Christmas Eve Walk

Castleshaw Fort

What do you do on Christmas Eve? Go for a walk to get away from the crowds.  Today we met up with Shaun from the DofE. So we met up at Castleshaw c Car park and our aim was to get out for a quick blast and back to the cars. Plus put things to right in the world of DofE for next year for us.

Let say over the boot deep mud.

So the route was easy. Head up onto Standedge from Castleshaw Car Park. Castleshaw being a roman fort. A long the edge to the road and the come back round again to the road further down and then head back to Castleshaw.  Easy but when you chatting away and you know what you are doing. So don’t check the map until you know you should not be going down hill. Yes we did go the wrong way and we changed the route again and it was not long before we changed it again as a path was shut at the dam. In the end we did a figure eight walk and we covered about 7 miles, which is not long but we did it at a fair pace and we were back at the cars for 1.15pm

Merry Christmas

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Martin's Evening Walk

There’s always first time for everything. Last night it was one of Martin and Sues evening walk. Martin has said in the past that sometimes it will only be about 3 people. Well last night it was 17. I think Martin ran out off fingers to count us in the dark and with everyone bobbing about in the car park. Head touches beamed in to your eyes. I am sure he had to do a few recounts.

Hayfield in The Snow

Kinder

Today’s Sunday walk was around Hayfield with the local walking group. A mulled wine walk. Little surprised on waking up to snow, but we set off to a rearrange start point. The roads were bad in some places as there been no early traffic out and we hit one bad patch of ice on a downhill bit. It was fun.

Christmas Walk

Last weekend we were on Martin and Sue Christmas walk. This year the meal was in Harrington at the Charles Cotton Hotel.  They had a good turn out and the weather did turn wet but it was only for a short time.

Sue came out with her Carmel slices and not to be out done Martin followed with his Brownies.

The walk was really good as it was tester for my back. Been having a small problem with it since I slipped backpacking.

 A full report and photo can be found at Alan's or  M&G blog page orMartin blog page

 It was good looking at Gayle photos as it explained what Helen was trying to tell me about a picture on the wall.

But all in all. A good walk with good people and food.

Day 4 THE HERRIOT WAY

Day 4 Thursday 27 October Hawes to Aysgarth 13 miles (valley day)          

Leaving Hawes

This was the flattest day of the route, travelling along the valley from Hawes back to Aysgarth. It was also the first day we walked in the rain – until lunchtime it was just a bit damp and misty, but after that it settled into drizzle and the waterproofs had to come out.

Day 3 THE HERRIOT WAY

Leaving Keld

Day 3 Wednesday 26 October Keld to Hawes 13 miles (view day)         

This was the best day weather wise, with sunshine and some excellent views. After helping ourselves to cereal and toast provided at the bunkhouse, we set off. From Keld we were soon climbing, to reach the small summit of Kisdon. Our progress was somewhat delayed by an influx of text messages from Colin, as there has been no signal at Keld. From there we had excellent views as we descended towards Thwaite, and we could see Great Shunner Fell in the distance. From this point we spent a large part of the day following the Pennine Way, so route finding was easy. 

Day 2 THE HERRIOT WAY

Day 2 Tuesday 25 October 2011 Grinton to Keld 14 miles (water day)          

It had obviously rained heavily overnight and it looked very grey when we got up. However, by the time we were setting off it had cleared up considerably and we had a good day with some sunny spells and good visibility. When I did the coats to coast a few years ago, we had bad weather on the day from Keld to Grinton, and hence took the low route, so I was pleased that the weather was good enough for us to do the higher route this time.  

Musical Sheep

Our route took us initially downhill to Reeth, where we stopped at the bakers to buy some fruitcake. From there we had a pleasant walk near the river, before arriving at Healaugh. We then went past a hall and some woods. Some confusing information in our guidebook (The Herriot Way by Norman Scholes) led to us spending some time in the woods, until we just followed the map instead and soon picked up the route out of them. A pleasant path then took us uphill until we reached a small road at Surrender Bridge. Time was going by, but we made fast progress on the next stretch, climbing uphill on a track to Level House Bridge where we stopped for lunch. We were passed on this track by some vehicles full of men, who then stopped at a couple of shooting huts, presumably to eat as there was soon smoke coming out of the chimneys. Grouse shooting is obviously a very popular sport in this area.      

Barney Bear At Barney Beck

Surrender Bridge

Our route now was across the tops of the moors, where there was plenty of evidence of old mining works. Straight ahead lies a steep drop down, to Gunnerside Gill, on the other side of which we could see the path climbing back up the other side. We ignored the sign posted path, and then we ignored the cairn marked path, as the guide book said to follow the side of the valley round before dropping down. This we did, only to find when we arrived at the suggested point for descending that the way down was very steep indeed. We eventually picked up a bit of a path to get down on, but then spent some time trying to work out where the path was on the other side of the gill, and how to cross over. 

Gunnerside Gill

We eventually got ourselves over and found the path on the other side, but it would have been far easier to ignore the book, take one of the main paths down and then cross over at the bridge. Fortunately, after this the route was easy going, and we regained the moor top, before dropping down past the ruins of Crackpot Hall and then into Keld, for our latest finish of 6pm.

View From Bunkhouse.

At Keld we stayed at the Park House bunkhouse, next to the campsite. This turned out to be an excellent place to stay, and was effectively a self-catering house. It sleeps 9, but there was only us and one other man in, who was doing the Coast to Coast. We had pre-ordered food, our lasagne and chilli with rice was brought over to us from the main house, and we then spent the evening in the comfy lounge area, drinking bottles of beer bought from the main house.        

Day 2

THE HERRIOT WAY 52 MILES Day 1

THE HERRIOT WAY 52 MILES

After enjoying an excellent weekend of walking from Haworth hostel with Stockport Walking & Outdoor Group, on the Sunday evening, rather than heading home with the others, Pam and I headed North for the short drive to Aysgarth. After a very nice meal at the George & Dragon across the road, we spent the night at Yoredale guesthouse, which proved very friendly and comfortable. 

Edinburgh Weekend

Last weekend we went up to Edinburgh for a few days that then led me into a days work while Helen went shopping.  So we arrived on the Saturday and stayed just a few miles past the zoo.  This was so we could leave the car and use the bus to get in.

Nothing set in stone for walking this weekend. The main was to relax and enjoy the Christmas markets as well. That where we went when we arrived around 430pm. 

The markets are the normal mix of Christmas markets but not as big as Manchester markets. Which I may report about after this weekend. There were the normal German sausage stalls and apple strudel. Plus the old Gluvien stalls.  The gift stalls had the candle stalls and wooden toys that you may find in Manchester. There was plenty of hand made Jewellers and Gemstone stalls. Again nothing stood out as one I know back in Manchester. 

They did have a fair ground area and the ice rink down in the park area. But with the strong winds. The big wheel was left to the next day.

We then went for a curry and to a place I been before. Mother Indian.  Which is a tap as Indian.  The food is great and each time I gone its packed to the doors. We did not book, so we had to wait 45 mins in the bar next door. Which had live singer on. Think the place was Edinburgh No1 Folk bar.

The next day we wander around the new Cotswolds shop before heading up onto Arthur seat. Again it was windy but a clear day.  Busy as it was Sunday and a good place if you do trail running. It was a good day to look down on the city and see the old layout. How many old buildings there are in the town. From here we went back into the city and went up to the castle to see the ice sculptors. Just two have been done. The castle was free today as it was St Andrews Day. As we walked up everyone was coming out of the castle.  From here we back down onto Princess Street and went on the big wheel.

The final day we were moving hotel so we drove round to the ski slope near the Pentland hills.  Our aim was a small walk as the forecast again was not good. We arrived at the car park to heavy showers and soon we were on the hillside. Walking at the side of the ski slope and up onto Caerketton Hill. 

Where we were hit with strong winds. Quick measure of the wind speed came out 22 to 30mph. Again we had to good views down onto the City and in the distance you could just see the Forth Road Bridge.  We then carried on to Allermuir Hill, which we found the wind was even stronger and knocking us over. At the twig point we could see south along the Pentland hills and what a ridge walk that would be.  Even a place for a wild camp. But not today and we decided to turn back and head back down due the wind. We did look at carrying onto another hill, but we could go and look at two outdoor shops.  Which we did in the end and came away with a Christmas present. So cannot be bad.

In the evening we checked in a new hotel in the centre and headed for the Café Royal bar for a meal and some fine ales. Went to Oxford bar as we were told it was a good bar. Very old bar and then back to the pub next to the Café royal for a ½ beer and a malt whiskey.

So not a big weekend for walks in the hills but we did some miles around the city and close hills.