Some time ago, when staying at the Station Inn in Ribblehead, the Landlord showed me an old OS map with the Dales Way marked as going past the pub. it then followed the path up towards Whernside and then dropped into Dentdale, meeting up with the new route near Slack/Whernside Manor.

Does anyone know which way the old route took to the south of Ribblehead initially? Was it turn left rather than right at Beckermonds and follow the road/track until it meets the Pennine Way. Folow this north until you can link up with the Ribble Way to the B6255?

If any one could help I'd be grateful as I'm looking to do this walk with an overnight stop at Ribblehead Station Inn and would like to follow the old route as closely as possible.

Thanks
Gary

Finally found an OS map that shows the 'old route'. Basically, you follow the road from Far Gearstones to the Station Inn at Ribblehead, the Whernside path by the railway before taking the right fork to Dentdale. This route reduces teh amount of roadwalking you have to do by about 2k (rough estimate).

The alternative route referred to follows what is marked on some maps as the Craven Way. Follow the path by the eastern side of Ribblehead Viaduct and then up and over the shoulder of Whernside down to Deepdale near Dent. There are some great views on this stretch and I prefer it to walking the road section down to Cowgill.