Friends of DalesRail

This page gives the latest news that may affect any of our activities - such as additional events, website updates, changes to our published programme, or problems with the trains we are using.

News items are usually retained on this page for up to 6 months, but may be removed/updated earlier than this, depending on their relevance. All older and removed items can still be viewed in the News Archives (see link below)

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1 February 2012 (amended item)

The members' weekend to Blanchland, Weardale from 23 to 26 March 2012 has been cancelled. Please see the updated note below from John Crouch for further information:

We have just been informed that the Lord Crewe Arms hotel has gone into administration. This means that our weekend on 23-26 March will have to be rearranged.

I have looked at several alternatives, but with such short notice have been limited in what was possible. There is a likelihood that the Lord Crewe Arms will be open again by October and we may get a priority booking, hence, I have decided to move the Patterdale holiday forward to March. However, they can only offer us enough rooms for the Friday and Saturday nights.

Those who were booked on the Blanchlands weekend are being contacted as a matter of urgency and need to confirm to Pat Wilson that they are happy transfer to Patterdale or would rather withdraw. If going to Patterdale payment is required immediately. There may be some extra places available. If you wish to go and were not on the list to go to Blanchland but would like to go to Patterdale please contact Pat Wilson as soon as possible, and by 4th February at the latest.

25 January 2012 - Events update

Please note that the Wycoller Circular Thursday walk will take place on 2 February 2012 (not 9 February, as originally printed in the members' calendar).

18 January 2012 - advance notice of change to train walk on 11 February

The strenuous walk on this date (originally Hellifield Circular) has been changed to Hellifield to Gargrave followed by a bus back to Skipton. Summary information can be found on the Train Walks page and full details will be posted here during the week before the walk takes place.

16 January 2012 (updated item)

The walk report, leaders' route descriptions and sketch map from the recent members' coach trip to Barton-on-Humber on Sunday 15 January can be seen in the Coach Walks section.

8 January 2012 - More a swim than a walk (updated item)

A report from the Fairburn Ings Circular (Thursday walk) on 5 January 2012 can be seen in the Past Events (Other Events 2012) section - photo above by Martin Housley.

2 January 2012

The online version of the October 2011 members' newsletter can now be viewed in the Newsletter section.

Please send any items for inclusion in the February 2012 issue to the editor, Penny Smith, as soon as possible, but no later than 16 January 2012.

20 December 2011 (updated item)

The walk report, leaders' route descriptions and sketch map from the members' coach trip to Ripon, North Yorkshire on Sunday 18 December can be seen in the Past Events (Coach Walks 2011) section. Both the route descriptions and sketch map can be downloaded and printed off.

18 December 2011

A selection of photos from the Horton to Settle train walk on 10 December 2011 can now be accessed in the Past Events (Train Walks 2011) section

3 December 2011

A selection of photos from the Beamsley Beacon Thursday walk on 1 December and additional photos from the Keswick weekend in October can now be accessed via the Past Events (Other Events 2011) and the Past Events (Holidays 2011) sections respectively.

The Friends of DalesRail 2011 Annual General Meeting took place today at the Steeton Hall Hotel. The event was attended by around 50 people and the guest speaker this year was Colin Speakman from Yorkshire Dales Public Transport User Group who gave a talk entitled "Walking and Railways - a perfect Synergy".

Lunch was followed by an interactive presentation by Martyn Benton of digital photos from our own events over the past year or so. A full report of the AGM will be included with the next members' newsletter, due out early in the New Year. The 2012 members' calendar is now available and was given out at the AGM to all who had paid their annual subscription of £8 per household for the forthcoming year. It is currently being distributed by post to paid up members who were not at the AGM and will be sent to remaining members as soon as their annual subscription is received.

A selection of photos, the leaders' walk descriptions and sketch map from the members' coach trip to Stalybridge, Tameside (Greater Manchester) on Sunday 20 November can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.

With immediate effect, all bookings for members' coach trips will be taken by Lynn Saleh (Tel: 01274 724888).

Please note the 2012 members calendar - which is currently being distributed upon payment of the annual subscription - contains an error. The Wycoller Circular Thursday walk will take place on 2 February 2012 (not 9 February as printed in the calendar).

Once again, Metro and Northern Rail have teamed up to offer a special £9 day return ticket on either the Settle-Carlisle or Lancaster-Morecambe scenic railway lines for holders of MetroCards or Metro-issued English National Concessionary Passes on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle and Leeds-Morecambe lines.

The offer runs from Monday 5 December 2011 until Friday 23 March 2012 (excluding half term from 11 February to 19 February 2012). Please note that the offer for Metro-issued English National Concessionary Passes applies Monday to Friday only.

Walkers on the Starbotton to Grassington (easy) walk on may save money on the bus fare by purchasing a combined bus/rail Skipton Dalesbus ticket (details below).

Skipton DalesBus tickets allow a day return by train to Skipton, then unlimited travel on the Wharfedale area buses, as far north as Buckden. The tickets cost just £3.00 on top of the Off-Peak Return fare to Skipton. The tickets are available from Leeds, Bradford Forster Square and all stations on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.

A Skipton DalesBus ticket from Leeds currently costs £10.70, but the price should be less from intermediate stations. Note that the DalesBus tickets can only be combined with Off-Peak Return fares, not any other type of ticket and they cannot be combined with concessionary fares for MetroPermit holders.

A similar Ilkley DalesBus ticket is also available for travellers on the Wharfedale line.

Please click here to see the full details of DalesBus tickets on the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group website (external link)

A selection of photos from the Thursday walk to Weets Hill, Lancashire on 3 November can now be accessed via the Past Events (Other Events 2011) section.

Details of our coach walks and walking holidays for next year can now be found in the Coach Walks 2012 and Holidays 2012 sections respectively. Thursday walks and Lake District walks can be found in the Members section. Train walks will be added in due course and a summary of all events will be detailed in the 2012 members' calendar which will be available from late November 2011 upon payment of the annual subscription.

A selection of photos and a report from the recent members' holiday to Keswick, Cumbria can now be seen in the Past Events (Holidays 2011) section. Additional photos added 25 October!

Initial details of the flat fare offer from Northern Rail for Dales Railcard (including Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line Gold Card) holders are now available:

* A £6.50 flat-fare adult day return ticket (Period return & single journeys are excluded)

* Valid on the Settle-Carlisle and Leeds-Morecambe lines, includes travel to/from Brampton and Wetheral on the Tyne Valley line (normal Dales Railcard area of travel applies)

* Up to four children can accompany Dales Railcard holders for a child flat fare of £3.00 each.

Further information will be provided here as available. For more details of the Dales Railcard please click here (external website link)

Metro's offer for MetroCard and concessionary passholders on the scenic Leeds to Settle - Carlisle and Lancaster - Morecambe railway lines is returning for 2011 - 2012. It will run from Monday 5th December 2011 until Friday 23rd March 2012. Further details will be available shortly.

Details of our walking holidays and Thursday walks for 2012 can now be found in the Holidays 2012 and Members pages respectively. Train walks, coach walks and Lake District walks will be added in due course and a summary of all events will be detailed in the 2012 members' calendar which will be available from November 2011 upon payment of the annual subscription.

The latest newsletter is currently being distributed by email and post to members. The on-line version will be available for downloading in due course

The walk report, sketch map and leaders' walk descriptions from the members' coach trip to How Stean, Nidderdale on Sunday 9 October can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.

The walks sketch map and leaders' walk descriptions from the members' coach trip to Bakewell, Derbyshire on Sunday 18 September can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.

A selection of photos from the recent members' holiday to Weymouth, Dorset can now be accessed via the Past Events (Holidays 2011) section. Additional photos uploaded 6 September!

A selection of photos from the Lake District Walk over Glaramara on 17 August can now be accessed via the Past Events (Other Events 2011) section.

The walks sketch map and leaders' walk descriptions from the members coach trip to Sutton Bank, North York Moors on Sunday 14 August can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.

A selection of photos and a report from the Lake District Walk to the Langdale Skyline on 12 July can now be seen in the Past Events (Other Events 2011) section.

The walk report, walks sketch map and leaders' walk descriptions from the members coach trip to Leek and the Roaches on Sunday 17 July can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.

Please see the Past Events (Other Events 2011) section to read the reports from the Lake District Walks to Coniston in April; Scafell Pike May and Portinscale to Seatoller in June 2011. A selection of photos from these events can also be accessed there. Additional photos uploaded 25 June/3 July

The walks sketch map, leaders' walk descriptions and walk report from the members' coach trip to Coniston, Lake District on Sunday 19 June 2011 can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.

A selection of photos from the Garsdale Circular train walk via Cotterdale and Great Shunner Fell on 28 May 2011 can be accessed in the Past Events (Train Walks 2011) section

A selection of photos from the recent members weekend at Dufton Youth Hostel, Cumbria can be seen in the Past Events (Holidays 2011) section. Additional photos of this event can be seen via an external weblink on this page, for which there may be a short download delay, but patience has its rewards!

The online version of the Spring 2011 members' newsletter can now be viewed in the Newsletter section.

Please send any items for inclusion in the Autumn 2011 issue to the editor, Penny Smith, as soon as possible, but no later than 16 September 2011.

The walks sketch map, leaders' walk descriptions and walk report from the members' coach trip to Sewerby, near Bridlington on Sunday 15 May 2011 can now be seen in the Coach Walks 2011 section.