Rise Hill from Dent
Walk 15 - Rise Hill [556m] from Dent - 9 miles - 4.5 hours - Whilst starting at Dent access can easily be gained from Ribblehead using the train [one stop] and the Dent Station - Dent Village bus link which is timed to fit in with the morning train service arriving in Dent at about 1030 - This is an excellent service which continues to Kendal via Sedbergh. There is a return service to Dent station leaving Dent village at about 1515 although the timetable should,be consulted. However for the present purposes only the outward bus service is required. Note: this would be 14 miles if the bus service is not used.
From Dent village walk towards Cowgill for a short distance crossing the river. After the bridge turn left crossing a field eventually to emerge at a minor road. Turn left along the road [toward Sedbergh] for a short distance and turn right up a vehicle track passing Low Hall to the rear of High Hall. From hear pass diagonally through five fields [using map] before crossing a minor track. Continue across a further four fields to reach another track and Hining Hall. The track here veers right along a beck progressing uphill all the way. Eventually after veering left the path joins a further track. This can then be followed across pasture with the wall on the left until the crest of the hill is reached.
Upon reaching the crest of the hill cross through the gate in the wall and turn right following the top of the hill all of the way with the wall on the right. This continues upwards crossing several collapsed walls until the the first and principle summit of Ayegill Pike is reached [556m]. Some negotiation of fences is required near the top but otherwise the path is fairly good. The trig point is on the right of the wall. The path continues to the left of the wall across Rise Hill and Little Snaizewold Fell. Eventually the path follows the edge of a forest crossing to the other side of the wall and dropping down to Black Hill Moss. Crossing the fence turn right. Unfortunately the path down to Cowgill has been turned into an off-road rut! However after a while the going improves emerging at the bottom of the valley at the dent - Cowgill road. Rather annoyingly the platform of Dent Station is seen but is in accessible due to a ravine in the way. It is necessary to plod all the way up from the road to the the station above, hopefully to meet the train.
If running late on the return to Dent Station the Sportsmans Inn about 1/2 mile from the bridge at Lea Yeat might be an alternative source of refreshment
The journey can be broken at Ribblehead [one stop] and a short trip down to the Station Inn before catching a later train
Alternatively this route could be attempted in reverse but this strategy could be risky as there is only one return bus. If this is missed then it could be a four and a half mile walk or a taxi! However there are several pubs and tea rooms in Dent in the event of time to kill.
The bus service is operated by D&H Travel [01539 730555] subsidised by Cumbria CC and runs Wednesdays and Saturdays only. This is an excellent low cost service [about 75p to Dent] and continues on to Sebergh and Kendal. The bus times at the time of writing [June 05] are 1020 depart Dent Sta and 1515 depart Dent on the return