Aycliffe Fell Walking Club took 48 walkers into the Yorkshire Dales for some lovely walking between Masham, Ripon and Pateley Bridge. Whilst one group chose to walk from Masham across the Kirkby Malzeard and Fountains Earth moors and then along the length of Gouthwaite Reservoir into Pateley Bridge, many more were attracted to routes via Fountains Abbey, Sawley and Brimham Rocks.
There are some fabulous established long distance paths in these areas, with many encountering sections of the Ripon Rowel Walk, Six Dales Trail and the Nidderdale Way. There was much more climbing involved than anticipated along these up-and-down routes which appeared so much easier on the maps at first glance, but, despite early rain and a late downpour including hail in the afternoon, everybody was happy. My group walked from North Lees Grange (A6108) via the beautiful villages of Winksley and High Grantley. Other routes from Studley Royal and Gowbusk (B6265) eventually joined our route as so many headed for the main attraction of Brimham Rocks. This is a remarkable site of water and weather eroded rocks over an extensive area it’s well worth a family visit on its own and is a site of ‘Special Scientific Interest’.
Having left the rocks, we encountered a stream, over which the only way across was via a very long log. Whilst many were able to walk across with care, some walkers in our group, including me, crawled across to the great amusement of the others. Having done so, we scaled the steep bank and a further three mile walk eventually took us to the welcoming town of Pateley Bridge. There we enjoyed the hospitality of the local pubs, cafes and an excellent fish and chip shop.
The next walk on Saturday 9th May is in the Lake District with a selection of walks between Legbuthwaite and Grasmere taking in the Helvellyn Range with other options to the west, up Greenup Edge and High Raise and lowland routes in the valley below.
Aycliffe Fell Walking Club is a very friendly walking club. Please look at the website aycliffefellwalkingclub.com for further details or if you are interested in joining us. Annual membership of £10 runs from January to December with each walk outing costing £15 to cover the cost of the coach. Feel free to join us on the next walk. We look forward to your interest.
Many thanks to Newton News who, by printing these articles, are largely responsible for our increase in numbers.