A bright sunny day gave many women a brilliant introduction to the Yorkshire Dales as they travelled to this holiday from all over England and Wales and even from Holland.

After settling in and exploring the gardens we met up to chat about the facilities and accommodation at High Trenhouse and to discuss our plans for the walks in the forthcoming days.

Then we got down to the serious business of Dinner and getting to know each other.

Women sat and chatted or watched the television to see England lose in the Rugby Union World Cup when it was generally agreed that "we was robbed".

Sunday morning was sunny with a hard frost on the ground and lovely views of the Tarn in the mist.

After a good but leisurely breakfast, we made a start.

Today there was a large group trying out Intermediate Level with Sarah and a smaller group taking the more relaxed option with Jo.

The Gentle walk set off with me, Jo, around the Tarn and into the National Nature Reserve around the Field Studies Centre at Tarn House.

A deer was grazing in the field. We went into the bird hide and looked over the Tarn and saw little grebes and tufted ducks as well as the ever present mallard.

As we had the hide to ourselves we enjoyed a coffee and elevenses break there before continuing our walk through the woods.

The sky was clear and blue now and the Tarn and limestone cliffs (scars) looked wonderful in the bright sunlight.

We walked across the vast open space of Great Close where in the 18th century up to 20,000 cattle would gather as they were brought from Scotland and the north of England before moving on to markets further south.

We walked up the isolated track to Middle House Farm before going round Great Close Hill to come over the ridge for the wonderful view of the Tarn again on our way back to the centre.

The Intermediate walk with me, Sarah, had also started off around the Tarn and past the field study centre to take the route up onto Great Close Hill.

As the area is now free access land we headed to the top of the Hill to the ancient cairn/burial mound to appreciate the view.

After a break here, we took the line of the old Monks Road (leading eventually to Fountains Abbey in East Yorkshire) down towards Middle House farm and then up onto the Limestone hillside.

Taking care to make a wide berth of a rather large bull we followed the grassy track up onto the Fell.

Branching off from the Monks Road it was such a beautiful warm day we couldn't believe our luck and took plenty of opportunities to stop to enjoy the views.

Passing some more unusual moorland cows we dropped down to aptly named Cowside and enjoyed our lunch by Cowside Beck!

Following the Lane leading from Arncliffe back towards Malham Moor we soon joined the busier Pennine way and cut back through the fields to join the path back to High Trenhouse.

Here we enjoyed scones and the afternoon sun in the pretty gardens.

Some took a first turn at the Jacuzzi and learnt to their cost that 3 could fit in it comfortably, 4 caused a rather spectacular flood which turned the corridor outside into a paddling pool!

Despite this the staff were charming and looked after us splendidly at dinner.

Afterwards everyone took advantage of the cosy lounge and bar with its very efficient log fire, (modelled by Jo).

Some set up a very serious bridge school, some chatted, whilst others got down to some high level civil engineering with Jenga!

On Monday it was mistier than the previous day, but still fine.

The Gentle walk doubled in size this day from 5 to 10 (what had Sarah done to them?) and they set off with Jo well wrapped up for the rather cold conditions (the only day on the holiday when the sun did not shine strong and bright).

Soon they reached the first ladder stile at the head of Trougate.

After carefully negotiating the rocky path we reached the top of Malham Cove and marvelled at the clints and grykes of the limestone pavement.

We walked on to Goredale Scar and watched some walkers trying to climb up by the waterfall before a welcome lunch stop by the tea wagon at Goredale Bridge.

At Janet's Foss 1008 we did not see Jennett the Queen of the Fairies who lives in the cave there, but had to make do with the Intermediate group coming the other way.

After exchanging news of our mornings' exploits we went on down to Malham village.

Some women stayed in the tea shop while the others walked up to the Cove.

The famous black streaked cliffs once inspired Charles Kingsley to write The Water Babies.

The taxi came and took us back in 2 trips to High Trenhouse.

The Intermediate walk had meantime taken the more direct tougher route to Malham Cove with Sarah.

This stunning valley was formed by a great torrent of water at the end of the ice age when waterfalls and a gorge were cut by melt water.

Now the landscape is dry as all the water seeps down through the porous limestone rocks.

It is a rather spooky and spectacular place, but arriving at the top of the cove was even more dramatic, where the water went off the edge of a high cliff forming a waterfall as High as Niagara falls.

Descending the stairway at the side of the cove we took in the view from the bottom, watching a climber having a close shave as he lost his footing and dropped down on his rope, we were very glad he was roped up as it would have been rather nasty!

Leaving the Cove we walked through the fields down into pretty Malham Village, where we stopped for lunch and to enjoy the antics of some very pushy ducks.

After lunch we followed the well trodden tourist route round to the pretty waterfall at Janet's Foss where we met up with the Gentle coming from the other direction.

While they headed towards Malham, we walked to the spectacular waterfall at Goredale Scar - a dramatic gorge much painted (and exaggerated) by famous Landscape painters such as Constable.

Making the wise decision not to attempt to climb up the falls (or even to pretend that we had), we took the easier route up the hillside, passing the limestone pavements above the cove again and across the fellside back to the Tarn.

Completing the circuit of the tarn we were back at the farm in time for some tea and cakes and more time spent splashing in the Jacuzzi. (No photos were taken as it was all rather damp and steamy in there!!).

After another splendid dinner, no-one was tempted to leave the comfort of the lounge, although the heat of the log fire caused some very red faces.

Or was that the rather riotous game of Articulate that tested our rather inadequate skills of description, no one can compete with Jo at this game!

This morning a thick heavy mist shrouded the area as the Gentle walk set off across a rather boggy section of fell towards Settle, but the sun soon broke through to give us another glorious day.

We reached the track which serves as part of the Pennine Bridleway and joined some cows for the walk over Langcliffe Scar to Jubilee Cave.

After a long lunch break in the warm sunshine with long views over the Ribble Valley some women went with Jo up the path and into Victoria Cave where in the past remains were found of Neolithic people and even pre Ice Age animals such as reindeer, bears and rhinoceros.

No such exciting finds today and we had to make do again with the Intermediate group sunning themselves at the entrance to the cave!

Back on the track we passed a fold of sheep gathered ready for market and then enjoyed the gentle descent through the fields below Blua Crags with magnificent views over Settle.

We reached the town which was busy with market day and some women enjoyed tea and cakes whilst others visited the museum or the shops before the taxi arrived to take us back to High Trenhouse.

Sarah's Intermediate walk also started out towards Settle as the mist cleared.

The views along the old packhorse route towards Attermire Scar to the West were crisp and clear.

The limestone landscape here is riddled with caves and although a couple of us ventured in, the consensus was that it was safer to stay outside and appreciate the views towards the Peaks of Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent.

The weather was almost tropical, and yes, we were spotted having a relaxed lunch sitting outside Victoria Cave!

After this brief visit from the more adventurous members of the Gentle Group, while they took off downhill into Settle to enjoy the pleasures of the market, we hardy Intermediates headed for Catrigg Force waterfall.

This little gem of a woodland dell with such a pretty waterfall is hidden from the path and we were delighted to have made the effort to descend down through the sunlit Beech wood to the foot of the waterfall.

We then headed across country to the east enjoying the sunshine.

After a trudge up a rather steep lane we took a route across Malham Moor, which was wetter under foot and windier as it was higher and more exposed than the rest of the day, but the views made the exertion worthwhile.

After rescuing some other walkers who had lost their way, we cut down across National Trust Access moorland till we were looking down on Malham Tarn again.

The group were rightfully proud of their long day's hike of 10.5+ miles, nevertheless they were delighted to get back to tea and cakes at High Trenhouse. Followed by saunas and Jacuzzis, dinner and an early night for some!

We said our goodbyes to the staff and those women who were leaving for long journeys before driving down into the village and starting our walk from the National Park Centre.

All the women walked the same route but at different paces as we followed the River Aire south to Kirkby Malham past Scalegill Mill.

We enjoyed the Autumn colours and the long views back to the Cove and Goredale Scar in the bright sunshine.

After the climb over Warber Hill, Airton Farm Shop provided a suitable coffee stop before we returned along the valley to Malham.

We lunched in the picnic area behind the Information Centre before swapping email addresses and finally saying our goodbyes.

Such a fantastic break, we couldn't have hoped for better weather or a nicer venue for the holiday.