Today’s Blog heading should really read ‘Keep Walking’, rather than dancing, as despite the hot summer weather I have managed to get out in the countryside a fair bit over the least month or so since my last report. The reason behind my Blog title today will become clear further on in this piece but, for now, I wanted to share some photos of a marvellous few days of walking that I enjoyed with my friend Mark up in and around North Yorkshire’s Wharfedale. Basing ourselves in a comfortable AirBnB terraced cottage in Skipton, we had four glorious days of trekking in the dales and moorland of this fabulous region of northern England. So here goes:
Our first day’s walk comprised a nine-mile anti-clockwise circuit from Barden Bridge, alongside the River Wharfe, and then up to Simon’s Seat on the moorsAn early start from home saw us in Wharfedale and setting off in the late morning for our first day-walk, from Barden Bridge . . .. . . soon crossing the River WharfeJust downstream, and under the old aquaduct . . .. . . the riverside path lined with huge gunnera plantsAnother fine view of the River Wharfe . . .. . . then, with some trepidation, we left the river to follow a side valley . . .. . . up onto the moorsViews opening up to the west . . .. . . and looking back down the track, as the path climbed unerringlyApproaching Simon’s Seat . . .. . . as Mark led the way up . . .. . . to our lunchstop destination on the summit, at 488 metres of elevationA view from the top . . .. . . before starting our descentThose colours!And the icing on the cake – as we stumbled upon the ‘Brownie Barn’ on our return into Barden Bridge . . .. . . before making our way to our base in SkiptonThe Dales Way starts in Ilkley (at the bottom right of this map) and continues for around 80 miles across the dales and moors of northern England to Bowness-on-Windermere in the heart of the Lake District: having caught the bus to Ilkley we completed the first ten miles, as a day-walk, along the river Wharfe via Bolton Abbey, and on to Barden BridgeBetty’s Tea Shop in Ilkley is renowned, although today we were a little too early in the morning to indulgeBridging the Wharfe, just outside the town . . . . . . before a fine section of riverside walking . . .. . . and a glimpse of the most scenic of golf coursesThere may be trouble ahead – we were forced into taking a diversion here, away from the water meadows for a while . . .. . . before rejoining the path by the WharfeLuckily we spotted these young starlings before stepping on them: one surprised us by taking (surely) its first flight, whilst we moved the other aside, in the hope that it would join its sibling in flightThe approach . . .. . . to the remains of Bolton Abbey . . .. . . and the irresistible stepping stones, onto which I venturedBack to the Wharfe-side path . . .. . . and back over the river, as we arrived at Barden BridgeMy word, what a choice! Evening refreshment at the Timmy Taylor’s Woolly Sheep Inn, back in SkiptonNext day, and we decided to continued on the Dales Way – from Barden Bridge up to Grassington for lunch . . .. . . and then up onto the limestone pastures northward to KettlewellStarting out again from Barden Bridge . . .. . . some early morning rain in the airCrossing the Wharfe at Burnsall . . .. . . past the village church . . .. . . and into limestone countryBack over the river again . . .. . . to join another idyllic riverside path . . .. . . along to Linton village . . .. . . and thence into Grassington for lunchCan there be any walk finer than an afternoon ramble on the Yorkshire limestone?Scarps . . .. . . pavements . . .. . . and outcropsAnd views . . .. . . aplentyAll deserving of a pint of Wharfedale Pale on arrival in Kettlewell!Our last day and, having packed up and left Skipton, we drove to Haworth for a fabulous eight-mile trek over the moors to Hebden Bridge, ahead of the long drive homeOur starting point today: the village of Howarth is known for its steep cobbled Main Street, and for its association with the Brontë sistersSome unusual and colourful sculptures as we climbed . . .. . . and a view back over the village as we continued our ascentThen a kaleidoscope of butterflies by the small lake on Penistone Hill . . .. . . and another of the Wild Uplands modern art sculptures that adorn these moorsA backward glance over the Leeshaw Reservoir . . .. . . on our long climb up to a shallow col on the 425-metre contour of the mooorlandSome super views southwards now . . .. . . as we started our descent by Crimsworth Dean BeckRelics . . .. . . and bracketsThe beck, as we entered Hebden Bridge . . .. . . a colourful stretch of the Rochdale Canal . . .. . . and the town’s thriving Saturday market
It is rather difficult to convey adequately the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, but I hope that these pictures go some way towards show-casing and sharing the wonder of this fine region of our country. As a walking destination the Dales has few rivals, and our whistle-stop break certainly did not disappoint. This was our third straight year of walking together in the Dales, and I am sure it will not be the last time that we take off for a ramble in ‘God’s Own Country’: having completed around a third of the Dales Way we have further reason to return!
And so to the reason for my Blog heading ‘Keep Dancing’. Before our drive north Mark managed to get two tickets for us to see The Courettes (or perhaps I should say ‘The Fabulous Courettes’), a Brazilian/Danish ‘wall-of-sound’ retro garage-rock duo, who, as luck would have it, were playing a gig at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge on the final night of our short break. A drive over the moors was rewarded with an evening of high-octane musical entertainment from the band (and their equally lively support act, The Lotts) that left us in awe of their energy – and with ear-drums still ringing the following morning. Their song ‘Keep Dancing’ is a composition by the duo, guitarist Flávia Couri and drummer Martin Thorsen, off their fourth studio album from 2024, ‘The Soul of . . . The Fabulous Courettes’. All in all it was quite an evening – and quite a walking trip!
The Courettes in action; and, despite some weary legs, we did ‘keep dancing’!
5 thoughts on “Keep Dancing”
Such beautiful countryside, Nick…..love the photographs.
Thanks for this account and its super photos, Nick! Haven’t been to Wharfedale in a while now, but have stayed many times in either Scargill House, Hebden Bridge or Ilkley. Must go back again!
Peter
I am now back in Australia having done Scotland West Highland Way, and a wonderful active week with Caledonian Discovery on the Caledonian canal, aka, great glen. The barge was 100 foot and 100 years old. Rachel would love it. Warm regards Kim from the Tuscany walk
Walking for Fun, Challenge and Charity! 
Such beautiful countryside, Nick…..love the photographs.
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As usual…. Brilliant pics, glorious info & wondrous effort
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Thanks for this account and its super photos, Nick! Haven’t been to Wharfedale in a while now, but have stayed many times in either Scargill House, Hebden Bridge or Ilkley. Must go back again!
Peter
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It looks lovely Nick.
I am now back in Australia having done Scotland West Highland Way, and a wonderful active week with Caledonian Discovery on the Caledonian canal, aka, great glen. The barge was 100 foot and 100 years old. Rachel would love it. Warm regards Kim from the Tuscany walk
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fabulous pics and a very interesting blog from the county of my birth. Don’t know that area at all but it looks sensational. John
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