Sunday, September 12, 2010
We left the caravan at about 10.30 and met dad outside the Coverbridge. We parked the car and set off along the River Cover. It was warm and sunny but threatened heavy showers. We had forgotten to pack raincoats so were hoping the rain held off.
It was nice walking along the river, there were lots of fallen trees so we had to keep climbing over them. We passed some stepping stones but did not cross the river at this point, but we did walk on to Hullo bridge. We went a little wrong here but soon corrected our mistake and headed up to the road to Middleham. We walked along the footpath beside the road passing Low Middleham Moor where race horses are trained. Apparently there are 850 inhabitants in Middleham and 500 racehorses.
We down beside Middleham castle, childhood home to Richard 111, and stopped in the town square for a drink and a bag of crisps and decided that we did not want to exhaust our selves on the first day so instead of doing the second half of the planned figure of 8 walk we would only do one bit. After a wander around the town, checking out the pubs and restaurants we walked back up beside the castle and headed over William's Hill, a mote and bailey, across the fields and back to the stepping stones.
We crossed them this time and walked along the other side of the river bank and back to the Cover Bridge Inn, where it would have been rude not to stop for a pint of Old Peculiar. We had walked 8.79km.
Monday,September 13, 2010
The weather was a bit grotty today so we decided on a trip to Ripon. We had a wander around the town and a look around the cathedral which had a very impressive choir stall and organ, including some carved miserichords in the choir stalls which were said to have inspired Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland.
After lunch in the cafe at Masham we decided the weather was not as bad as expected so we drove to the Druid's temple. John and I had visited this place two years ago when we first started geocaching and we wanted to show dad. It was still a bit drizzly but we had a short walk around the forest and found a new cache that had been placed. Dad was quite amazed at the temple which although looking as though it had been there for thousands of years was actually built by the Victorians.
We headed back to the car and I navigated us on a scenic route back to Jervaulx. As we drove down a steep hill we spotted a heron standing by the side of the road. He took off and flew down the road in front of us. We realised there was a cache to find and parked near a duck pond where we were mobbed by a few ducks as we got out of the car. The cache was found after a short hunt.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
We started off at the Coverbridge picking up dad.
As we drove through Middleham we followed a pack of race horses through the town and back to their stables. We drove to West Witton,parked and then followed the path across fields to an avenue of sycamore trees. We walked down the lane with wonderful views towards Bolton Hall. We crossed the road and walked past the gate house and down to Lord's Bridge where we turned left along a footpath and crossed fields until we came to a small beck where the path led down to the river Ure. After the rain that we had had last night the river was flowing very fast, and it was a very pleasant walk, although a little windy.
We continued beside the river for about a mile and a half and then after passing Batt Island we crossed a ladder stile and walked across a very lumpy area of field which was probably the spoil from the Keld head lead mines. We crossed another stile and followed down through some woods to reach Redmire Force. The falls were flowing very fast today and it was pleasant sitting beside the falls eating our lunch.
After a break we retraced our steps through the woods and then walked along a cart track, to the footpath. The field had a large new sign on it stating “Beware of the Bull”. I nervously looked in but there was no sign of any cattle so we walked beside New Wood to the gate in the corner and then followed a dry stone wall and lane back towards West Witton. It had been a very nice walk and although we had worn wet weather gear it had actually been dry and sunny, although very windy in places. We decided to reward ourselves so drove back to High Jervaulx where we stopped for an icecream. John and dad had ginger and I had praline pecan delight. We went back to the caravan for a cup of tea and then dad decided to walk back along the river to the Coverbridge while we got tea ready. He hadn't been gone long when it started to rain – and he hadn't got his wet gear on! Oh dear. Wednesday, September 15, 2010
It was very windy and rainy again. We were treated to a wonderful display of swallows swooping over the caravan and landing on the skylight this morning. Dad arrived at 10.30 and we decided to go towards Fountains Abbey. We parked in the NT car park and then walked to the road and down towards the Monk's wall. We followed the footpath, stopping to find a cache hidden in the wall, then headed towards Hill house farm. Last time we had walked here we had not been able to get through the farm because the cows were blocking the way, but today they were in the fields and although it was very mucky we were able to follow the path. We stopped at a ruined gatehouse where we could see several stags in the deer park. We then carried on through the woods startling pheasants as we went – they seemed to be everywhere today. As we emerged from the woods we followed a steep and muddy lane down to a ford across the river, although there was no water in the river at all. We entered Studley Royal park and followed the Seven bridges way. We kept crossing fords or bridges but the water seemed to have been diverted as there was no water in the river. We sat on a tree stump for a while to eat our lunch and then went on a hunt for a geocache. It involved climbing a steep bank up to the look out tower. Getting up was OK but down was a bit more tricky, but we made it safely. We had left dad at the bottom watching the deer while we went up the top. We finally got to the lakes at Studley Royal and then walked up to the church for a look round.
The church was Victorian gothic and very impressive to look around. The guide pointed out the parrots, birds, butterflies, mouse and snails that had been incorporated into the decoration. We returned to the car and back to the caravan before going out to dinner at the Coverbridge Inn.
Thursday 16 September 2010
We drove to Aysgarth and had a nice walk down to look at the middle and lower falls. Dad took lots of photos and then we walked through Freeholders woods towards Carperby.
The woods were dotted with lots of small nest boxes which had been placed there for the dormice that had been re-introduced. We crossed the meadows, enjoying the views of the hills and then entered Carperby. We hunted around for some clues for a geocache which had been placed by the National Park Authority. There was plenty of history in the village including the start of the Wensleyan church and the Quaker church. Having found the clues we headed up a track to a viewpoint where the cache was hidden. We retraced our steps through the meadows and the woods and then to the Upper Falls. Dad took lots more photos and then we went tot the Mill Race for a cup of tea.
Friday 17 September 2010
We drove to Leyburn, only to find it was market day so we couldn't park. We managed to find a spot on a side street and then set off through the back streets to the path leading to the Shawl. We walked up onto the top and walked along the ridge for a while. The views across Wenslydale were wonderful. We found a cache – John scrambled down to get it, and then walked a bit further before coming down off the Shawl and walking through Gilmoor wood. We found a nice clearing to sit and eat our lunch. The area is actually quite industrial and housed the engine house, chimney and smelt flues (where we were sitting) for the Keld Head smelt mine. They had mined for lead and silver in the past. We walked down the track and realised we had gone wrong. A farmer stopped and pointed us back to the correct path which led across freshly manured meadows (pooh) and then started to climb back up to the Shawl again. We followed the path back to Leyburn where we stopped for a pot of tea in the Post House tea rooms.
After returning to the car we went and filled up with diesel and then drove to Harmby. We parked by the road and followed the path to a waterfall which was much higher than the falls we had seen before but less powerful. This was another spot we would not have found if it had not been for geocaching.
Saturday 18 September 2010
We met everyone at the Coverbridge Inn today. Emily and Mike ahd come over to visit us so we set off along the banks of the river Cover following the same route that we walked on Sunday. We stopped for pictures at the stepping stones and then walked to the Hullo bridge.
We crossed the bridge and walked on the other side of the river for a short distance before heading up into the fields towards East Witton lodge. It was lovely just walking and chatting with Emily and Mike and dad. We finally arrived in East Witton where we sat for a while to eat a bun (Emily, Mike and dad had had enormous breakfasts at the Coverbridge) and then we walked beside the church into a field with two horses. They ignored us but a short distance further on we could see a farmer trying to round up his sheep. We realised the footpath went through the field he was working in so we stopped and waited for a while. He told us we could go through and pointed us to the stile. He said trying to round up lambs with no yows (ewes) was murder as they just went round in circles. We crossed a few more fields with sheep in and then found ourselves back at the pub. (7.66km) We all went in for a pint and then decided to head up to High Jervaulx for an icecream.
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