Route 1: Arncliffe - Monks Road - Dewbottoms - Middlehouse - Low Midge Hills - Malham Tarn - Lings Plantation - Street Gate - Goredale Beck - High Lineseed Head - High Cotes Moor - Arncliffe Gate - Outgang Lane - Skirfare River - Arncliffe
Distance: - 12.5 miles
Weather: - Light rain to begin, drying out & warming up by lunch time
Route 2: Pately Bridge - Eagle Hall - Ladies Rigg - Hillend - Ashfold mines - Ashfold Side beck - Low Wood Caravan Park - Corn Close - River Nidd - Pately Bridge
Distance: - 6 miles
Weather: - Dry but overcast
Wednesday 16th: -Once again it was time for the Kettlwell break with the FAC (Ferensway Adventurers Club) boys. I picked Bob up after tea and we drove across the dales arriving in Kettlewell around 8pm. After dumping our gear in the digs (Youth Hostel) we mosied on down to the local pub (Kings Head) to meet up with the rest of the guys and partake of the local sherberts. We returned to the hostel and meat pies & night caps all round whilst listening to classic "Derek & Clive".
Thursday 17th:- After a minor scare when the showers refused to give hot water (subsequently fixed when someone turned the boiler on!!) we headed to Zarina's for a cooked breakfast. Without our regular chef (Dudley the KR fan was away on a cruise) this was the easy option and as it turned out a very tasty one. Fully sated we drove the short distance to arrive at 10.00am in Arncliffe to begin our first walk.
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| Nathan the Twitcher leads the way |
A steep climb soon gave us our height and the first views of the magnificent Dales. Leading the way was Paul Coates with his Smart phone Sat Nav - technology is great.
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| Bob snr |
The drizzle was easing off as we headed towards Middlehouse where we found an old barn to shelter in for the first break of the day.
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| Mossy Old Barn |
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| Tea up |
Warmed up after our cuppa's we headed off towards Malham Tarn where the sun was now beginning to break through and warm the day up.
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| Malham Tarn |
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| Bob snr, Me, Nathan, Bob jnr & Paul |
It was during this part of the walk that resident twitcher Nathan began to educate us in the various bird life abundant around us including Oyster Catchers; Skylarks; Curlew; Wheatears; Sandpipers; Sandmartins; Great Crested Grebes and a Raven.
What did confuse Nathan was the cries of Hippo's, Monkeys & other jungle wildlife - all courtesy of Paul Holmes & his smartphone!
At Goreddale beck we found a place to stop for lunch and a well earned rest. Then it was a short climb back up before a long and surprisingly strenuous downhill trek that took around 45 mins and really took its toll on the knees.
We eventually found ourselves alongside the river Skirfare which we followed back into Arncliffe.
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| Bridge over the river Skirfare |
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| The two Bob's |
A shower and chillax followed before we drove out for tea at the White Lion pub in Cray. Food was excellent and well received. We actually dined in the company of celebrities - the original "Calender Girls" had also chosen to dine there. Pretty sure a couple of the guys went over for autographs! Then it was back to the Kings Head in Kettlewell and time for us to partake of the local quiz. Splitting into 2 teams the first round proved very easy with even me being able to answer (correctly) all 10 questions! Several rounds later (and having won a couple of spot prizes) we proved victorious - probably due to the fact that Bob the quiz meister was in our team! As our winnings were delivered both Bob snr & jnr leapt on the quiz master to challenge his answers to the Afghanistan flag & the 100 years war - despite the fact that we comfortably WON!!! Back to the digs for more nightcaps and the creation of a list of all FAC members past and present which had gotten to 70 at the last count.
Friday 18th:- Zarina's again for brekky then back to pack bags and load cars before our final short walk. Left Wharfedale and headed over the top to Nidderdale and Pately Bridge where we parked up. It was a reasonably bright start to the walk.
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| What you looking at? |
We climbed up to Eagle Hall, past Ladies Rigg towards Ashfold mines where we stopped for lunch.
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| Ashfold mine |
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| Nathan pondering his sightings! |
While eating we saw a Red Kite circling overhead presumably looking for left overs. Inspired by this sighting Nathan turned his binoculars on the forest by the river and 'alledgedly' spotted a Woodpecker and a Crossbill though he was unable to offer any corroborating evidence!
Heading back along Low Wood Caravan site, towards the river Nidd - a nice riverside walk back to the car park and a well deserved pint before the drive back home.
Another great walking break in some beautiful countryside.
For more photo's check out the FlickR link:
The Kettlewell gang:
Steve Dennis
Bob Garton (jnr)
Bob Garton (snr) FAC
Chris & Nathan Pickering FAC
Paul Coates FAC
Paul Holmes FAC
Paul Craggs FAC
Colin Hutchinson FAC
John Kendrew FAC
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