A Dales Weekend with the Walkers Forum - Wensleydale

I had the "brilliant" idea of setting up a Walkers Forum meet.  I mean, it can't be that hard?   I know parts of the Dales quite well, and I thought it would be nice to show the area off.   I'd also been sort of nagged to set one up, which might have had an influence.

I originally planned it for 23rd/24th March, then changed me mind because I wouldn't be ready by then.  Good job n'all, cos that was the weekend that the country got snowed in.  I set it instead for 20th/21st April with the idea it would be 8-10 miles per day.  I should be able to manage that............  I think.

Thing is, when I got to planning the routes, I wanted to include everything, which meant the walks kept getting longer.  They ended up  at 12 miles and 11 miles, which in turn made me worry, cos I didn't think I was fit enough to cover that sort of distance.  I mean - I'd hardly done any proper distances this year.

So I've got the route, and posted the meet, and watched to see if people would attend.  It's more worry when you do this..........  Will people want to come?  Will you have loads of people put their names down?  No-one wants to be a Billy No Mates, and even worse, no-one wants to be a public Billy No Mates.

This the tiniest new lamb I've seen

 As it happened, I was dead chuffed that a few people I've walked with before took the plunge and agreed to walk with me, including the very gentlemanly Chris and Andy from Cleveland Way Day 3,  and Tracey, who organised a walk on Derwent Edge.   For the record, the guy who nagged?  He didn't join us.   

So.  Walk 1 on Saturday - from Aysgarth to West Burton, up to the Height of Hazely, across to Penhill and back round in a big loop to Aysgarth.  (Me n Peter had reccied the route the other week - Drifting around Wensleydale, only it looked a bit different then, a lot whiter!)  Chris, Andy, Tracey and the lovely Helen that I've not met before, and of course me, set off at 10am to view some of the delights of Wensleydale.   The bonus companion, that I have to mention, because it made our day, was the sun.  Glorious sunshine all day, we even got sunburnt,  Brilliant!

Some pictures...........  (Not sure why I never took any of Aysgarth Upper Falls?)

Aysgarth Middle Falls

Aysgarth Lower Falls

West Burton Falls

What a beeauuuuutiful day

Gaining height and looking over Wensleydale

Another worry about leading a walk like this is the constant concern that everyone was enjoying the day, you're constantly sort of checking.  Are people happy?  Do they look happy?  Is it what they expected?  Do they like the walk that I like and spent ages working out for them?  I have to admit to not having thought this out properly, and my poor walking companions walked for hours without a break and ended up eating lunch in the wind.  (Heartless I am).  But they all seemed very forgiving, and in my defence, your honour, the views from the end of Penhill are lovely. 

We ended up changing the route slightly and adding another mile on our way down.  It was just so wonderful to be out, with  miles of open land and sky on such a gorgeous day. 

The Three Musketeers - (or should that be the Three Amigos?)

On the way back, one of my favourite views of the River Ure.

All in all, a lovely walk on a lovely day.  Map of the route on the recce walk here Drifting around Wensleydale

To Tracey, Chris, Andy and Helen - thank you so much for your company, and for not complaining when you ended up eating lunch in a gale, and for looking happy during the walk.  And even better, you came back for more.........

Castles on the coast

Lindisfarne Castle

It was gonna rain where we live, so we decided to scoot off somewhere drier.  We picked Holy Island, which could be considered very undry if you're in the wrong place when the tide comes in, but the sun was due to shine over that little piece of coastline, so we set off for a look at a different life.

A little bit of planning is required before making a visit.  It's important to check the tide times to see when it's safe to cross the causeway : Holy Island timetable 2103,  but I reckon it's even more important to stick to it, rather than get stuck.  Islanders are a tad fed up of having to rescue folks from the causeway cos they can't read the huge signs telling you it's not safe to cross.

So after checking the tide times, I printed off a map of the island aided by walkhighlands, so that we could plan a walk around.  And, because it's a two hour drive to get there, we also decided that we might look n see what else Northumberland has to offer whilst we were up that way.

Driving across the causeway is sort of fun n surreal, and guaranteed to get your car covered in mucky salty water.  Parking is cheap enough, but we didn't have a lot of change, so we only had three hours for our visit.  Holy Island isn't that big, but if you do want to visit The Priory (£5.20 per adult), Lindisfarne Castle (£6.50 per adult), take a wander around the village and have a walk around the island, you'll need a lot longer than three hours.

Upside down boats turned into sheds?   Cool.

We chose to walk round the island, enjoying the coastline, the sun and the wind.  The wind really was a major feature of the day.  Luckily it wasn't cold, but whoa, what a blast!  Literally.........  It was exhilarating, as we played at leaning in to it, coats out like parachutes, loving the feel and the power of it.  Buffeting us about, it made the walk much more interesting for certain.

Lindisfarne Carstle and the Lime Kiln

Our walk was about 5 miles in total, and I loved being on the coastline and amongst the sand dunes.  Awesome!

It was still early afternoon when we'd finished, and we took the coast road south to see what we could of a couple of castles.  The first was Bamburgh Castle - we had just a quick look at the outside.

And then we drove on to Dunstanburgh Castle which is a bit more our thing to be honest.  I love a good ruin.  We walked to it from the Dunstanburgh Golf course, lovely weather, lovely sunshine.  Brilliant.

A brilliant day out.  And we walked about seven miles as well.

Up along Gunnerside Beck

I took a walk out Swaledale way again today to test me new boots.  Apparently you are supposed to break them in.  I'm thinking the boots were breaking me in!   Suffice to say I ended up with a couple of blisters.  Nothing too painful, but definitely some more breaking to do.

Anyway despite sore feet, a thoroughly pleasant day, I really like the area around Gunnerside Beck. 

So does the snow apparently (like the area around Gunnerside Beck that is), it doesn't want to leave!

These ridges/drifts/banks of snow can be found on route up the sides of the little dale onto Melbecks Moor via the hushes, easily 8-10ft deep. .  I went up  Friarfold Hush this time.  Me leg muscles are still aching, from either digging, pressing and testing steps in the snow, or from having to haul the complete said legs out of snow nether region deep, hopefully with the boot still attached.  And I walked right at the very edge of this lot!

Hard work, or even a hard workout, but I feel I am learning all the time.  

Tomorrow me n himself are off to Holy Island.  I'm really looking forward to that.