Photographs taken on the walk at Grassington 2019

404 Walks from Grassington 2019

Our final walk of the season will be on

Saturday 9th November 2019

and will be from 

Grassington

The small Market Town that feels like a Village

There's nothing quite like a Yorkshire Dales village! In Grassington we have everything that comes to mind when you imagine a typical village: stunning views, beautiful stone buildings, quirky shops and friendly pubs; however there is so much more to Grassington than meets the eye.

A haven for outdoor activities

Not by accident is Grassington one of Wharfedale's most popular villages and a convenient walking base for exploring Wharfedale and Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is a haven for outdoor pursuits including horse riding, fly fishing on the River Wharfe and of course moorland and riverside walking, while the nearby show caves of Stump Cross Caverns offer underground adventure.

There will be three walks:

• A Walk led by:- Brian Thorne
• B Walk led by:- Jennifer Mathias
• C Walk led by:- Pat Guy 

A Walk from Grassington 2019

Walk Leader: Brian Thorne
Walk Distance: 9.5 mls app

Approx 9.5 miles with 1280 ft of ascent.

After last month's battle with Snowdon, I think the "A" party have earned their stripes for this year and deserve something perhaps a little less dramatic. So, here it is!

Linton Falls

Leaving Grassington via Sedber Lane, we cross the Wharfe at Linton Falls and pass through Threshfield before beginning our steady ascent onto Malham Moor and our first high point at Higher Heights Holes. (Much easier to say if you're a Yorkshireman!)

A gradual descent brings us back to the Wharfe at Kilnsey, and after crossing to the village of Conistone we commence our second ascent of the day to Bare House. Then it's downhill all the way back to Grassington and refreshment.

Bare House

B Walk from Grassington 2019

Walk Leader: Jennifer Mathias
Total Distance: 8+ miles


Leaving Grassington we walk down to the Wharfe we cross the Bridge into Threshfield working our way through the town and onto the moor. A steady climb will afford panoramic views. We pass old mine workings lead and coal. We head towards Malham Moor before turning into a lovely valley to Wood Nook, which can be boggy! A little road and track walking takes us in the direction of Linton, another charming village before we head for the crossing over the Falls and back up the hill into Grassington.

 

C Walk from Grassington 2019

Walk Leader: Pat Guy
Distance: 5+ mls
Ascent: 750ft app
 

Hebden Village

After coffee we will walk up the main street in Grassington and turn on to High Lane for a short distance then taking a footpath on the left across a gentle uphill path with a few stiles across to Edge Lane. From there we will have lovely views of the surrounding countryside. We follow this track for a while before taking a downhill track to Hole Bottom, from there we take a quiet road down to Hebden, then it is a short walk down to the River Wharf which we follow all the way back to Grassington. The walk will be taken at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops but we should be back in Grassington with time to take in the shops and cafes.

Photographs from the Llanberris Walks

403 Walks from Llanberris 2019

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 12th October 2019

and will be from 

Llanberris

in Snowdonia

 

Nowadays, Llanberis in Snowdonia National Park is a major tourist attraction. From the town one can catch a train up the highest mountain in England and Wales or walk along the many routes to the summit over three thousand feet high.

Nearby, the twin lakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris cut through the mountain range creating the Llanberis Pass, in an area noted for its rugged beauty and scarred with numerous slate mines. Scores of visitors meet in Llanberis; it is truly an impressive place steeped in history yet still retaining an air of tranquillity.

Snowdonia Mountain Railway

Travel on Britain’s only rack and pinion railway to Hafod Eryri, the stunning new visitor centre at the Summit of Snowdon. Since 1896 people, regardless of age or fitness, have claimed the peak of Snowdon as one of their lifetime achievements.

Llanberis Railway

The Llanberis lake railway runs along the northerly shore of Llyn Padarn with the main station located in the Padarn Country Park, across the valley from the town of amidst unspoilt woodland and a range of tourist attractions related to the slate industry. ...........more

There will be three walks:

• A Walk led by; Peter Hitchcock
• B Walk led by; Mark Stanford
• C Walk led by; Patrick Parkes

Details will be added as they become available but by Saturday 5th October

A Walk from Llanberris 2019

Walk Leader: Peter Hitchcock
Total Distance: 10-11 Miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 3400ft

The treat today is to view Snowdon from as near to the summit as possible as much of our success depends on our arrival time at Llanberis.  To climb right to the summit and back is overly ambitious given our normal timescales so, the principle aim is to reach a walk junction called ‘Bwlch Glas’ which – to all intents and purposes – is the top.  [Actual summit is another 20mins climb].  This decision will save us over half-an-hour which could be invaluable.

If we arrive at Llanberis late, or if the weather is bad or our pace slow over the first 2 hrs, then we shall adopt Plan B (on the map), a 10-miler which remains demanding and will reward you with superb views nevertheless.  Most importantly, I want the day to be enjoyable and not akin to a “RM yomp”; hence, the dual options.

We leave Llanberis to the West via a lovely woodland nook trail up to moorland to then join a good hard track that winds south up a scenic valley to join the Snowdon Ranger trail.  The valley path is a steady, gentle uphill climb but the Ranger path is where the work really starts for 1:30 hrs of hard going to Bwlch Glas.  This section is a challenge – at least equal to the Old Man of Coniston but longer; after all, it is Snowdon!  We shall probably descend from this point down along the ‘main drag’ by the cog railway which is great fun to see. This is a tricky descent on stone and slate so sticks would be a godsend.  We shall tread carefully.  As befitting an ‘A’ walk, this will be an endurance 11-miler but “do-able” with amazing views given fair weather.  Do bring along plenty of water AND  a woolly hat and gloves as the winds can be unexpectedly monstrously fierce and cold.

If we adopt Plan B, we shall turn around at the top of the Maesgwm valley (just before the Snowdon Ranger track) but, at this spot the side profile of Snowdon is fantastic if we are able to see it.  Backtracking for a while, we then cross the valley eastwards till we hit the mountain railway track and the Llanberis path and my inclination then is to walk up to the halfway house to award you further experiences of Snowdons’mid-rift’!  Returning down the path again, we shall peel away from the crowds east towards Llyn Peris and walk back to the town a little way on the main road but then detour via the remains of Dolbarden Castle, built originally by Llewllyn the Great in the early 13^th century.