Just noticed plans by the Wensleydale Railway to hopefully extend and restore the track from Redmire right across to Garsdale, if so this will provide us possibly with an easier route to
parallel cross country north of the Leeds/ Manchester connurbation, and it could be less ardous than following the track of the Weardale Railway some 40 miles further north. Anyhoo lets see if they do extend the route first
If it comes off its a reasonable east west route that will go from Northallerton in the east right over to within 12 miles of Sedburgh.
But by god looking at the rout on OS LR 98 it looks like there are some truly evil hills on the western side, you will need legs like Garth to hoof them
I still like
paralleling the A66 cos I'm old and lazy.