Jacqui’s Blog

The first signs of Spring are here – the first lamb born, crocuses poking through!  I love this time of year for walking.

The bookings for this year are coming through with a few more people attempting the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.  

Don’t forget the Gaping Gill Winch Meets this year – May and August Bank Holidays!

My ankle is fully recovered now and I’ve started running again, so I’ll be up in the hills again before long.

I’ll put details up of all of the walks that I do, with piccies where possible.

JK 2-Mar-2013

Walking Diary

 
Still testing my ankle and went on an 8 mile walk from Clapham today. It was a beautiful day and there was no sign of the rain that had been forecast. After a short walk along Thwaite Lane we climbed to the erratics. These are Silurian boulders carried along from the last Ice Age and deposited on top of the limestone. From there we carried on to the Clapper bridges over Austwick Beck. With brilliant views of Pen-Y-Ghent and Ingleborough at Long Scar, we walked back to Clapham via Ingleborough cave and Clapdale.  I needed a good stretch afterwards, but my ankle held up well.

Thanks to Brian for the photo.

JK 13-Oct-2012

I did a 3.5 mile walk today.  From Clapham through the woods beside Clapham Beck towards Ingleborough Cave.  Instead of going towards the Cave after going through the gate, I turned right and crossed the footbridge.  I then crossed the field to the stone steps in the wall, climbed over the wall into a walled lane. I know this lane as it’s one of my routes up Ingleborough, although this time I turned right to go back into Clapham through two small tunnels.

My ankle was fine, so it’s time to put on the proper walking boots.

JK 23-Sept-2012

 I am able to start walking and running again, so decided to do a flat walk along the river Lune from the Devil’s Bridge in Kirkby Lonsdale.  A lovely walk on a sunny day.  I got to the Radical Steps and climbed up to the top to see Ruskin’s View (see photo).  I then walked into the centre of Kirby through the church yard.  Had a much needed cuppa and a fresh scone in Number Forty Four, then headed back the way I came back along the river.

My ankle held up really well, so ready to try more tomorrow.

JK 22-Sept-2012

We set off for Gaping Gill arriving at 11.30am and booked for the descent – there was a 4 hour wait! An hour and a half later they were up to number 90 and we were 180 and 181, the wait was even longer, so we decided to leave and go for lunch instead. So, if you’re wanting to visit the chamber at Gaping Gill – GET THERE EARLY – best get there at 8am, I know that’s a tall order when the walk from Clapham can take a good hour, hour and a half. Well worth it though. There is always the August Bank Holiday meet or next year and rather than drive up from Manchester, I’ll stay over the night before to make sure I get there nice and early.  It was a disappointing day, but lunch at Number Forty Four in Kirkby Lonsdale went some way in making up for it.

JK 02-June-2012

A gorgeous day in the Dales today! I went for a drive this afternoon, still not able to do the big walks unfortunately. I went for a drive across to Dent. Wonderful views and lots of lambs in the fields and a few gates to open and close, felt like James Herriot!!! I took a few photos and here’s one of the lambs sprinkled around the limestone. I love this beautiful part of the world!

JK 28-Apr-2012

I visited White Scar Caves over Easter. The weather wasn’t too good and I had an achilles injury that meant I couldn’t do any hill walking. After breakfast in the café at Inglesport and watching the peacocks (yes peacocks!), I drove the 2 miles up to White Scar Caves. I have been meaning to do the tour for months and finally got around to it. It was £8.50 to get in and I bought one of the glossy brochures (it’s in the apartment now, it has lots of great photos in it).The guided tour takes about 90 mins, you’ll walk about a mile and be prepared for some very low ‘ceilings’ (you do get a hard hat though). Walking shoes or trainers are best, definitely no heels. The formations in the caves are incredible, so photos are a must. This one is of the Devil’s Tongue. A great tour and it didn’t matter what the weather was doing up top!

JK 08-Aug-2012

What’s coming up?

Dales Festival of Food & Drink

If you enjoy food, drink and are looking for a place to go on the May Day Bank Holiday week end, you need to head for Leyburn in Wensleydale. The three day Dales Festival of Food and Drink is a feast of gastronomic delights with a distinctly local flavour. Held over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, the Festival is visited by over 12,000 visitors from all over the region. There are three fundamental elements that make the Dales Festival of Food and Drink a success, Food, Farming and Fun. With over 80 stalls featuring local food products and many outside stands, visitors will find something for everyone.

Gaping Gill Winch Meet 2013

Bradford Pothole Club will be taking people down into Gaping Gill over Spring Bank Holiday in May.

Tour de France 2014

The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - will start in the world's greatest county on 5th & 6th July 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.