Danby Dale and Castleton Rigg

Six and a half miles with 210 metres of climbing, roughly three hours, along the whaleback of Castleton Rigg and back down through the field paths and stiles of Danby Dale; the ridge is exposed and the dale bottom stays soft into early summer. Start in Castleton village, which has roadside parking and a station on the Esk Valley line at the foot of the hill. There is little water on the ridge so carry some, several of the dale stiles are the narrow squeeze sort that a big dog will need lifting over, and leads are required on the open moor from 1 March to 31 July as well as through the grazed fields lower down.