Yorkshire Dales in Bloom

SUMMARY

Dates: Thursday June 1st to Monday June 5th – 4 nights

Arrival : For check in at 15.00 followed by an afternoon walk with your guide. There will be a briefing about the holiday followed by dinner together.

Departure: Plan to depart after 14.00 so you have time for breakfast and a morning walk.

Guide: Bridget Turnbull

Walking Grade: 2 Goats walking between 9 and 16km per day with gradual ascents and descents

Base: The New Inn Hotel, situated in the beautiful conservation village of Clapham on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The hotel was an eighteenth century coaching inn and now has 16 fabulous ensuite rooms. Each room has it’s own character with oak beams and stunning views. There is a bar, restaurant and garden and we choose this hotel as it is perfect for relaxation after walking. The food is locally sourced ingredients bought from local suppliers wherever possible.

Clapham has a train station situated just outside the village. It is just over a mile’s walk from the centre of Clapham or taxis can be pre-booked from the station through Austwick Taxis, Tel: 015242 51364/07515874658. Trains come from Leeds, Skipton or Lancaster.

By Bus: 581 from Horton in Ribblesdale, Settle and Ingleton

By road:

Leeds – A65, Kendal – M6 J36/A65, Preston – M6 J31/A59/A682/A65, Lancaster – M6 J34/A683/B6480

Price: £985 per person for the holiday to include:

• Ensuite accommodation with all breakfasts, packed lunches and dinners
• Experienced local guide
• Local transport where needed for walks

Not included:

• Travel to Clapham
• Drinks at the bar

DETAILS

This is limestone country at its best, and early summer is the perfect time to visit as the wildflowers are in full bloom. We are based in the pretty village of Clapham in the south-west of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Its traditional stone cottages are set on either side of Clapham Beck, and the village is known for its historic charm and old-world charm peace.

Our walks are wonderful and varied, ranging from Ingleborough, the highest (723m) of Yorkshire’s famous 3 Peaks, to remoter hills and dales. On the way, we explore caves, woodland, unusual geological formations and pre-historic remains all set within this iconic limestone landscape.

This is a holiday to discover this enchanting area.

Read or latest blog post on Experiencing the breathtaking beauty of the Yorkshire Dales

ITINERARY

The walks may change depending on weather and conditions underfoot and at the discretion of the guide.

Although limestone is fast draining and therefore not ‘boggy’, it can be slippery on wet days. Boots with ankle support are highly recommended.

Arrival by 2pm for an afternoon walk to get your bearings, followed by a welcome briefing with your guide at 6pm pre dinner at the hotel.

Walks

Walk 1 – a short 2-3 hours walk to get to know the near by area

Walk 2 – Ingleborough   10 miles/16km

This is the highest  of the Yorkshire Three Peaks at 723m. Walking from our hotel, we will climb up along Clapham beck and past the massive Sink Hole of Gaping Gill before we make for the top. The views from Ingleborough are fantastic with the Dales and its iconic limestone landscapes spread out before us.

Walk 3- Crummackdale – 10 miles/16km

Today we head east to the picturesque village of Austwick. A gradual ascent takes us up to the limestone escarpment of Moughton Scar at the head of Crummackdale. We cross this amazing feature with its clints and grykes and return via the hamlet of Wharfe in a landscape little altered for centuries.

Please note that the traverse of Moughton Scar will be omitted in very wet weather.

Walk 4 – Ingleton Falls Kingsdale   – 9.5 miles/15.2km 

Starting in the pretty nearby village of Ingleton, we begin our walk along the famous Ingleton Waterfalls trail.  We ascend the western side of Kingsdale, a less visited area of the Dales, other than by cavers. This is wild limestone pavement country with its many sink holes.  We drop down into Kingsdale Valley for the return journey. Our route re joins the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail for our return to the village.

There is the opportunity to go into Yordas Cave – please bring a torch for this.

Walk 5 – half day walk –  Norber Erratics 6 miles/9.6km

This final morning walk from Clapham is along old drove roads and some rougher tracks.  Our destination is the area of glacially deposited rocks known as the Norber Erratics.  With luck, you will see the magnificent views down the valley to Austwick.

We aim to be back at the hotel for 2pm at the latest for departure.

If you want to know more about the area through the writings of 3 local women please read this enlightening book..

Celebration of Life and Tradition in the Yorkshire Dales – 2018