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Train
Walks 2009
Below are reports and photos of selected train walks from
2009, with the most recent appearing first. Please click on
the appropriate links to view these.
29 December - Settle Circular via
Rathmell and Giggleswick
20 September - Settle Circular via Langcliffe
Scar & Stainforth Force
15 August - Marsden to Holmfirth via
Wessenden Head and Digley Reservoir
1 August - Bentham to Cowan Bridge via
Ingleton, Yordas cave and Ease Gill
6 June - Burton-in-Kendal Circular
via Hutton Roof Crags
6 June - Garsdale Circular via Great
Shunner and Hugh Seat
25 April - Settle Circular via the Elgar
Way
11 April - Horton Circular via Pen-y-Ghent
and Cosh Knott
21 March - Hellifield to Gisburn via
Ribble Way
7 February - Skipton to Hebden via Embsay
Crag, Cracoe Obelisk and Burnsall Fell
25 January - Sowerby Bridge Circular
via Barkisland and Greetland
17 January - Horton to Settle via Dub
Cote
3 January - Gargrave to Settle via Airton
& Malham Cove
1 January - Keighley Circular via the
Worth Way
29 December - Settle Circular via
Rathmell and Giggleswick
Photos from Carola Maddox
Please
click here to view additional photos of this event by John
Wood (external website link)
22 of us strode out from Settle station for
the last "FDR" walk of 2009, ably led by David Hopkins
and backed up by Carola, who kept an even closer eye on us
by being both in the middle and at the back of the group at
the same time; it was as if she was in two places at once...
Aside from the icy wind which was blasting over directly from
Siberia, the first amazing sight was the fact that the pavements
had been gritted - is this another one of these quaint Yorkshire
traditions I keep hearing about? Back home we are lucky to
get the roads done - as someone recently remarked to me "The
only thing gritted round 'ere is my teeth!"
For the rest of the day we trudged, tramped,
slithered and slid our way round a succession of fields paths,
minor roads and farm tracks all of which were in varying states
of being snowbound, icebound or the perennial favourite: snow
on top of ice. But miraculously, we did not have a single
fall all day, at least to my knowledge and we enjoyed the
snowswept landscape views throughout the walk. One farmer
en route had so little to do, he got in his truck and drove
out to let us know that we had strayed an estimated 2.8 millimetres
from the right of way passing through his land. Our back marker
placated him with a few kind words and her most charming smile,
thus avoiding a lengthy and expensive court battle.
A safe and timely return to Settle ensued
and even the sun put in a rather brief and weak guest appearance
during the latter part of the day. Thanks to our leaders for
a moderate walk which felt a bit more challenging than usual
but was nevertheless enjoyable throughout.
Report by Philip
Birtwistle
20 September - Settle Circular via
Langcliffe Scar & Stainforth Force
Photos by Eric Bottomley
15 August - Marsden to Holmfirth
via Wessenden Head and Digley Reservoir
Photos by Diane Hirst
1 August - Bentham to Cowan Bridge
via Ingleton, Yordas cave and Ease Gill
A different and spectacular walk over an area where very
few venture.
Started simply from Bentham, over the empty golf courses,
through
Ingleton and up through the falls. As can be seen they were
in full
spate and making a lot of noise. Here we left the crowds and
went north
along Kingsdale to Braida Garth (Thanks Diane for finding
the bridge!).
Had lunch at Yordas cave, time for some exploring, before
the steep
climb up Gragareth. Once up it was over the top and straight
down to
Ease Gill. However we did stop to admire the views as all
the clouds
(and rain) had gone. We then followed (not without difficulty)
Ease
Gill/Leck Beck all the way to Cowan Bridge. Thanks to Jack
and Diane
for a walk that no one in the party had done before.
Photos and report by Dave Sherborne
6 June - Burton-in-Kendal Circular
via Hutton Roof Crags
Don't take any notice of the weather forecast
Morecambe line walk, 6th June 2009
Weather forecast for this walk was for it to be wet &
windy, possibility of weather clearing by 3pm.
Before setting off for this walk I made sure that I had all
my waterproofs (extra heavy duty).
One very large umbrella & my extra waterproof boots.
I even waxed the dog (lucky Harvey).
I arrived at Burton in Kendal just before the bus was due,
wondering where the rain was.
The bus discharged 9 intrepid walkers, all waterproofed and
raring to go.
Within half a mile the protective clothing was starting to
be got rid of & by half way most of the walkers were in
shirts or t-shirts. Then the sun came out.
What a fantastic walk we had. Excellent leader, excellent
back-up,(well I thought the back-up was) & David was nearly
second to get to the pub,
Moral of the story is not to take much notice of weather forecasts.
Report by Mike Smith
6 June - Garsdale Circular via Great
Shunner and Hugh Seat
Please
click here to view photos of the recce for this event by John
Wood (external web link)
25 April - Settle Circular via the
Elgar Way
Photos by Eric Bottomley
11 April - Horton Circular via Pen-y-Ghent
and Cosh Knott
Please
click here to view photos of this event by John Wood (external
web link)
21
March - Hellifield to Gisburn via Ribble Way
This was stated to be the third recce by our leader after
Penny and her backup Pat had two rather wet and muddy trials
to find the right path.
On the day the weather forecast was great, which tempted the
walkers to venture out. (Had they heard it was someone's birthday
and we had two very good bakers amongst us?) Whichever it
was the turnout was 28.
After descending on the café at Hellifield station,
we set off at a good rate towards Hellifield green, near where
we were all rather taken with the Highland Cattle calves which
looked more like teddy bears.
Onwards to Halton West for a Penelope Pitstop T break, after
which we hit the Ribble Way, the wet boggy ground had dried
up somewhat, so the paths became very pleasant. After lunch
was taken at Paythorne we continued on our way along some
very good tracks and finishing up through Gisburne Park, where
we collected a lost sheep called Eric. (How good it was to
see him there, not lost really. He knew exactly where to find
us!!)
Thanks to Penny and Pat for a most enjoyable day.
Good walk, good leading, good Pace and great cakes.
Don't know what the worries were for!!
Report by Glennys Ash
7 February - Skipton to Hebden via
Embsay Crag, Cracoe Obelisk and Burnsall Fell
Please
click here to view photos by John Wood from the recce for
this walk (external web link)
25 January - Sowerby Bridge Circular
via Barkisland and Greetland
16 intrepid members arrived at Sowerby Bridge station for
a FDR 10 mile
walk. After separating ourselves from the Bradford Ramblers
who were
also starting here, we set off (uphill of course!) to skirt
Norland Town
and head towards Greetland. As the ground was no longer frozen
our
thoughtful leader had chosen a few more tracks so that we
would not be
on muddy paths all day. The walk was undulating to put it
mildly,
crossing the Bradley Golf course and then heading west along
the edge
to Barkisland. For a very brief time we were interrupted by
a sudden
shower (rain!), but otherwise it was clear with superb views.
Obviously
it was a trifle muddy, but I do not think anyone fell over
and everyone
visited paths they had not done before.
Before too long we had a steady descent to Sowerby Bridge.
Thanks to
Carola and David Hopkins for a well lead walk. These walks
are obviously
now catching on as the numbers are closing in on the Saturday
totals;
come and join the party!!
Photos and report by Dave Sherborne
17 January - Horton to Settle via
Dub Cote
Photos by Pen-y-Smith
3 January - Gargrave to Settle via
Airton & Malham Cove
Photos by John Wood
1 January - Keighley Circular via
the Worth Way
Photos by John Wood (1-8)
and Penny Smith (9-11)
This walk was both a 'Thursday Walk' and a 'New Year's Day
Walk' ably led by Stuart and Carol. We walked from Keighley
Railway Station through woods above the main road, with views
of Exley Head and Oakworth across the valley until we reached
Cross Roads. The trees were beautifully decorated with frost,
the ground was nice and firm and the weather cold, but tranquil.
We turned towards Sugden End Reservoir and walked up an attractive
lane towards Brow Moor. This lane is part of the Senior Way,
named after Councillor Senior from Cullingworth. The last
time I walked this was when the 'Senior Way' opened and Mr
Seniors' son insisted that we all had refreshment before we
climbed up the lane or we would all be dehydrated. We continued
along a path at the back of Brow Moor, which brought back
memories of my childhood, when I had to take the cows onto
the moor every day in summer. We walked past the windmill
at Naylor Hill and continued on to Oxenhope, where we had
lunch at the picnic area near the station. Lots of people
had brought extra refreshments, so it was quite a party atmosphere.
After lunch we walked along the valley into Haworth where
I was able to point out the old 'Hippodrome' cinema and schools
we had attended. 'Buck Lane' where Eric had been pushed down
by friends! and let go, whilst in a wheelchair, having suffered
injuries from falling off a house roof. We saw Merralls' Mill,
where Eric was a weaving overlooker and I had worked in the
office. The farm, where the owner and Eric, had been involved
in creating the landslide, in the film 'The Railway Children',
near to Oakworth Station.
Stuart had organised the walk to time with the steam trains
along the Worth Valley Railway, however nobody took up the
offer of finishing the walk early by taking the train into
Keighley, we were all enjoying ourselves too much.
Thank you Stuart and Carol for a really interesting walk.
Report by the unfortunate wife of the 'pain' who has been
in pain himself for the last few weeks and is not walking.
Report by Pat Bottomley
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