The forecast was for a lovely Spring day, so Kath and I had decided on a trip to the Yorkshire Dales where we hadn't been for a long time. The first stop was in Hawes for a coffee, we found Hawes overrun with bikers. This is one of their stops on Sunday runs as they speed around the roads and lanes of Northern England. We left for much quieter back roads down the valley to Castle Bolton where we had lunch in the shadow of the famous castle where Mary,Queen of Scot's was imprisoned in 1569. On then over Grinton Moor, which was busy with grouse management, the heather was being burnt and dogs were being trained for duties later in the year come the "glorious twelfth". We had nice views of red grouse close to the road and I managed to grab a few quick shots. We then dropped steeply down to Reeth which was busy with Sunday motorists etc. After a look around we went on to Langthwaite in Arkengarthdale, a former lead mining area , but now a peaceful Dales village , much used in the filming of "All Creatures Great and Small ", the television version of the famous novels by James Herriott. We then travelled many miles over very exposed and bleak moorland to the famous Tan Hill Inn, Great Britain's highest pub at 1732ft above sea level, made famous by the Everest Double Glazing adverts on the TV. We stopped here to enjoy a coffee and sandwich. It is certainly in a very remote and bleak spot but has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and must be a welcome stop for weary walkers on the Pennine Way. We then dropped down into Swaledale again and out again up over the "Buttertubs Pass " to Wensleydale. We then climbed up again to Ribblehead and its famous viaduct before the final run back down the Lune Valley to home. It had been a long drive of 160 miles through some magnificent scenery and we had indeed travelled up hill and down dale throughout the day and thoroughly enjoyed a day to remember.
The images show Hawes and motorbikes, Red Grouse on the high moors, the Tan Hill Inn and the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Eeeee..by...gum that takes me back Brian. Margaret and I walked the PW back in 1987 (that seems a long time ago). On day eight we walked from Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes, some 14 miles, no bikers then. Entering Hawes through a little ginel past St. Margaret's church, it popped us out like a cork from a bottle into the main street.
ReplyDeleteThe next day we hung about in the market town as we new we would be in for a rough night camping behind the Tan Hill pub. I remember making a detour to Hardrow Force and even walking under the huge cascade. After Great Shunner Fell we dropped down into Thwaite set in beautiful Swaledale, my favorite dale.
Next time there try the Kearton Arms, home cooking - wonderful.
David