Weekend in The Yorkshire Dales
Friday 30th August - Monday 2nd September 2024
Friday - Grassington
We arrived in Grassington in time for our picnic lunch in glorious sunshine. We opted for the classic riverside walk to Linton Falls, a beautiful combination of a natural fault in the rocks of the riverbed and a manmade weir for a long demolished mill.
The Church at Linton is very pretty and peaceful, well worth the detour...
...as was the walk to the village green and The Fountaine Inn where we managed a crafty pint.
We retracd our steps to the Falls and along the water meadow into Grassington Village aka Darrowby from All Creatures Great and Small, with its cobbled streets and handsome buildings.
Our accomodation for the weekend was around 30 minutes drive in Malham and we had our first taste of the narrow single track roads of the Dales.
The Lister Arms has been a Public House since 1726 and we were made very welcome. There are 23 guest bedrooms and we were in the Lister Barn just across the road from the main building. This was very quiet and comfortable.
An after dinner stroll around the village completed our day.
Stats: 5.58 miles, 14,769 steps
Saturday - Malham Cove
Another glorious late summer day for this the main reason for our visit which we were able to walk from our doorstep. Malham is very defineatly a honeypot destination for the Dales.
The classic trail starts on a well made path to Janet's Foss, a small waterfall in a shady glade where a couple of people were wild swimming.
Half a mile or so further on is the stunning Gordale Scar, a narrow gorge with towering cliffs and waterfall. There is actually a public footpath that scales the rock face alongside the falls, we were hoping that we might be able to attempt this but I know my capabilities and that I wouldn't make it although Col would liked to have given it a go! Instead we retraced our steps and made the steep climb up the hillside, which gave us plenty of rest stops to admire the glacial landscape and ancient field patterns.
...until we reach the amazing Malham Cove.
The sheer cliffs are 80m high, 300m wide topped with limestone pavement, such an amazing landscape, so much geology on this walk. Of course there were crowds of people on a sunny Saturday but room for everyone and we lingered enjoying the views before descending the many steps down to the valley floor for a different perspective and the easy trail back to the village.
Stats: 11.48 miles, 25,897 steps
Sunday - Buckden Rake and Yockendale
A cloudy day today but mainly good walking conditions, a little drizzle at times and wet grass which soaked our shoes! An 350m climb warmed us up at the start, Buckden Rake being a Roman Road on a natural limestone shelf.
At the village of Cray we descended to the River Wharfe (of Wharfdale) which was crossed via stepping stones...
...and then climbed again for some great views of the valley...
...until we reached Yockenthwaite, a handsome bridge and a collection of Farm buildings - Helen's Farm in All Creatures Great and Small.
The path the followed the river to the Hamlet of Hubberholme and then back to Buckden Bridge and the village.
Heavy rain had been forecast for today with the risk of thunderstorms, we were lucky the downpour came whilst we were driving back to Malham.
Stats: 7.68 miles, 17,954 steps
Monday - Barden Bridge to Bolton Priory
Another walk along the River Wharf along part of The Dales Way and The Bolton Abbey Estate.
The majestic Barden Bridge dates from 1676 and the riverside path is easy to follow, we cossed the Barden Aqueduct into Strid Wood a protected SSSI.
The Strid itself is where the river becomes so narrow it could be possible to"stride" across it. Consequently the river becomes very deep with pools upto 8m.deep. The rock formations and potholes are fascinating and the mossy rocks so beautiful.
A coffe stop at the Cavendish Pavillion before we continue the riverside walk to the Bolton Abbey Ruins. When The Dissolution of the Monistories happened the nave survived as the Parish Church and became known as the Priory. There has been worship here from 1170 onwards.
We crossed the river again at the Priory opting for the footbridge rather than the stepping stones, on this side there was a Welly Walk with various childrens activities back to the Pavillion where we retraced our steps to Barden Bridge and the homeward journey.
We have loved our weekend in Yorkshire, fantastic scenery, good food and drink and lovely accomadation. We must come again soon.
Stats: 6.0 miles 14,752 steps
Total Stats: 30.74 miles, 73,372 steps
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