RELAXING ROSEDALE

This is the first August Bank holiday we have spent in the UK since 2007, so we opted out of going anywhere until the Monday, when hopefully everyone will be coming home!

Grabbed another few days of sun at Low Bell End Farm in Rosedale Abbey,  this place is so remote the phone won't even work...but we do have TV!

On Tuesday we hiked from the campsite up on to the moor top and along the old tramway track to Rosedale chimney, although the chimney is no longer there, we both remember it from our childhood. The old kilns still standing were used for roasting the iron ore. Across Spaunton Moor past Ana Cross then back into the valley along tracks to Rosedale Abbey then the campsite – about 7 miles. We had to spend about half an hour picking blueberries – I've never seen so many on the moors before, its a tedious job but so much better than bought ones.

VIEW FROM OUR VAN

LOOKING DOWN ON CAMPSITE, OUR VAN AND THE GLAMPING TEEPEES TO THE LEFT

                                           UP ON THE OLD IRON ORE TRAMWAY

IRON ORE KILNS AT TOP OF ROSEDALE CHIMNEY

ANA CROSS AND ANI

ROY THE BBQ EXPERT!

Rosedale Church - there has never has been an Abbey at Rosedale. There was a priory which used to be on the site of this church

Wednesday – back on Spaunton Moor, this time we took the car to the top of Rosedale Chimney and started a circular walk opposite to yesterday. We were supposed to get to Hutton le Hole after skirting Lastingham but my intrepid map reader mis read the directions and we got into Lastingham, missed out Hutton le Hole and hiked back past Ana Cross to see where we should have walked...... a beautiful 7 mile hike with miles of fragrant heather, did you know that the North York Moors have the largest continuous area of heather in England?

Lunch in Lastingham and a look round the unusual church which was surprisingly open.

BLOWING A BIT ON TOP OF THE MOOR!

LASTINGHAM CHURCH

THE ALTAR IN THE CRYPT

THE BELLS! THE BELLS!

BACK TO ANA CROSS BY MISTAKE!

 

Last day – gorgeous weather – not so great hike! Well I am sure Roy enjoyed it but I was not in the best mood, there was steep downhill mud trails, long stretches in the woods and a steep climb up to the moor below the hole of Horcum. However we did see the steam train of the North Yorks Moors Railway and the pretty ruins of Skeleton Tower overlooking Newtondale and the lovely heather and endless sheep!

Another fab mini break!

SKELETON TOWER

DELIGHTFUL DENT IN THE DALES

Another trip out for five nights, this time back to the Yorkshire Dales and Dent. We camped on a basic site with one other caravan on the edge of the pretty cobbled village.

The sun shone on Monday so we set off to climb Whernside, we walked from the campsite which turned out to be a mistake. Taking the Dales High Way, either we were poor map readers or they had done away with the trail we were looking for, but we finished up nearly down at Ribblehead with too far to hike to reach Whernside, so we had lunch and returned without conquering the summit. We walked part way back with a couple from Philadelphia and enjoyed chatting with them. We hiked about 7 miles.

                                                              Dentdale

Dent Church - with bells!

Dent

Roy's ambition to own one of these!

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Sheep everywhere!

Tuesday, we drove to Ribblehead and took the well trodden route up Whernside, a lovely route up but tough one down. Sunshine all day, it took 2 hours up and 2 down and about 7 miles. At 736m its the highest hill in Yorkshire. When we got back we were the only ones on the site, we had a go with the kite we've had for years stuck in the back of the car, fun but we had no idea what we were supposed to do, Roy seemed able to keep the kite flying much longer than I did.

on way up Whernside 

Whernside in the background 

The top of Whernside!

Ribblehead viaduct from Whernside

 Another viaduct!

Almost got it flying

Success!

Wednesday – rest day – played tourists and enjoyed a gloriously sunny day in Hawes. Wandered round the shops (strange for Roy!) had a picnic, visited Outhwaites Ropemakers, interesting to see them in the factory making twines of all shapes and sizes and had a walk to Wensleydale Creamery.

Hawes

I wonder if they made my bell rope!

Gayle waterfall

Our last day and I completed my Three Peaks, not all on the same day of course! Ingleborough at 724m was such a pretty hike, sun still shone as it had for the whole five days of our stay, the heather was in bloom and the walk up was delightful despite one tough, short climb, which was worse coming down.

At the end of the day we were rewarded with the most spectacular harvest full moon – so very magical!

Ingleborough in background

Roy on way up Ingleborough

Whernside from side of Ingleborough

Paving the way to the top of Ingleborough

The summit! My last Three Peaks

Just before the steep bit

Beautiful heather

Spectacular Harvest Full Moon