Gargrave and the Pennine Way

It was a lovely clear day, about 4/5 degrees, blue sky and no wind.  So today I decided to go to Gargrave, walk along the canal and then back through the fields.  Some of this walk is part of the Pennine Way. 

I parked in the car park opposite the Village Hall and turned up the road to join the canal tow path.  The path was pretty muddy and slippery and this set the tone for the walk.  Mud as the predominant part of the walk.

Along one part of the banking there were clusters of King Cups and Snowdrops, is Spring on the way.

Newton Bank Locks looked pretty – as usual.

The sun was really bright and reflected on the canal water – there were quite a few walkers but not as many as I thought there would be considering how nice the day was.

I had to refer to my little walking book and double check where to turn off the canal path and head off along the track past Newton Grange and out along the track towards East Marton. 

Eventually climbing the stile into the fields to head back towards Gargrave.  The fields were saturated and several had huge lakes of standing water going nowhere.  The ground was just so squelchy and boggy it was hard work walking and staying upright in parts. 

As I went along I met a couple coming in the opposite direction, they had got lost, and on showing me the map they had they should have turned down at the footpath cross roads at the top of the hill.  I gave them directions to carry on forward if they wanted to – and do the reverse route of what I’d just done or turn around and go back up the hill to take the path back to Bank Newton.  They chose to walk on. It was good views at the top of the hill, I could see Flasby Fell at the back and nearer was Sharp Haw and Haw Crag.  Straight in front I could see Gargrave church and so I headed off back down the hill.

Crossing over the railway line which heads up the valley – 10 minutes later I was back in the centre of Gargrave.  A lovely 4.75 mile walk with lots of sun and good views.