Yorkshire Dales Marathon Challenge - Training Walk 2
Friday 22nd April 2011 - Kettlewell
Hairy Hikers Present: Paul J, Stewart, Gav and Paul W
Start: National Trust Car Park, Kettlewell
Distance: 12.5 miles
Muffins provided by: Stewart
Vertical Waterfall Count: 0
The Route: From the National Trust Car Park in Kettlewell we crossed the road bridge over the river and took the path on the right, ignoring the riverside path we took the track that headed up the hill. After a short while we reached a fork in the track and took the right hand track. We followed the track for a while enjoying the stunning views up the Wharfedale valley. After a fair distance we took a steep path on the left that headed up the side of the hill and up onto the moors. After crossing a stile we followed the path at the side of the wall and after a while came to the trig point of Haw Fell, with views accross to Buckden Pike in one direction and Pen-y-ghent in the other and no a soul in sight but us.
As we approached the trig point some other walkers appeared heading towards us. We asked them to take the usual trig point photo of us and we returned the favour for them. Photo's taken and we carried on towards Litton and stopped at a nice outcrop part way down the hill for a spot of lunch. After munching our grub we carried on our decent into Littondale and after a while reached the Queens arms pub in Litton. A pint of Litton Ale was supped outside in the sunshine before we set off again munching on the muffins supplied by Stewart. We headed down a path to the side of the rather dry River Skirfare and followed it what would be downstream towards Arncliffe. After a pleasant few miles walk we reached Arnclife and couldn't resist the Falcon Inn and the hand served pints of Timmy Taylor's Landlord. The chap behind the bar fills a stone jug from the cask on the floor behind him and pours it into a pint pot. No hand pumps here.
After refreshing ourselves with Landlord we continued on our journey by heading back towards the River Skirfare, which now had water flowing in it and followed it downstream for a while. We then took a path up the hillside heading back over into Wharfedale. The climb was steep in places and quite hard, but nothing the Hairy Hikers couldn't handle. After a while we reached the top of the valley side and drank in the splendid view down Wharfedale towards Grassington. We had a short break for some grub and a drink then continued on our way back down towards Kettlewell. The Decent was easy going and we passed some wild campers packing up their campsite. After a while we came out of some woods beside the main road into Ketlewell, we followed the path that avoided walking on the road and came back to the road bridge in Kettlewell. After changing footwear we piled into Paul J's car and headed for home after a long day out on the hills.