A WEEKEND TO WATCH THE ROAD WORLD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS AT STREET HEAD NEAR AYSGARTH

Sick of the rainy days, we took off to Street Head Caravan Park in Bishopdale near Aysgarth as the Mens Elite Road Race goes right past this campsite on Sunday.

After a rainy night and early morning the sun came out and we managed our 6 mile walk in good weather, some strong winds up on the tops but the sun shone often.

The loop walk was Caldron Falls to Morpeth Scar. As usual, despite having the written instructions and a walking map we couldn't find the trail up to the very top of Morpeth Scar, crazy directions and not as map. We still had a good walk as Roy took us along a trail which we then decided was wrong but good views and extended the walk. The Caldron Falls were absolutely flooded, there's been a lot of rain in the Dales!

Today was the elite Womens road race (part of the World Road Championships) We decided not to watch as we are hopefully seeing the Mens Elite Road race tomorrow.

Ended the day with a drive to Askrigg for a lovely meal in The Crown.

SUNSHINE

BOLTON CASTLE

CALDRON FALLS

LOVE THESE FIELDS

WEST BURTON

ROY RETURNING AFTER RECONNOITRE TO FIND THE WAY

WHO CARES IF WE CAN'T FIND THE TRACK TO THE TOP

PRETTY PEACEFUL WEST BURTON

FUNGUS TIME!

THE PUB AT THE SIDE OF OUR CAMPSITE

It rained non stop all night, the race was shortened for the mens elite taking out Buttertubs, Hawes, Muker, Reeth and Grinton Moor. So sad for all these villages who had put so much effort into decorating.

We stood on the road outside the campsite and watched the heroes fly by in pouring rain, we then moved into the pub next door and sat for 5 hours watching it on TV, many many cups of tea and coffee and beef baguettes and chips!

Finally the rain stopped as the race ended and we drove back to West Burton to look at Caldron Falls again which had even more water pouring over, we drove on to Aysgarth to see the falls looking amazing. I wonder how many gallons of water has fallen over this week!

                                               LEADERS

                                     PELETON

 BACK TO CALDRON FALLS NEXT DAY WITH EVEN MORE WATER COMING DOWN

                                   AYSGARTH FALLS

DALESBRIDGE CAMPSITE NEAR AUSTWICK, SETTLE

After failing several times to get a campsite for this weekend due to the Three Peaks Cyclocross Race we finally got in at Dalesbridge on a huge open field belonging to a large house with cabins and B&B.

Hoping the weather improves as we arrived in mist and rain.

First day sunshine and clouds, we did a 6 mile circular walk to Austwick, Wharfe and Feizor taking us through Crummackdale with an interesting area known as Wash Dub, where a natural pool in Austwick Beck was once used by local shepherds to wash their sheep.

AUSTWICK

THE WASH DUB AREA

FEIZOR

FEIZOR TEA ROOMS

ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

ALMOST THE HARVEST MOON

Another sunny day but a very cold strong wind, we drove to Malham Tarn and hiked a circular 7 mile route to Darnbrook and Middlehouse returning to Malham Tarn.

A good map and a 23 year old walking book route found us slightly “lost” on the remote, desolate grandeur of the wild fell top. After half an hour looking for a stile that we never found we scrambled through a break in the stone wall and spotted another walker! We had by then seen our track and the clump of trees we had been looking for – not lost!

MALHAM TARN

 THE WILD OPEN MOOR WITH NO TRAILS!

SORT OF LOST FOR A WHILE!

BACK TO THE TARN

Our last day was cloudy and sprinkles. We drove to a park area 2 miles short of Horton in Ribblesdale and walked into the village and up the track towards Penyghent to watch the 450 riders take part in the Three Peaks Cyclocross Race. What amazing guys they all were!

We then walked back along the River Ribble back to car. Out for meal in Settle at the Golden Lion to end our time here.

THEIR LAST PEAK - PENYGHENT TO THE RIGHT

HEADING UP TO THE SUMMIT OF PENYGHENT