Hey all. Just got zapped by an electric fence next to a stile. It was on the first few fields after crossing the M6 at Lambrigg Head (page 36 of Gemmel and Speakman's The Dales Way route guide.) Had turned left past the barn, walked down the lane, turned right onto the paddocks. Things went pear shaped quickly - got stuck up to my knees in the mud approaching the stile. It was in the second or third paddock after turning off the lane, and just before stepping down into the Holme Park entrance, that I reached for balance in crossing the stile and got zapped. Couldn't understand why the electric wire was there - it was at the top of an existing fence, and right next to the stile.

Also, take care after Beckfoot, as the path is badly waywarked. A lot of time can be wasted way finding.

Fortunately, I'd booked a night at the Jolly Anglers in Burneside. The friendly welcome and hospitality there soon made up for the tiresome experience. Highly recommend staying here - very welcoming for walkers.

I've never known electric fences to give more than a slight shock and doubt if they could be any real danger to a human.
I heard of someone who always tried to wild camp adjacent to an electric fence and then connect his light, kettle and other such devices for a more civilised nights stop.

L.L.
I think some one has been having you on about camping next to an electric fence, they are only 12 volt and then it is on and off all the time, or are you pulling our leg's

I remember years ago when walking the Ribble Way with a small group. It was raining and we had to cross a stile with an electric fence. As the wire crossed the style it was protected by a rubber sleeve. I accidently touched the wire and nothing happened. I suggested to the others that it was switched off and tentatively gradually held the wire between finger and thumb. Nothing then, ZAP! It fair made me jump I can tell you, and I have never wanted to repeat it since.
Dave.

Yes, it's probably one of those good old Rural Myths that once told often enough is believe by everyone and eventually becomes part of Britain's rich folklore.

Thanks for the tip Daphne, heading off in about 10 days and I do not want to get zapped!

True, the fence won't do serious damage, but the impact of the zap depends entirely on how hard the day's walk has been. And I'd had a hard day and was fed up. The impression I'd received at the Cumbria end of the trail was that walkers are not welcome in that part of the countryside. Waymarking was obscured or vague, and electric fences were put on top of other fences at stiles. There was already an existing, solid fence there. The electric wire was placed on top of it, right where a walker's hand would reach for it while stabilising while sinking in mud. I'd initially wondered about the kind of dangerous animal that they had in the next field that needed such fencing in. Compare my description of where this happened with the announcements on the Dales Way Organisation site about incidents of loose dogs. I didn't come across any loose dogs, but I did come across an electric fence. Have since heard tell of tractors being placed in the way to block the route as well. Reflecting on it all, I heartily encourage as many people as possible to walk this route, in fact, am tempted to do that one particular leg myself every weekend now. But would also just warn those doing it to watch out for nuisance factors like electric fences.

A better idea would be to write to the Borough council and report the exact location of these infringements.
if we all reported such things it would soon get these problems sorted.

or County Council

Not discounting anyone elses experience of the Dales Way but having walked the route 7 or 8 times I not encountered any of the problems mentioned and the many locals I have met in the section mentioned, farmers and all, have always been welcoming and happy to chat. Reason for wire on top of wooden fences and stone walls - have you ever seen how agile those sheep are, without a detterent they would be over as easy as that.
Dave.

Guess what - I got zapped. I didn't spot it, it was as Daphne said on top of an existing very good wire fence. 2 other walkers also touched it within an hour of me. It is actually to the right hand side of the style and the rubber end is very hard to spot.......especially when you have had a very tiring day. I had not slept much the night before as my room at the B&B was like a sauna, I then got half a mile before I remembered that I had not packed all my clothes and had to go back to Sedbergh again for them.
Oh - I also got a bit off track after Beckfoot. Mental tiredness does not make for good map reading skills

Next time take a large paper clip and fix the electric fence to the "existing very good wire fence" which should either short circuit it or reduce the voltage.

Hmm I've been contemplating either the Dales Way of Hadrian's Wall in October but that's 2 reports of fields of mud and/or shit now on the former. Suddenly doesn't seem so tempting. Is it like that all over? I've been doing the Leicestershire round (crap walk, but close to my home) and that's mainly dry, hard, rutted fields. No submerged ankles, just twisted ones.

A pair of pliers (insulated) is what's called for.

Steve in Leicester - we found the Dales Way OK, but no more than that. It's a long distance walk, but not a challenging walk. We did it late July/early August last year and despite having rain on every day didn't encounter any significant mud. After the Dales Way we went straight to the Cumbria Way which, although shorter, we found much better.

Steve in Leicester - I think it was more muddy than usual. Even though we had a week of good weather (apart from the day from Buckden to Cowgill)it had rained a lot for the 2 weeks before. The muddiest bits were on the Sedbergh to Burneside section, plus very bad bog around the Cam Houses area. Like Kate's Dad I only found the walk o.k. Won't be in any rush to do it again. I did enjoy the day from Burnsall to Buckden, best day of the walk in my opinion.....especially walking towards Conistone Pie and looking down onto the Wharfe valley.

I really wish I had a pair on me.
One of the other walkers reckoned that it was connected to a bell in the farmhouse, and every time a walker gets a shock the bell would ring giving the farmer a good laugh!

Ive done the Dales way many times, it is a lovely route, and that comes from someone who relishes rugged rocky mountain areas, getting off the path and searching for ways to summits through Gully's and sharp ridges.
When it has been very wet ALL fields anywhere can be very muddy, and there are electric fences all over the country, waiting to zap anyone not taking enough care. I have never had any of these problems on the Dales Way, but I have on other routes. To make the Dales Way sound as though it is more prone to these things than anywhere else is unfair, and is untrue.
Dave.

Apologies if that was the way it came across to you Slogger. I was just giving a truthful assessment of how the walk conditions were at that time. I'm sure that other trails are just as muddy after the rain that had been leading up to it. The scenery was lovely and will explore Howgill fells a bit more having been impressed with my first viewing of them.

I cannot compare it with other walks at the moment as I have only done a couple of trails so far. If I did do it again think I would fancy doing it the other way round - and after a dry spell I'm sure there will always be favourites and walks people don't enjoy as much.

Whether a walk or trail is a good one is very subjective. However some areas do get more rain than others, and the effects of rain can be different, depending on the terain. As I mentioned earlier, I live in Leicestershire, where the fields are very dry and rutted. That makes for almost as uncomfortable walking as the mud described by Calluna.

"and there are electric fences all over the country, waiting to zap anyone not taking enough care"+ - that's right, and you're probably less likely to get a shock on the Dales way than from a police tazar just walking through Wigan town centre on a Saturday night - we must just try to keep everything in perspective.

Yes Calluna I do realise you were just giving it, as it was for you on the route. I did attempt it the other way round as a non stopper, but abandoned it just after Kettlewell after walking all the previous day and all night in continueous rain. The weather certainly can make a big difference to the feel of a route. As for those dry, rock hard, cattle rutted, fields, as Steve says, they are not good for the feet.
Dave.

Hey all, I've just come back to this post after a wee trek in Vietnam. I don't think anyone was trying to make the Dales Way sound negative with the talk about the electric fence. I certainly enjoyed my time walking it, but agree with Calluna that the Burnsall - Buckden legs are the prettiest. Though I'd also add in a vote for the bits around Sedbergh. I'd advise people to try and shorten that leg, and take it slow and enjoy the scenery there. I think one of the problems with that leg is that it is too long to really appreciate the scenery. The nuisances of the mud and the electric fence wouldn't have been so great if I hadn't been racing the clock.

All I was trying to do with the original post was highlight ONE spot on the Sedbergh - Burneside leg where one farmer has put up an electric fence in a place walkers are likely to tangle with it.

Daphne,
Right thanks for that, sorry I misunderstood. If that electric fence does interfere with a walkers right of passage, I would report it to the local areas 'Right of Way' officer, who will check it out.
I have reported the owner of a house where a ROW passes through his garden for allowing an angry Alsasian to roam around loose and terrify walkers as they pass through. He was told to keep it under control.
On another occasion I reported a farmer for piling large stones on top of the wall stile, making it very difficult to get over. His excuse was that the livestock had been using it to get into the next field. He was made to remove the stones and advised to fit a small spring loaded gate instead.
Weve got to protect our Rights of Way with enthusiasm.
Dave.

I wouldn't want an electric fence interfering with my passage.

This time of year (or perhaps a month ago) is particularly marked by farmers ploughing up rights of way - I've come across a number of a number of trails down in the Cotswolds where I do most of my walking which are just acres of mud - OK just recently because there hasn't been a lot of rain, but never easy to walk across and not helpful with navigation. Not sure what the big deal is the farmers - all they need to do is run their tractor across where the path should be after they've ploughed. Their failure to do so tends to mean that walkers will walk all over their fields. I always mean to report these things when I get back but then I forget to.