Brenkstone Pass

Brenkstone Pass is a steep mountain crossing between the country around Darrowby and the valley of Sildale. In James Herriot’s first view of it, the pass marks a striking change of scale and character: the familiar, friendly hills give way to exposed heights, a deep ravine, and a landscape that Siegfried Farnon describes as among England’s wildest.

Route and terrain

Siegfried Farnon chooses the pass as an alternative way home, taking James Herriot over it and down into Sildale. The road winds steeply upward, with the hillside dropping sharply to a dark ravine below. A rocky stream runs through the ravine toward gentler country, placing the road between the high slopes and the lower valley.

At the summit, the view opens across tumbling fells and peaks, while a large, dark mountain rises to the east and square-cut boulders lie scattered across the lower slopes. The scene is encountered in summer dusk, but its scale and exposed terrain make the pass feel far removed from the welcoming country Herriot has seen on the approach to Darrowby.

Seasonal danger

Farnon’s description makes clear that the pass is not merely scenic. He knows it as a fearsome place in winter and says snow or other severe conditions can block it for weeks. The steep, winding route and its position high among the hills thus carry practical consequences: a crossing that offers a memorable way into Sildale can become impassable for an extended period.

Descent into Sildale

The travelers leave the summit after dark and begin the long descent. The valley below is difficult to make out, but scattered lights show where isolated farms cling to the hillsides. That final view turns the pass from a panoramic vantage into a link between high, exposed ground and a sparsely settled valley, emphasizing both the remoteness of the farms and the difficult terrain connecting them.