Calton

It had rained all morning and the sky was still full of rain clouds.  Not a day for up on the moors – I’ve been caught up there before in summer storms. It was also quite late when I finally set off so I decided to do a low level walk not too far away.  I headed off towards Airton to do a walk around Calton.  Not a walk I’d done before which is always exciting – you never know what you might see or come across.

The roads were pretty busy on the way there I’d forgotten the Art Exhibition Art in the Pen was on in Skipton this weekend.  Finally parked up by the side of the green in Airton.  Boots on and off I went.  The first part of this walk I was familiar with I’ve done it quite a few times before when walking to Bell Busk.

  However on reaching Newfield Bridge instead of carrying on I turned left and then took the narrow road to Calton. It was pleasant walking along this road quiet and tranquil although when I looked up the sky was still dark above me and every so often I kept thinking I felt a few drops of rain.

 It was very warm and had to take my body warmer off and back pack it.  I was so busy just wandering along I missed the gate on the left I was supposed to take through a field it took 10 minutes to retrace my steps back to the dip in the road.  To be fair the gate was more obvious to spot walking this way.  It definitely hadn’t been opened for some time as the latch was seized up.  I had to climb over and once in the field the grass was knee high.  The walk along the field by the stream was hard going. Eventually I came to the farm bridge across the steam.  The walk continued to follow the stream coming to a large barn and another gateway.

Turning left onto a rolly stone access path along here on the right was a huge beautiful barn, a small notice on a post stated that a planning application had gone in for it to be converted into two properties.  The access road would need some work on it.

  This track took me down into the small hamlet of Calton itself – a small secret place hidden away from the rest of the world just beautiful. Apparently Calton Hall was the home of John Lambert one of Cromwell’s leading Generals during the civil war.

                                                  

I took a gate on the right which took me down a track to a gate and into a field crossing over a ford and following a stream around the field to a stile under some trees. 

 The path then sloped down to join the Pennine Way.  I think I ignored the book directions here as I knew where I was and so I walked back along the way I knew.  Next time I need to read the directions more carefully and follow the alternative route that was described.

Good walk, although by my calculations I walked 4 ½  miles not the 3 ¼ the book said. One to do again probably.

Earby Landscapes

The forecast all week had been for sunshine and showers so I planned to do a walk along the canal from Greenberfield Locks – Thornton in Craven towards East Marton, but when I finally got there the small car park was absolutely full with no nearby road parking.

Turned to my book and found this walk Earby Landscapes which meant I didn’t have to drive too far to get started.  Cant remember having ever been to Earby before but it looked a nice place as I drove through looking for somewhere to park.  Eventually found a small car par and bonus it was free. 

Set off back through the village and headed up the hill past the Youth Hostel turning from the track down through some trees and over the footbridge climbing some steps and entering a field.

  I could see the stile at the other end and went across pretty quick smart seeing as the stile had a sign saying beware of the Bull.  I kept my eyes peeled and went across with racing heart.  NO sign of it thank goodness.

Crossing the second field that led to a stile into rough grass area planted up with saplings. Then there was a turn right up to a cairn and stone seat. 

  The views today were stunning. I could even make out the 3 peaks, well one of them anyway for sure.  The path continued up eventually coming to a small road – this was a confusing bit there were two cattle grids and two gates.  I went through one and over one while re-reading the book.  Eventually I worked out I should cross the second one  too to go down to Oak Slack farm. Corner stile just before the farm gate was well hidden and took some spotting. It was very narrow too.  I dropped down the field to reach Wentcliff brook at the bottom I walked along here eventually coming to a a broad track crossing over here and then across another small stream to head up alongside a clough, the path then went behind a beautiful old farmhouse.  It was intriguing as it didn’t look as though it had been abandoned too long ago, I wanted to know who lived there, why had they left, was it just going to eventually crumble away.  It seemed a shame this place was now empty.

From the farm the path led away then up to a track and across to a stile in the top corner of the field and then along another track up to a farmhouse – through a gate and onto a tarmacadamed access road.  Up at the top of the hill I turned right and along the top of a field which soon turned into an enclosed grassy track, it was pretty wet and boggy here today after the recent rain.  The path continued around some ruins of a farm called Higher Verjuice Bank the path / track continued to a gate and continued down to a stile into a field this dropped to a stile at the bottom leading along a lovely enclosed path past a house onto a drive and then back onto the road I’d driven into Earby.

Good walk 5 miles, totally unplanned but really enjoyed it.  Will go back another time for the Lock/canal walk but was definitely not disappointed with Earby Landscapes.

Pendle Hill

I love this walk and I’ve been wanting to walk up Pendle Hill again for ages but the weather never seems right and it won’t be long before I’ll have missed my opportunity so today’s the day. Got over to Barley and as usual the car park was really busy.  Anyway I got togged up and set off. 

The path was straight forward up past Ogden Reservoir.  

Walking up here I remembered last time I came up here I went up the other side of the Reservoir and over to Newchurch, but when I’d looked back I’d seen walkers going up Pendle Hill on a pathway before the one I usually go up (which is the long spine of Pendle) so I thought I’d see if I could find this path.  As I turned off up a track to the top of a field I went through a stile, but once through there was no obvious trod or direction to go in. So I headed upwards and slightly left.  It was steep and at the top I couldn’t see any stile I turned left and eventually came to a gate.  I did not want to go all the way back down to the reservoir so over I went.  Now I was just going to keep heading up, it was tough going underfoot as it was really tussocky grass and every time I thought I was near the top when I got to the brow there in front of me was another climb up.  It was so steep in parts I was almost on all fours clambering up.  Eventually to my right I spotted a cluster of people – the top.  

There appeared a lone walker coming from my left and heading up towards them.  He was clearly on the proper path so I headed up to where he crossed past.  Once on the path it was so much easier walking.
It was pretty windy at the top and there were a large group of walkers around the trig point (never seen so many trekking poles).  The view was stunning I love it up here and today you could see for miles.

For the walk back I decided to try and find another way to the one I usually do which is down the steps.  By the time I get to the bottom my legs feel like jelly.  The plan was to walk back the way I had come to try to find the path I’d missed on the way up. I set off – but soon spotted a path that seemed to zig-zag down the hillside to eventually meet up with the bottom of the steps so that’s the way I decided to go. The path was fine until about half way down it turned into a scree run with a narrow gully.  There was nothing for it but to continue down slowly and gingerly.  Took me ages to get to the bottom but I finally made it. 

From there it was a straight path back to Barley passing some sheep shearing at a small farm on the way through the fields.

Brilliant afternoon walking.  One of my favourites – up there with Beamsley Beacon.  Its already on the list for next year.  A good six mile walk.

Wasdale Head

This isn’t a walk as such but nevertheless I managed 5 miles over the day.  Today was all about being part of the support team for Joey D’s attempt at the Bob Graham Round.  

The view on the way to Hebden Bridge to meet up with the family.

We were to be at Wasdale Head for around 14.30pm all being well.  Joe had set off at midnight – atrocious weather for him, windy, and the rain coming down like a waterfall.  It was no better when we set off up to the Lakes.  We had a good run and the children were really good.

We finally got to the car park – after first going to the wrong one – thank goodness for OS maps on my phone.  We were lucky the clouds lifted and the day cleared for us.  We had lunch and went for a wander.  

The scenery was just so dramatic absolutely beautiful, although when you looked at the top of Scafell and Great Gable they were still hidden in cloud.  It was a terrible weekend to be doing this run, but all the work and effort of getting a support team together you just don’t want to miss the opportunity. 

We had a good wander and met up with the guys who were to be Jo’s navigator and pack carrier on the next leg.  All fell runners are the nicest people you could ever wish to meet, friendly supportive and always encouraging. 

We started looking at our watches and time kept going on – I even had a mini bus driver come and ask if we had set up a pop up café – I explained about the run and that this was for the runners and not a shop – he kept jingling the change in his pocket hopefully until he finally realised I wasn’t going to sell him anything.  We even met a guy who’d just swum the lake Wastwater and was looking for the camp site he tottered off bare-footed through the car park carrying his yellow buoy. 

Eventually the two Pete’s (the runners) saw Joe coming down and ran off to meet him.  On reaching the bottom he said he wasn’t carrying on – by now it was after 17.00pm and he knew he wouldn’t finish in the 24 hours.  We all thought he had done well in such terrible weather – he’d done about 50 miles.

We took him back to his tent and he would get some sleep before driving back home on the Sunday.  We all agreed this had been a good  practise run and was unfinished business to be completed later.

Leg 2 of Dalesway

This leg is Grassington to Kettlewell

The night before I had planned to Park in Grassington early enough to walk the 12 or so miles and then catch the last Dales bus back late afternoon.

The weather was pretty glum when I set off but my optimistic side said the day would probably get better. Parked in Grassington and got togged up.  The weather hadn’t improved but it hadn’t deteriorated either. 

So I confidently set off up through the village and the instructions were pretty clear.  As I walked along the lane I saw a path off to my left which indicated the Dalesway but my instructions said I could carry on and meet up with the Dalesway further along. Grand – I kept going it was a good path I was following so I wasn’t worried.

However after a while I kept getting a niggle in the back of my mind that I’d gone wrong – upt to my right I had seen a path over a wall but that didn’t look right so I kept on.  Wrong – eventually the path disappeared and there was no way out of the field at the other end. Nothing for it I had to turn around and re-trace my steps.  When I came to the path I had previously ignored I decided to go along it now.  The track was climbing up onto the moor until eventually an old derelict house appeared – at this point the path disappeared again – and now the there was damp mizzle and really low mist, I couldn’t see anything in front and decided it was time to admit defeat and go back to Grassington.

The weather had taken a turn for the worse now so I went in one of the cafes for a hot drink and sustenance.  On leaving the café and going back to the car park I called in the Information centre and bought a good all weather map.  On checking it out I’d been up to Bare House.  Lesson learnt – take a map. 

I will attempt this again – better prepared from today’s experience. I did manage 8 miles wandering around in the mist.

East Marton

Well I’ve never done this walk before and its slightly longer than my usual Saturday walks but its good to stretch yourself. This walk starts at Gargrave. It always surprises me how full the car parks are here.  I guess lots of people set off on walks from here. Well it was a lovely day.  Crossing the main road I headed off turning right along the riverside to then go left onto Marton Road then right onto Scaleber Farm track going over the railway line and joining the Pennine Way.  At a cattle grid I turned off the track into a field to a stake on the brow of a hill.

As usual I could see Pendle Hill – it doesn’t seem to matter where you go on a clear day it’s there to be seen. There were several fields to pass through now eventually coming out onto a slim path which led to a lane.

 Following the lane reaching Williamson Bridge at the canal at East Marton.  This is a beautiful hidden away hamlet.  The cottages were just chocolate box and one them had a lovely traditional cottage garden.  To make the picture complete there was a lady in a summer flowered dress wearing a huge straw brimmed hat sweeping the garden path. Just past this cottage was a lovely tea-room but I decided I’d call at a tea room in Gargrave when I got back.

From here the return journey was following the towpath. 

 

At first I thought I’d done half the walk really quickly until I realised that East Marton is not the half-way point and the canal meanders snake like through the fields and pastures.  At Bank Newton there are seven locks and as I got closer to Gargrave all the hustle and bustle of canal boats appeared.  

  At the end of the towpath just before I left the canal a huge barge was heading towards me, it seemed to take up nearly the width of the canal and was very long.  I’d never seen a barge so big, with people sat in sun chairs enjoying the day. As it drew alongside me painted on the side was the inscription Lady Teal – Barge hotel.

What a lovely end to the walk – made me smile. 6 ½ miles of walking in the summer sun.

Sunnydale

This is a lovely local walk – I always enjoy it and today was going to be no exception.  It was nice and warm with no need for coats and the ground was dry so there wouldn’t be any muddy parts, and good company Gail and Monica were with me.

Heading off Green end Road passing a large stone aquaduct on the right. 

  At a fork in the road we turned left then right on a good track heading away, as the track swings to cross the beck we continued on to the Sunnydale Reservoir.  Crossing the dam and up a steep we turned off to the left into a small woodland path.

 Along here is a small dam on the right, a family of ducks were dabbling there.  We continued on the path on the wood top to eventually come to a small waterfall at Sweet Well Dike.

Continuing on the path we came onto a cart track dropping towards some farm buildings, here we turned right to emerge onto Ilkley Road.  We turned left down to the crossroads. We continued down the road Past the chalets at the Park to go left down to some cottages  then dropping down again to the little hamlet of West Morton.  All this area reminds me of Dad.  He grew up in this area and I often wonder if he walked the same paths I do now.

 We went through stiles to an enclosed path which took us down to Carr Lane here we turned right to reach the canal and join the towpath taking us back to our starting point.

What a lovely leisurely Saturday saunter of 4 ½ miles.  Thoroughly enjoyed it.