Walking the Wharfe : An ode to a Yorkshire river

Johno Ellison, a seasoned globetrotter and record-breaker, embarks on a nostalgic journey along the River Wharfe, the Yorkshire waterway of his youth. In his latest Bradt offering, 'Walking the Wharfe', Ellison follows in the footsteps of Victorian scribe Edmund Bogg, scrutinising the evolution of the riverscape and its denizens over the past 120 years. His expedition, peppered with wild camping, encounters with modern-day Vikings, spectral wartime figures, and the intrepid 'Dales Dippers', serves up a veritable smorgasbord of English history and culture.

Setting off from the Vale of York, Ellison's upstream trek uncovers the region's Viking and Roman heritage, alongside more recent events such as Tadcaster's calamitous bridge collapse in 2015. He delves into the proliferation of Victorian spa towns, ponders the Industrial Revolution's impact, and revels in the resurgence of rare wildlife, including red kites and otters, thanks to successful conservation efforts.

As he traverses the Yorkshire Dales National Park, partly along the Dales Way long-distance footpath, Ellison finds himself bewitched by local lore of giants, trolls, and witches. He's lured into a bracing wild swim - though wisely avoiding the Strid, a notoriously lethal section of the Wharfe - before seeking sanctuary in a candlelit pub during a power-cutting tempest. His ascent culminates with insights from a five-generation farming family and the discovery of the Wharfe's trickling source amidst vast, boggy moorland.

This captivating travelogue is essential reading for nature enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and aficionados of English history and culture. Yorkshire residents and devotees will find it particularly enthralling, as will Dales Way ramblers. By masterfully weaving personal connections with journalistic inquisitiveness and a knack for storytelling, 'Walking the Wharfe' demonstrates that even the less-trodden paths of Britain can rival the world's most celebrated tourist destinations.

Product Information:

Book ISBN:	9781804691106
Book Weight:	280g