Ramblers on the Dales trail
Duncanrig’s Yorkshire excursion
It was an early start for Duncanrig Ramblers as they headed off from the John Wright Sports Centre in East Kilbride en route to Harrogate for their annual May weekend away and three walks in the Yorkshire Dales.
A stop at the Rheged Centre, Penrith, for breakfast then on down the M6, turning off onto the A65 heading to Malham for two walks at Malham Cove.
Malham Cove is a huge, curving, amphitheatre-shaped cliff formation of limestone rock formed by a waterfall carrying meltwater from glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age more than 12,000 years ago.
Today, it is a well-known beauty spot within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Scenes for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows were filmed around Malham.
The walkers split up at the top. The alternate walkers went to visit the stunning Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss before returning to Malham via the picturesque hamlet of Hanlith.
High walkers headed off to visiting the sinkholes above the cove and the scenic Malham Tarn. The tarn is a glacial lake and one of only eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe. The group also visited Gordale Scar before returning to the coach.
From Malham, the coach made its way to Harrogate, arriving at the hotel just after the ‘Tour de Yorkshire’ cycle race had finished, which resulted in a coach-load of ramblers walking through the town into the back door of the hotel.
Time for a quick shower and the group met for dinner then enjoyed the delights of Harrogate’s nightlife.
Day two and a 45-minute drive after breakfast to the small village of Lofthouse for two walks.
The alternate walkers headed on a minor road to a footbridge over the How Stean Gorge where the outdoor activity centre offers various adventures.
Crossing the gorge, the group headed up over farmland ascending gently to the hamlet of Middlesmoor.
From Middlesmoor the group then contoured the hillside, passing the new lambs in the fields before descending down to cross the River Nidd below Scar Dam.
The ramblers, from here, joined the Nidderdale Way and followed the path to the pub at Lofthouse for a well-earned rest.
The high walkers headed north from Lofthouse and climbed up to the high ridge of Dale Edge on the edge of Masham Moor. After a few miles, the group dropped down onto the Nidderdale Way and then chased the alternate walk all the way to the pub at Lofthouse.
Following a short refreshment, it was back on the coach to Harrogate.
Day three and, following breakfast and checkout, it was on to the coach and a one-hour drive for the final two walks of the weekend.
The alternate walk started and finished at Stainforth (the Stone Ford) in the Ribble Valley where the group climbed up the walled Goat Lane, once an ancient trade route and now part of the Pennine Bridleway; the lane leads to a spectacular gem that is Catrigg Force, one of the composer Edward Elgar’s favourite places.
After leaving the waterfall, the group followed the Pennine Bridleway down into Langcliffe village, crossing the River Ribble here and then following the river back upstream to Stainforth and the waiting coach.
The high walkers started their route Helwith Bridge. The group then joined the Pennine Journey, a long distance path rising over open moorland, to meet the main Pennine Way at Churn Milk Hole.
From here they followed a track to the summit of Pen-y-ghent (694 metres). On the descent, the walkers detoured off to visit both of the very impressive limestone features Hunt Pot and Hull Pot.
The walk finished at Horton-inRibblesdale.
On the way home, the group stopped in Penrith for tea and it was a rather tired but happy bunch that arrived back in East Kilbride.