Encouraged by a positive weather forecast, containing the words "sunny", "sunshine", bright" and "dry", and nagged by the dawg for a decent walk with some snow to roll about in, we headed for the tropical climes of Swaledale, although most of our walk went around the heights of Arkengarthdale, which is Swaledale with "0" levels.
Undeterred by a sign banning dogs (except of rights of way in very small print underneath), we marched boldly out of Reeth in a fine but oddly sunny drizzle (hello- sunny, dry,!) and up Skelgate, a narrow beck/lane which took us to the moor below Calver Hill.
We stuck to footpaths till about fifty metres of uphill below the top, then looking around furtively for rights of access inspectors, we dashed off up through a little snowfield to the summit cairn, enjoying the fine view and the refreshing equally fine spray blowing on a "fresh" force 5 from the West.
No time to stop for a play in the snow patches, or sit and watch the view, we dashed off along the heathery ridge to make as quick a contact with a friendly bridleway before anybody could shout "Oi, you! No dogs!"
The bridleway took us down into Arkengarthdale and to the friendly village of Langthwaite, where the door of the Red Lion prohibited dogs from the bar and asked ramblers to remove their boots and leave all their money in the care of the barman.
So we plodded on down by the river and along to Storthwaite Hall, where we hid behind the wall for a draughty and ever so slightly damp lunch.
From there, we climbed the steep zig-zaggy path up to Fremington Edge where a soggy path ducks behind a wall where the snowdrifts collect - but at least it was out of the wind.
All good things must come to an end, and, after about a mile of sploshing through soft snow mixed with slutch (Lancashire word for anything sloppy you have to walk through) - a steep road took us down the hill into Fremington and then back to Reeth.
Quite a fab walk, I thought. Weather forecast, less successful. 9 Miles, 1700 feet of up.
And Yes, the sign at the Black Bull in Reeth is upside down (see pic