I was so chuffed to find out from our resident Statistical Wizard Martyn that I had done most miles in the capacity of leader or back up last year. This came as a huge surprise to me until I realised it was simply because I have to do several recces for each of them as my map reading skills are not my finest achievement! Thank goodness for the rail pass provided to leaders and back ups for such an eventuality! I heartily commend leading or backing up to all our members as you get to do recces in good weather, whatever it does on the Saturday you lead your willing but bedraggled flock around the Dales!
I do hope the Tour de France goes well; the glories of God’s OwnCounty will be on display to the world. I think it’ll be thrilling to watch even for the non-cyclists. I never tire of the sight of a highly toned, lycra-clad and padded derriere. I wish now I’d had the sense to volunteer. You’ll find a link to the Tour website in the train section of the newsletter to help you plan your travel and viewing.
I suppose, in my declining years, the Scarecrow Festival is more suitable for me! (Kettlewell, August 9th – 17th)
Alan Bennett, a sort of local hero, is now 80 years old – something else to celebrate. The West Yorkshire Playhouse is doing several of his pieces from May 19th to July 5th and I’m sure many of us will be going to see them.
Penny Smith Editor
ContentsEnclosures
Moya’s musingsBooking form for Livingston (Autumn)
Event Secretary’s ReportBooking form for Ambleside (YHA)
Train walks – updates and correctionsTrain walks leaflet
Coach walks report
Lakes walks
Holidays
Obituary
2014- Commemorations and Celebrations
Train franchise
Magnetism
Penelope’s Pantry
Correspondence
Dates for your diary
Witty banter thanks to Diane Taylor
How does Moses make his tea?
Hebrews it!
Moya’s Musings
Following a wet and relatively mild Winter we now seem to be having pleasant Spring weather and most of our walks are well attended. This time of year is always busy with our regular walks plus ride2stride but this year we have also had our 25year Saving the Line celebration walks and now the Walk the Line events have begun.
I would like to thank Diane for organising a very successful Walk Leaders meeting. Whilst, once again, I was unable to stay for the whole meeting, I understand that the First Aid session run by Rod Fall was enjoyed by all. In addition to general first aid advice, this year Rod demonstrated the use of a defibrillator. Thanks Rod and hopefully you will help us out again next year.
The Cheltenham weekend was a big success and John, having organised it, was unable to be there as he was appearing as a Pirate in Pirates of Penzance with the Wakefield Gilbert and Sullivan Society; he missed a great weekend. The weather was sunny and we even saw some white legs appearing as some people wore shorts for the first time this year.
Loch Awe is fully subscribed with 56 people booked so hopefully we should enjoy some good walking in Scotland.
However, although it didn't happen with Loch Awe, there have been several of our trips when people ask for places after the closing date and sometimes shortly before the event takes place. Whilst John does his best to accommodate these requests it can create a lot of additional work. We have therefore decided that in future there may be an administration charge of £10 for late bookings.
The coach walks have been ticking over but still need your support. We have many Sunday coach trips organised over the Summer - please join us. A copy of the latest leaflet is enclosed and I hope to see many of you walking over the summer.
In November this year I will have been Chairperson for 7 years. At the committee meeting in April I announced my intention to step down from this post. It has been a very interesting, and for the most part enjoyable, experience. It continues to amaze me how much work is done, particularly by the committee and the assistants to make our Society the success it is. I am stepping down half way through my 2 year term. I will still be able to help where needed and am happy to talk to anyone about the work involved if you are interested in standing for the post as Chairperson.
Moya McNamara
Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!
Event Secretary’s Report
What a fantastic week we have just had. I am just back from Ride2Stride; a week of walks, talks and music. Friends of DalesRail led eight walks and backed up on a ninth. Walkers came from all over the country to join us and take part in the Festival, some for the third time. On offer were twenty three walks and four tours round the Ribblehead viaduct as well as a visit to the Settle Water Tower plus three talks. The talks averaged seventy in the audience and there were somewhere in the region of one hundred walkers out some days - the final figures are still coming in. People had come from Edinburgh, Teeside, London, Bristol, Newport Wales, Suffolk as well as South Yorkshire and Lancashire. One man had found the Festival on the web and travelled from Chicago. To quote him ’’What’s not to like? The Yorkshire Dales round Settle, the railroad and the Music!”. The mix of ourselves and the visitors went well and I am sure we all made many new friends. To quote Judy from Peterborough…. “see you all next year”!
So, a big thank you to all of you who came to make this week the success it was and to our wonderful leaders who enabled so many to enjoy our magnificent scenery and walks. It is what we are all about: great walking from the trains.
The weekend in the Cotswolds was excellent with a good hotel, lovely walks and sunshine. Thank you for organising this John - so sorry you weren’t able to be with us but I am sure you enjoyed being a pirate! Thank you to Moya for stepping in as Master of Ceremonies for the weekend. We have much to look forward to with a week inScotland based at Loch Awe in Argyllshire and a YHA weekend in Ambleside as well as an Autumn trip to the Pentland Hills, south of Edinburgh. These are all excellent walking areas. John puts in a lot of time searching on our behalf for hotels big enough to accommodate us in good walking areas and to sort out walks for our intrepid leaders who take us out into pastures (or should that be hills?) new to us.
As a walking organisation we are so lucky to have so many people who are willing to organise activities and to volunteer to lead and on behalf of all of us, a big thank you. We all enjoy great days out thanks to you.
Walk the Line for the 25th anniversary of saving the line from closure is now underway. This is an opportunity to walk from Settle to Carlisle in seven stages. There is a separate leaflet available and it is being organised jointly by Friends of Settle and Carlisle leaders and ourselves. For those who complete the route there will be a free travel voucher from Northern…as well as the satisfaction of having done it. I would say the walks are MS grade rather than strenuous. Some shorter walks are also on offer.
The coach walks on Sundays still need your support and again, those who lead us do us proud. Do please put the dates in your diaries, especially Kendal in June, Hayfield in the Peak in July and Whitby in August all of which should be excellent days out and all very good value at £12. Numbers have been improving and it would be good for the upward trend to continue. Lynn and I are awaiting your bookings!
Diane Taylor
PS. Only 15 jute bags left so don’t lose out while there is still the opportunity to buy one! Well I was bound to mention this was I not!
A cartoonist was found dead at his home. Details are sketchy!
Train Walks – Updates and Corrections
A more detailed list than normal as there have been extensive changes to some rail timetables (thankfully not on the Settle/Carlisle line) from 18 May 2014 onwards. There have also been a number of bus service changes and in particular cuts to the Upper Wharfedale services from Skipton towards Grassington, Kettlewell and Buckden. Please read the information below carefully, as a number of our walks will now take place from earlier or later trains, than originally advertised.
Our own website has been updated to include these changes and they have also been incorporated into the new Train Walks leaflet (June to December 2014), but information in the earlier leaflet (green colour) and the members' calendar about any of the walks listed below is now out of date.
7 June – Grassington to Kettlewell via Great Whernside (Climb a Peak Slowly moderate). This walk will now take place from the 0819 Leeds to Morecambe train. The bus to Grassington leaves from Skipton rail station at 0905. It is likely that it will be a late return, 1930 at Leeds.
7 June – Carnforth Circular (strenuous). This walk will use the late train to return to Leeds, departing Carnforth at 1934, arriving in Leeds at 2116.
21 June – Todmorden Circular (strenuous). This walk will now take place from the 0920 Leeds to ManchesterVictoria train.
22 June – Hebden Bridge Circular (moderately strenuous). This walk will now take place from the 0908 Leeds to ManchesterVictoria train.
28 June – Buckden Circular (easy). This walk will now take place from the 0947 Leeds to Carlisle train. The bus to Buckden leaves from Skipton rail station at 1045.
5 July – Tour de France / Le Grand Depart. Although the route itself should not theoretically affect either of our walks, a number of road closures and suspension of bus services in both West and North Yorkshire will be taking place, which might cause difficulties getting to your starting railway station in the morning. Further information is available online at
2 August – Marsden to Hebden Bridge (strenuous). This walk will now take place from the 0915 Huddersfield – ManchesterVictoria – Wigan train (departing from Huddersfield 15 minutes earlier than originally advertised)
16 August – Marsden to Slaithwaite (moderate). This walk will now take place from the 1015 Huddersfield – ManchesterVictoria – Wigan train (departing from Huddersfield 15 minutes earlier than originally advertised)
30 August – The strenuous walk will now be a Settle Circular (15 miles) via Bowland Knotts.
30 August – Kettlewell Circular (easy). This walk will now take place from the 0947 Leeds to Carlisle train. The bus to Kettlewell leaves from Skipton rail station at 1045.
20 September – Hebden Bridge Circular (easy). This walk will now take place from the 0951 Leeds to ManchesterVictoria train.
27 September – Grassington Circular (easy). This walk will now take place from the 0947 Leeds to Carlisle train. The bus to Grassington leaves from Skipton rail station at 1045.
Any further changes will be advertised on the website.
Philip Birtwistle
I used to be a banker – but then I lost interest!
Coach walk report
Sunday 20 April 2014HawesB party
The weather forecast was not very inviting but the horizontal wind did at least prevent us from falling over. ‘B’ party braced themselves for an uphill start in the direction of Semerwater or ‘the pond’ as it came to be called and were soon sheltering by the bridge for elevenses. Passing the spot where Turner painted his picture of Simmer Water as he called it, we headed for Stalling Busk with its attractive church and houses huddled together for warmth.
Marsett was our next goal and we reached it with some ease not knowing the delights which awaited us on the next stretch. Leaving Bardale Beck we made our way towards Bardale Head which, at times, seemed to recede rather than come closer. A major goal achieved, we rested before exploring the delights of Cam High Road contouring Wether Fell. However, there came a time when the ancient road had to be abandoned and free fall yomping was selected as a variation. Masterfully we conquered it and thankfully Hawes came into view. A pleasant stroll downhill through the fields of new born lambs and their mothers brought us to Gayle and from there it was but a short hop to Hawes where we thankfully refreshed ourselves in the local hostelries and cafes.
A lovely day in the northern parts of the Dales and many thanks to Alan and Lynn for leading us successfully through the pathless wastes of Wether Fell.
Diane Exley
Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.
LakesWalks Strenuous
April 2014 – Blencathra
The forecast suggested opportunities for a) testing wet weather gear and b) route-finding in the mist. We weren’t to be disappointed!
Three cars departed Gargrave to arrive Mungrisedale at about9:45am and with Tony joining us (fresh from his stay at the adjacent Mill Inn), 14 set out along the road to Bowscale. West from here on a rising track to Bowscale Tarn, prior to the steep climb through Tarn Crags to the ridge with a visibility of at least 50 metres. Team play came to the fore.
Bowscale to Bannerdale and on towards Blencathra…and improved visibility (see link on website for photos). Lunch at the col, across Mungrisedale Common and down to the Cloven Stone, the most outlying marker of Mungrisedale parish according to Tony.
“Where now?” they said. “We contour round to Roughten Gill, ascend by the stream and then fellside to the top of Blencathra.”
And we did. Thick mist now. GPS needed to find Scales Fell ridge. Down out of wet cloud and into….steady persistent rain. A show of hands determined a finish via the Glenderamackin valley and not Souther Fell. An hour in the Mill Inn, fine dining in Settle finished off the day.
*******
Next month (May), park Patterdale, bus to PooleyBridge to set up a linear walk along High St-North (Loadpot, etc)
June sees us on Ulpha Fell with 6 (so far) staying on at the Boot Inn, Eskdale for 2 nights to target the Scafell group from Wasdale, and Pen from Upper Eskdale.
Please contact Jay Glasby, our lakes walks co-ordinator if you would like any further information about this year’s lakes walks programme.
Jack Wood
Editor: Perhaps if anyone out there has a spare million or so pounds, they might like to buy Blencathra for us?
I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.
LakesWalksModerately strenuous
Essentially, for members who enjoy walking in the fells at a comfortable pace.
Two are planned this year:
Tuesday, June 10th
Glaramara and Allen Crags - from Seathwaite.
Wednesday, September 10th
The Dunnerdale Horseshoe from Broughton in Furness.
For more details and to arrange car transport, please ring Jean Collyer 01729 268392
England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool
Postscript to Embsay-Skipton strenuous walk – 1st December 2012
Calling at Embsay Crag, NortonTower, Hetton, Rough Haw, Sharp Haw and featuring a headtorch-aided descent into Skipton Woods! This shortcut is now the Sougha Gill path thanks to someone who shall remain nameless. It has signs, steps and a foot-bridge over the stream.
Our trail-blazing wasn’t in vain!
Jack Wood
Broken pencils are pretty much pointless.
Holidays
FDR WEEKEND – Livingston, Scotland 17 – 20 October 2014
The Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
Situated just to the west of Edinburgh, this Best Western hotel gives us excellent access to the Pentland Hills.
See for hotel website.
This is a self-drive trip, but we will have the use of a coach each day.
Accommodation is all en-suite with a mixture of doubles and twins with breakfast and evening meal included. We have reserved 20 double/twin rooms, but I can book some of these as singles for an extra supplement of £40. Should we get more than 40 people wanting to go, I will attempt to book additional rooms. If we get less than 40, I will let some rooms be taken as singles. Please indicate on your booking form if you are prepared to share.
This is a little further than we normally go for self drive weekends, but it does gives us the possibility of walking in a new area. I can recommend the run up the A1 to Newcastle and then via Jedburgh to Edinburgh. This takes about 4 hours with a nice stop off in Jedburgh.