Forest of Bowland

Sunday, 28th August 2011
16.7km (10.3 miles) - 5hr 20mins
OL14 - Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale

In my youth the Forest of Bowland was forbidden country, privately owned and inaccessible to all. So, when Country Walking Magazine published a walk in the area I could not resist - in retrospect I wish I had ! Described as a "challenging" walk it proved to be at the edge of our capability and, whilst the weather contributed to the challenge, it became a chore rather than a challenge. Looking back we probably shouldn't have set off for this exposed and wild location given the amount of rain that has fallen. Our reward was trudging through peat bog, almost shin deep in places which extended the time taken to cross the fell and turned "challenging" into strenuous.
Anyway, the route. We parked at a surprisingly populated layby just North-East of Dunsop Bridge (GR SD632511). The first part of the route was on well-made tracks and took us alongside Langden Beck to the strangely named LangdenCastle, a ruined shed, and the discovery of a cache. It was here that we encountered our first downpour of the day, but luckily we were inside the "castle" and escaped it. Clear skies ensued as we went further up the valley before turning up Fiendsdale (GR SD 598500). Here, a clearly defined path climbed the side of the dale gradually climbing 200 mtrs to Fiendsdale Head (GR SD588484)

It was at this point (moving from footpath to open access land) that the going got really tough.  The landscape was open fell with peat hags  and shin deep peat bog made the 4/5 kilometres extremely hard and slow moving. Added to this was driving rain and an absolutely howling gale. It was a great pity since the scenery was aboslutely magnificent, especially as we climbed to the high point of the walk with the cairn at 520mtrs.
Eventually, we reached the trig point at the top of Totridge (GR SD635487), although by this point the wind was so strong it almost blew us over. Both agreed that the preceding section was not enjoyable and was a slog through the relentless bog picking our way around the pools at the bottom of the hags.
From Totridge the route went virtually straight down hill (another challenge since both our calves and thighs were aching by this point) and dropped us to Hareden Farm where two very weary people then struggled along the riverbank and back to the car.
Certainly, the most strenuous walk we have done this year. As stated, given the amount of rain that had fallen in the preceding days we can't really complain about the conditions and I'm sure that looking back the magnificent countryside will outshadow the peat bogs !  We all live and learn !
Group of photographs available from this link - amazingly this doesn't show the extent of the peat hags and bogs. In fact, it looks quite idyllic but be warned the middle section was hard going !

Burnsall & Linton

Sunday, 21st August
11.6km (7 miles) - 2hr 40min
OL10 - Yorkshire Dales (Southern Area)

My third walk of the week (unless you count Sunday as the start of a new week !) and a walk we had promised to do a few months back but had abandoned because of the weather.  However, today was perfect walking weather - hot enough for a t-shirt, but not overwhelming - the temperature in the high teens.
I suppose one of the tips to give when trying to park in Burnsall is to arrive early.  Even at 10:30 on a Sunday morning all the "free" spaces had been taken, the riverside car park was nearly full and people were starting to arrive at the field, over the bridge.  It was certainly a differend story when we got back some three hours later when the place was cram-packed !

This is an old favourite of mine and is, to all extent and purposes, a gentle stroll rather then a walk. However, what it may lack in walking machismo it makes up for in the glory of its surroundings ! The first section is easy enough - find the river Wharfe and walk along it's banks crossing the river at the suspension bridge just North of Burnsall.  I couldn't be easier and if you feel yourself getting wet, then you've gone off course !  Along the bank we grabbed our first cache of the day at "Harry's Hollow" - just above Loup Scar where people were throwing themselves off the cliff into the river (a pastime I understand is called "tombstoning").

The river was pretty high which meant that the stepping stones across the Wharfe, just below Linton Church were not available, so we popped round the corner to cross the bridge over Linton Falls before climbing up a dropping into the village of Linton itself.

Linton is reknowned as a pretty village and it was nice to sit and have lunch overlooking the stream, although we did have guests in the shape of about twenty ducks hoping a crumb or two might fall their way !

After lunch the walk climbs up a gentle incline to join Thorpe Lane and drops into the hamlet which, reputedly, was missed by marauding Scots and became a refuge whenever the raiders from North of the Border were in the area !
The final section climbs out of Thorpe and cuts through some fields before the final stretch which can onlybe described as "stile practice" - there must be 10 or 12 stiles to negotiated before arriving back in the village and a welcome coffee at the Wharfe View Tea Rooms.

A delightful walk, although both Gill and I commented on it's seeming brevity !  Grabbed a couple of caches on the way round and took a few photographs, although the light wasn't that good.

Malham Round

Wednesday, 17th August
15.9k (9.8 miles) - 4hr 15min
OL10 - Yorkshire Dales - Southern Area.

I've often wondered why this walk is referred to as "Malham's Big 3" when, for me Janet's Foss (pictured above) is equally impressive ? Still, I don't write the books, I just do the walks!
Well, this was the last day of my holiday, so Gill and I decided to escape for the day and managed to get up to Malham before the rush started (and also managed to get free parking on the verge, rather than paying - true Yorkshireman you see!).
This walk hardly needs to be narrated since it is in nearly every book that's been written about the Dales.  It's also extremely well signposted.  But, for the record, we visited Janet's Foss before going up to see Gordale Scar

Gill, wasn't up to scrambling up the waterfall (and, to be honest, neither was I).  So, we went back down the gorge and took the (rather) direct route up New Close Knott - a pretty stiff climb, although it turns out it's only 150 mtrs climb (although it was in about a kilometre).
From the top of the Knott we struck out for the Tarn, making a small detour down Mastiles Lane to pick up a cache (delightfully named "Cerritus Securiferus" after the Roman Marching Camp which is close to the cache site). After the detour the Tarn was quickly upon us and a second cache find of the day.
From the Tarn the final leg takes you across and down Watlowes (the Dry Valley) before emerging onto the top of the Cove and the famous limestone pavement.
Finally, those steps.....wonderful if, like us, you are going down them but not so wonderful for those puffing and pulling themselves up them !
So, to Malham and after just over four hours a very welcome cup of coffee in one of the many cafes that always seem full.

An aboslutely excellent days walking.  I've walked Malham so many times, yet it never disappoints. Today was no exception......just hope I'll be able to get up for work in the morning as I've done 18 miles in two days !  Selection of photos available - thankfully I remembered my camera this time.

Wetherby, Linton & Sicklinghall

Tuesday, 16th August 2011
13 Km (8 miles) - 2hr 34m

This was almost a repeat of a walk we did back in February but had added "mileage" starting from Wetherby rather than Linton.
Anyway, it has been ten days since the last blog - and a very busy time.  Many, many congratulation to my daughter, Hannah and her husband Alex on their "wedding".  I put wedding in inverted commas as, technically, they married last year in Florida but last Friday, the "Glorious 12th" we had a formal celebration of their marriage where they re-affirmed their vows to each other.  Without being too sentimental (and I did spend a large part of the day weeping) they just seem a perfect couple.
Following the wedding we entertained Carol, Alex's Mum, Michael, his stepfather, Nicole, his sister and baby Sophia.  It was a real pleasure to meet them for the first time and an equal pleasure to show them our part of Yorkshire (albeit briefly).  With Hannah and Alex planning to come back to the U.K this autumn we look forward to seeing them and showing them even more of "God's Own County".

Anyway, back to the walk. This is another Paul Hannon walk from "Harrogate and the Wharfe Valley". The start was pretty difficult to find (GR 397483) and is a small turning off the Wetherby to Linton road, but once established the first section of the walk drops to the banks of the Wharfe and heads off across Wetherby golf course before re-joining the road which leads into Linton.
The village is now the home to many Leeds United players and is extremely affluent both in the size of houses and the numbers who appear to be employed in maintaining  it's gardens but it was a peaceful stroll through the village and down to the bridge that crosses the Wharfe (GR 388465).  The river is not crossed but the walk takes in the last of the luxury houses of Linton before turning right and heading through woodland to join Trip Lane.  Half way up the lane I bagged my one and only cache of the journey.
Trip Lane is followed until just before the entrance to Wood Hall Hotel, here the route bears to the right crossing fields and circling a wood, evetually emerging at Sicklinghall House.  A short stride up the drive (away from the house), another bridleway is picked up before a sharp right turn leads into the village of Sicklinghall itself.
Sicklinghall is described as a commuter village and was certainly very quiet on a Tuesday morning. It looked immaculate and is obviously well kept, even down to the man who came out, as I was sitting on a bench to ask if their was any "bird muck" as it was his job to keep the benches clean !!
From the village pond a road leads away, dropping down to Sicklinhall Lodge before rising to pass Stockeld Park House.
The final stretch crosses the busy A661 before dropping down the Harland Way, a disused railway line that has been re-furbished as a cycle/walking track. The final mile and a half is, therefore, level and returns you back to the car park.

A pretty walk through pleasant countryside.  The weather threatened rain throughout the walk and it was pretty muggy but nevertheless and enjoyable couple of hours.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so you are spared any photographs this time !!

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne

Tuesday, 2nd August 2011
9 km (5.7 miles)

A walk of contrasts with a mix of nature and tourism !!  This walk came from Country Walking magazine and allowed us to take in the whole of the island.
After crossing the Causeway there is a visitors car park just before the village (GR NU 126 423). The walk took us firstly into the start of the village before turning left and left again onto a track which quickly turns into a green lane and strikes directly north across the island.  It's added benefit was that it took us away from the crowds who were just beginning to gather !

The lane finally gives out and the route continues through dunes to the site of our cache (we dropped off the trackable from the day before. 
Just beyond the cache we had a moment of absolute magic as we sat and watched seals basking and swimming off Castlehead Rocks (GR NU 131 439).
We then cut across the top of the island to Emmanuel Head with is pyramid obelisk.  Whilst the guide said we should be able to see the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle unfortunately the sea mist and gloom meant our views were limited.
After Emmanuel Head the walk again followed the shoreline taking us down to the castle, and a re-introduction to tourism (overheard "I'm not paying to go into the castle, I've just paid a bloody pound to get here on that bus").
After visiting the (outside) of the castle, we headed over to the Priory before returning to the car park just in time as the rain set in.
A fantastic end to three days in the North-East.  The sight (and sound) of the seals was a truly memorable moment and really put the icing on the cake.  Sadly, the weather was not conducive to photography and the seals demanded a long lens (which I don't have). Still, and idea of the day is available from the link

Boulmer, Craster & Dunstanburgh Castle

Monday, 1st August 2011
20.7 km (12.8 miles)

Our 30th Wedding Anniversary and a couple of days away in Northumberland.  We stayed in the Hope and Anchor in Alnmouth and, after visiting The Alnwick Garden on Sunday decided on this walk on the Monday (the actual date of our anniversary).
We began from Boulmer (pronouced "boomer) GR NU 265 139 and the first part of our walk took us along an unmarked road and past the helicopter station at RAF Boulmer. The road eventually reaches the village of Longhaughton, a linear village that stretched for over a kilometre.  At the end of the village a path led through fields to join yet another road (GR NU 243 166) at Howick Grange. This road runs down and passes Howick Hall, famous for its gardens and arboretum. 
Here, thankfully, the road walking finished and we headed out across fields and over the shoulder of Hips Heugh before cutting through Arnold Reserve and emerging in Craster (GR NU 258 198).  This is a delightful Northumberland finshing village which owes much of its popularity to its proximity to Dustanburgh Castle.
The approach to the castle is a good walk along the coast with the castle itself dominating the horizon.
Here we picked up our normal cache - grabbing a trackable which, I later found out, had arrived from the Netherlands two days previousy.
We returned to Craster and then returned via. the coast path back to our start point in Boulmer.
A fantastic day's walking - the coastline walk was absolutely spectacular and I'm sure that my photographs do not do it justice.