A late getaway, heavy traffic and finally we arrived at Orcaber Caravan Park near Austwick, Settle for 5 nights. Glorious weather and a lovely big pitch at this clean new site. £25 with electric.
Only one slight problem, the water pump decided to give up on us despite Roy trying for an hour to see if he could mend it. No problem though as we have water, just not at the tap! And we have TV signal!
Next morning Roy went off to a local caravan parts place and got us a new pump!
DAY ONE A WALK ON THE WHERNSIDE
A sweltering day to walk up Whernside temperatures reaching 29oC but it was a great hike. Two and half hours up and two hours down, roughly 8 miles Whernside is the highest of the Dales Three Peaks.
We drove to Ribblehead viaduct and did a circular hike going up the toughest way, I found it quite hard at times due to the heat but at the summit we got the best seats in the shade and enjoyed lunch. A leisurely hike down and headed straight to the Station Inn beer garden for shandy and cider then to ice cream van. A perfect day!
 |
| ORCABER CAMPSITE |
 |
| RIBBLEHEAD VIADUCT |
 |
ON THE WAY UP WHERNSIDE
|
 |
WHERNSIDE SUMMIT
|
 |
PANORAMA FROM SUMMIT
|
 |
ROY RESTING!
|
 |
THE WAY DOWN
|
 |
WHERNSIDE TARN
|
 |
VIEW OF WHERNSIDE ON WAY DOWN
|
 |
PENYGHENT, INGLEBOROUGH AND WHERNSIDE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
|
 |
CARLISLE TO SETTLE RAILWAY DISAPPEARS INTO THE HILLS
|
 |
ROY COOLING OFF
|
 |
CHEERS!
|
 |
| PERFECT END! |
DAY TWO - RIVER RIBBLE AND LONG LANE HIKEA more sedate hike today, drove to Helwith Bridge and did a 3 and half hour circular walk of 6 miles. Fine views of Penyghent and Ingleborough along the way. The old Inn at Helwith Bridge built in the 1820s as a canteen for local quarry workers, pretty but we didn't stop. Long Lane is one of the Yorkshire Dales classic green roads. Lunch at the side of the River Ribble in Horton in Ribblesdale, with hardly any water in it. Stopped in Settle on the way back for the obligatory ice creams. The weather was superb with a cooling wind at times.
 |
LAST NIGHTS ALMOST FULL MOON
|
 |
LUNCH AT RIVER RIBBLE, HORTON IN RIBBLESDALE
|
 |
RIVER RIBBLE REFLECTIONS
|
 |
PENYGHENT IN THE GAP
|
 |
BIG BOY AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
|
 |
| QUOTES ON A CAMPERVAN |
 |
| HELWITH BRIDGE |
DAY THREE - PIKEDAW HILL AND MALHAM COVE HIKE 6 MILES
Cooler weather today but no rain and sun came out very briefly mid afternoon.
We drove to Malham and left the crowds, climbed up Pikedaw Hill which challenged Roy's map reading skills but found it, a pile of rocks as the cairn and then took off over trackless moor to find the trail down to the top of Malham Cove, and the stunning limestone pavement. A steep track down to the bottom of the Cove and back to the car after the ice cream shop stop! A beautiful hike, with stunning views.
Drove to a lay by near Thornton-in-Lonsdale and walked up to the high level track of Turbary Road used centuries ago by peat cutters. An easy flat road including several pot holes. we saw the main one Rowton Pot which extends for 17 miles beneath Kingsdale, it looked quite scary to go down!
After lunch had a little look in Yordas Cave, a former Victorian showcave. We could hear water running in the depths.
Down into peaceful Kingsdale and back to the car.
 |
TURBARY ROAD
|
 |
ROWTEN POT
|
 |
ROWTEN POT
|
 |
BLURRY LUNCH SPOT
|
 |
| YORDAS CAVE |
 |
| KINGSDALE |
THE END OF A SUPER TIME IN THE DELIGHTFUL DALES!
