An interesting house sign in Ingleton, North Yorkshire
Well, it has been a while since my last activity on this Blog following my LETJOG E2W walk and, whilst the heat of summer tends to curtail my walking activity somewhat, I have not been totally idle these last three months. So I thought that I would check in with you all, just briefly, to share some pictures of a few walks that I have done with others around the country during recent weeks.
I completed this wonderful eight-mile Peak District ramble on Monday 12 August with my friend Mark, at the start of a three-day walking mini-break
This super circuit started out from the Bowden Bridge car park just to the east of the High Peak village of Hayfield in Derbyshire. After skirting the north-western edge of the Kinder Reservoir our path took a northerly course up William Clough to the Kinder Scout plateau at the very top of the Peak District. The testing climb provides ample recompense – in the form of an escape from the humidity of the incised valley onto the blowy tops that offer some massive westerly views. On reaching the plateau the route takes an easy undulating path at about 600 metres of elevation, joining the Pennine Way for three miles past Kinder Downfall, before following a westerly descent back to Bowden Bridge. A rather good walk indeed!
The farmhouse at Farlands Booth, just above Bowden BridgeApproaching the embankment of the dam at Kinder Reservoir . . .. . . and a brief glimpse back down . . .. . . before the start of the path up William CloughAt the valley head looking back down, away now from the heat and the midges!From the tops, some far-reaching westward views under moody skies . . .. . . and ahead, to the south-west past Kinder Downfall, as our path joined the Pennine WayA puddle on the coarse-grained millstone grit . . .. . . and Mark, crossing the natural stone bridge above the waterfallAnother view down to the Kinder Reservoir . . .. . . before our narrow path plunged into some mountain mistOur eventual descent took us across moorland, past Tunstead Clough Farm, and back into the wooded valleyOn the next morning, Tuesday 13 August, again with Mark, we walked from the door of our Airbnb apartment in Ingleton to the top of Ingleborough, one of the renowned ‘Yorkshire Three Peaks’
From the North Yorkshire village of Ingleton, this glorious 13-mile loop up to the 724-metre high peak of Ingleborough, completed the ‘Three Peaks set’ for the two of us, having both climbed the slightly higher 736-metre Whernside last year as part of my LETJOG Peaks challenge, and the 694-metre top of Pen-y-Ghent back in 2018 whilst walking part of the Pennine Way together. Our climb today of Ingleborough was followed by a steep descent from the summit plateau past the caverns of Gaping Gill and Ingleborough Cave to the village of Clapham, before a return across the fields to our start point. Another fine day!
Leaving Ingleton village, and a first sighting of the flat-topped summit of IngleboroughThen out, and up, on a track between dry-stone walls . . .. . . that offers views down to the village and westward to the Lune ValleyGetting higher and closer now, past Crina Bottom . . .. . . before arriving, a little weather-beaten perhaps, on the summit of IngleboroughThe path down, south-eastward from the top . . .. . . descends eventually to Gaping Gill, a cleft within the limestone rock that today attracted a tent city of cavers, awaiting their turn for the hoist down to the cavern; we made a swift exit from the noise, furore, and generator fumes without further adoBelow the Gill there are a number of sinkholes within the rock . . .. . . as we continued our descent, over a limestone pavement . . .. . . and on down through the cows, as we passed Ingleborough CaveBack on the lower ground, campion lining our path . . .. . . and back to Ingleton village, just ahead of an afternoon downpourWednesday 14 August, Day 3 of our walking trip, and after a 45-minute drive Mark and I parked up at Grassington for a spectacular day’s walk on the limestones of Wharfedale, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales
This circular walk, in one of my favourite parts of our island, started with a northward ramble out of Grassington village along the Dales Way, on a path that I had followed previously, during my LETJOG 2021 walk: we then turned westward through Conistone, ahead of a prolonged climb up a track to Kilnsey Moor, eventually returning via the farmhouses at Bordley and back down through Threshfield. A dozen miles of Yorkshire at its very best!
Grassington village . . .. . . and then out across the pastures on the Dales WayAnother ‘pavement’ in this limestone countryCrossing the Wharfe at Conistone . . .. . . and fording a small tributary of the White BeckHot work, as we crossed the moorland near Bordley . . .. . . before a pleasant descent from Malham MoorCottages at Skirethorns – what a place to live!And for us, a well-earned pint back in GrassingtonThursday 22 August – another short break, and another part of the country – North Norfolk, and a walk with my brother Tim on Blakeney Marshes that we have done a score of times before (but one that we will never tire of)
I have reported in this Blog from the Norfolk coast before, as it is something of a second home to our family, having visited the region for several decades now. This four-mile ramble is not long, nor difficult, nor particularly varied, but it does capture the essence of the coastal marshes and flint villages for which the area is vaunted. The quiet of the marshland, the muted colours, the sea air, and the huge skies are quite something to experience. Lowland England at its finest!
Blakeney Quay – the start and end point of our short walkSetting out with Tim, on the dyke around the salt marshesWorse things have happened at sea . . .Coming around towards Cley village . . .. . . and a good view across the reed-beds to Cley MillCompleting the loop to Blakeney, where cattle graze the marshesBack in Blakeney village, amongst the holiday homes and art galleries, a trust helps to provide housing for local residents
As well as these trips afar, my local walks have been continuing here in the Chiltern Hills around Berkhamsted, complete with nordic poles and alongside a group of wonderful friends. I have previously described in more detail a number of the varied walks that are to be had in our area, and I am sure to do so again in these Blogs before too long. Meanwhile, a big thank you is due to the walking group for such pleasant company on our regular rambles over this summer – always finishing of course with coffee, cake and convivial conversation!
Our Chiltern walking group sets out a couple of times a week, to enjoy Ashridge and the surrounding countryside – and, with her retirement imminent, Rachel has now joined our ranks!
My Blog heading today, ‘Summertime’, is taken from the title of a song recorded by Nashville-based country singer Kenny Chesney in 2005 and released the following year as a single from his tenth studio album ‘The Road and the Radio’. The lyrics of the song, penned by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan, capture some of the joys of outdoor summer living, and they match the mood of my recent walks quite well.
Rachel and I enjoyed a fine weekend away with friends in Northamptonshire recently: this picture shows ivy against the ironstone of Coton Manor
One thought on “Summertime”
Nick – always amazing & beautiful pics. Many congrats. Jane S
Walking for Fun, Challenge and Charity! 
Nick – always amazing & beautiful pics. Many congrats. Jane S
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