seems likely he would have used Galloway Gate, a medieval main transport route.

However, it cannot be stressed too much that the chronology of his journey, and the route he followed are uncertain.

For authoritative information on the old roads of this area, see www.outofoblivion.org.uk

Use the controls on the image to zoom in and move around the map.
It is in Terrain mode to give a better sense of the topography of the Dales.

1.     David and Anthea Boulton In Fox’s Footsteps (Dent: Dales Historical Monographs, 1998) pages 61–94.    Return