Gargrave + Christmas 8th Dec 2019

The weather was every bit as bad as we were warned and there was a general groan about the depth of the mud. But there were seven groups out, many walking in a variety of seasonal regalia.

The Leeds Liverpool Canal and the Pennine Way were the mainstays of five of the walks and the two others headed for the Flashby Fells.

At Colne the Oldhams were first off the coach. The next groups were Geoff’s and Stuart’s who  joined the canal at Foulridge. This section of the canal includes several miles of the summit level before descending by many locks to the lower meanders towards Skipton. Along the way there are many interesting features: the Boundary Stone, the wooden roller used to assist the horse drawn barges as they went through the bridges, and of course the Anchor Inn with its historic cellar full of stalagmites and stalactites.

At Thornton in Craven the next three groups left the coach. Marcia’s group,  Frances and Steff’s  group and Anne and Helen’s group all  followed a variety of routes involving the Pendle Way, the Pennine Way and devious other tracks and lanes to join the Canal Path through East Marton.

The final two groups, Paul’s and Mike’s left the coach near the Skipton round about. They followed very much the same route. From Stirton they followed the Dales High Way across the very unassuming range of Flashby Fells. 

In the teeth of the Atiyah hail stones the hills assumed a different character and both parties wasted no time on the summits. They returned to Gargrave by Mickleber Hill.

Finally all groups were together in Gargrave and were then swiftly transported to the bar in the Calf’s Head Worston. A generous Christmas dinner followed in the company of a team of elves and goblins and a parade of extravagant seasonal masks.   A very enjoyable occasion.

Account Mike B                      Canal details - courtesy of Stuart

Thank you to the photographers who captured this special day and evening - Geoff, Stuart, Marcia, Rick, Mike K, Mike B and Steve. An excellent day and evening.

Thank you to our coach driver Mark who manages to slide the coach into a parking place in the dark which most would not get their bike in to. Thank you Mark

To view the Album click here

 Next Walks:

Sunday 22^nd December 2019 – Newbiggin via Orton

5.00 p.m. departure

Northbound to Preston, M6 north to junction 38, A685 to Newbiggin, back along the A685 and then the B6261 to Orton. Park in Orton. Morning coffee stop at Burton services.

Sunday 5^th January 2020 – Aber to Conwy

5.00 p.m. departure

M57 south, Runcorn Bridge, M56, A55 westbound to Aber, where the coach will turn around and return on the A55 to Llandudno Junction, and park in the Junction Retail Park (near McDonald’s). The coach will drive from there to the bus stop in Castle Street, Conwy, arriving there around 4.30 p.m. Morning coffee stop at Elton Services, M56.

Sunday 19^th January 2020 – Ambleside

5.00 p.m. departure

Northbound to Preston, M6 north to junction 36, A590/A591 to Ambleside. Park in Ambleside in the Rothay Holme coach/HGV park which is situated off the Rothay Road (A593), between the bridge/sharp bend where the A593 crosses the river at Rothay Bridge and the centre of Ambleside. Morning coffee stop at Burton services.