What a lovely day to be journeying up to the Dales!

We arrived in the sun by car, or by train with a pickup from the station, to be greeted by the friendly team at High Trenhouse near Malham Tarn.

We settled in and everyone was delighted with their rooms.

Women strolled in the peaceful gardens, tested the jacuzzi, or started to get to know each other over a cup of tea in the lounge.

We were also shown the honesty bar system, so naturally that too had to be tried out!

After an excellent dinner, we talked about what the walks would be over the next few days, then most women headed to bed fairly early.

We woke to a beautiful morning with sun reflected on the tarn across the fields.

After breakfast, we set off for Malham Cove having divided into two groups - gentle or intermediate - according to our aspirations for the day.

Both walks took the same route at different paces down to Malham village. The intermediate walk would then return to High Trenhouse on foot while the gentle group would catch the bus.

To start with we circled around Malham Tarn, spotting a peacock butterfly in the nature reserve, and crested grebes from the bird hide amongst the many coots and moorhens on the tarn...

From the end of the tarn our path dipped down into Watloes valley through increasingly striking limestone scenery.

We stopped on the limestone pavement above Malham Cove, marvelling at its deep fissures (grikes), and the sheer limestone cliff of the Cove curving away from us.

Now we took a more contouring route above the Cove to descend finally into Goredale.

From here the intermediate walk with Marcelle headed up to Goredale Scar - the gorge-like upper reaches of this dramatic valley.

The gentle walk meanwhile turned downhill to Janet's Foss - a lovely waterfall with a sizeable pool below and a cave beyond.

From Janet's Foss both groups made their way through the woods and meadows to Malham where the Malham Show was in full swing (sheepdog trials, fell races etc...)

When the gentle walk got to Malham we chanced on the intermediate group who were still fortifying themselves with tea and scones for their journey back up the hill!

They had some stunning views of Malham Cove on the way back (the gentle group saw it from the bus). Rain caught up with them as they neared home, but they still had a great stomp back. A lovely first day for all!

Back at the centre the sauna and jacuzzi were waiting. "This is how a walking holiday should be!" one woman remarked as she soaked.

After dinner we sat around chatting over coffee in the lovely High Trenhouse dining room or retired to the comfortable lounge/bar...

Early low cloud had blown away by the time we set off walking today - heading this time across the moors towards Settle.

The intermediate route was to walk via Jubilee and Victoria Caves to Attermire Scar, and from there back to High Trenhouse over the Grizedale tops.

The gentle route would reach Attermire Scar then head down into Settle and catch the bus back.

As we all crossed the moors and joined the Settle Loop cycle path, we saw the cloud lift further to reveal the distinctive outline of Pen-y-ghent.

A few drops of rain fell at one point, and among the gentle walkers there was great hilarity as Fran first struggled into her waterproof trousers - and then almost immediately had to be helped out of them by Caroline, her sister!

After investigaing Jubilee Cave, we continued on to Victoria Cave where evidence has been found of prehistoric elephant, hyena, and later brown bear.

The landscape became increasingly rocky and dramatic as we continued beneath Attermire Scar - spotting Attermire cave high above us.

The gentle walk now turned towards the gentler views approaching Settle, collecting stacks of field mushrooms on the way (for tomorrow's breakfast!)

The intermediate walkers had meanwhile stopped at Victoria Cave ahead of us, then continued around to the Grisedale tops and so back to High Trenhouse.

This route gave them some lovely views of Malham Tarn as they topped the rise.

They decided that tea and cake in Settle was not to be a gentle perogative only, and drove back there after a quick change (much to the gentle group's surprise when we met up outside the Naked Man tea room!)

Later there was still time to indulge in the jacuzzi and sauna again, or to flop onto our beds before dinner.

After dinner we played the 'Who's in the bag' game - a fast, tense, but of course totally non-competitive game!

Rain had started off and on during the late afternoon, and now continued as we headed to bed...

It was Bank Holiday so we steered clear of any town or village!

It was the highest Intermediate walk today, heading with Marcelle to the summit of Fountains Fell.

It was a walk with every kind of weather - from sun to sleet, and from mist to strong wind!

The 'up' was "determined and steady" following the Pennine Way to the cairn.

It was at the cairn when they stopped for a photo that the wind really hit.

Lunch was only possible behind a wall - giving other walkers a surprise as they came over!

Now they walked along the top of the fell to the trig point, concentrating where to put their feet as they heather-hacked and bog hopped.

As they reached Fountains Tarn the skies opened, but the wind was so strong that when the sun came out again they dried quickly (weaving somewhat drunkenly in the wind!)

At one point they reached an in-the-process-of-being-rebuilt wall - unfortunately without a stile as yet!

This necessitated retracing their steps to an unrepaired hole. Next they faced a new electric fence which Marcelle valiantly tested as they looked for the right place to cross.

The trig point finally came into view, and at another wall they took a second break with Pen-y-ghent in the background while marvelling at the number of bumble bees in the thistles...

The descent took them past 'shake holes' where the hillside looked as pitted as a sponge.... across a limestone pavement... then down down down to the road - a very exhilarating walk indeed!

The Gentle walk had meantime headed for Middle House Farm - over the saddle between Highfolds Scar and Great Close Hill beyond Malham tarn.

We'd planned a longer stop at the bird hide on the way (seeing Great Crested Grebes with young, Coots, Malards, and something unidentifiable!)

We took the 'up' slowly, climbing the grassy path to the saddle, then detouring onto the top of Great Close Hill for the view.

It was blowy on the top, but the view over the tarn was superb and definitely made the effort worth while!

Returning to the saddle we resumed our path towards Middle House Farm, then turned uphill again onto the low moorland behind the farm.

The scenery was very different again today - low scars and lots of ancient limestone pavement which made perfect gnome fishing perches during a stop!

At one point our path crossed a wall via a rock staircase rather than offering a stile or gate. While checking that this was indeed the right spot, I saw a beautiful young fox.

We now walked down into the Cowside Beck valley, joining the Pennine Way for our last mile back.

Tired muscles soaked in the jacuzzi again - ready as usual for our return!

After a last scrumptious (candle lit) dinner, Fran was persuaded to read out her version of the day's gentle walk (which will of course get heavily censored when added to this web page!) Our sides were aching by the time she finished!

Read Fran's version of this day's walk?

We then played 'In the manner of the word' (resulting in more aching sides), a couple of other short games, before most of us were ready for bed.

Today we packed up and got ready to leave High Trenhouse after breakfast.

Everyone had wanted to walk together for this last short day, so we drove to Malham and explored the Pennine Way south beside the river towards Kirby Malham and Airton.

It was a lovely day - with sun and scudding clouds, and only one brief shower towards the end of the walk.

There was lots of chat and joking going on, as well as progressive stripping off of layers and waterproofs!

At the pretty village of Airton we stopped for tea and cake at a Farm Shop.

At Kirby Malham on the way back, we said goodbye to Ruth who had to leave early (she and Marcelle had left her car there before the walk)

The last stretch back to Malham gave us views of Malham Cove - a fitting way to end the holiday.

Time sadly for lots of goodbye hugs in the car park - leaving other women to wander through Malham and shop a little before they also bid goodbye to the Dales.