This guide book is for the Pikedaw Bridge walk from the "One Walk, Bridge Walks in the Yorkshire Dales", series of guide books, where the route of one walk crosses the path of a number of bridges sat in a back drop of Yorkshire Dales scenic beauty formed by ice age glaciation and the deposition of carboniferous limestone scenery that attracts many visitors to the area.
A popular Sunday walk that has an industrial mining format that crosses six bridges; clapper, simple beam, elliptical and circular arched stone bridges. This walk follows a circular route that has a scenic views of Malham Tarn (894 664), Malham Cove (897 641), Dry Valley, Pikedaw hill (883 638), Nappa Cross (875 642), Gordale Scar (915 641), and Janet’s Foss (911 633) water fall.
This book will appeal to those walk or sight see in the Yorkshire Dales. The natural erosion and glaciation has resulted in many waterfalls, streams and fast flowing rivers. This has led man ever since prehistoric (Mesolithic/Neolithic) times from his hunter gather existence and to present day to use his ingenuity to build bridges to cross such obstacles to hunt, farm, travel or move goods, minerals and thus expand agriculture, industry and commerce.
The bridges range from the prehistoric, ancient Clapper Bridge made from natural materials to that of Victorian engineered Ribblehead viaduct whilst others are more recent editions courtesy of the National Park. Consequently, in the Yorkshire Dales, these manmade structures are of varying style and construction, are often obscured by the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.
The walks are varied; some are suitable for those with young families, while others are more suitable for the more active walker.
It is hoped the book will prompt one to look at mans created features of ingenuity as well hills, greenery and scenic views.