Last Days of the Summer Wine – Kettlewell – 16th to the 18th September
16th September
Paul, Maurice and Steve L drove to Wensley, Wensleydale for the first ride on their way to say goodbye to Kettlewell Hostel which was due to close in October.
Parking at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, dinner and beverages were partaken. Then off up the right hand side of the River Ure passing through Redmire and Castle Bolton.
After which on the right was the Castle itself splendorous in the distance.
The drive was back to Asgarth (easier in the car) then over Kidstones Pass to Buckden then Starbottom to end up at the hostel in Kettlewell. The night dinner was at the Racecourses Hotel, the cheapest of the pubs but still expensive. The decision was then taken to eat at the hostel the next night!!
16th September
Paul, Maurice and Steve L drove to Wensley, Wensleydale for the first ride on their way to say goodbye to Kettlewell Hostel which was due to close in October.
Parking at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, dinner and beverages were partaken. Then off up the right hand side of the River Ure passing through Redmire and Castle Bolton.
After which on the right was the Castle itself splendorous in the distance.
The drive was back to Asgarth (easier in the car) then over Kidstones Pass to Buckden then Starbottom to end up at the hostel in Kettlewell. The night dinner was at the Racecourses Hotel, the cheapest of the pubs but still expensive. The decision was then taken to eat at the hostel the next night!!
17th September
After breakfast at the Hostel, and very good it was too, the three set off with just a passing glance up the road towards Park Rash, leaving Kettlewell on the back road, Coniston Road, to Scargill House which Steve had enthused about from his last trip to the Dales.
Going into the reception we were met by a very kind lady who offered the three complimentry coffees which was met with a very happy “yes please”. During the chat to the volunteer ladies we were told we should visit the Walled Garden and the Church as both were exquisite. Paul made his way to the church while Maurice and Steve preferred to go to the Walled Garden – this has numerous shrubs and flowers and a patch of lovely rhubarb. There was also a large Victorian Greenhouse along one wall containing tomatoes, cucumbers, a grapevine, and small shrubs. Along another garden wall was a couple of grapevines, and a couple of apple trees all trained along the wall.
Paul said the church was lovely but time was passing by so they decided to carry on with their ride towards Grassington On the way, off to the right, was Kilnsey Crags which is an attraction for rock climbers. Then it was through Conistone and onto Grassington.
While in Grassington the three did a walk through the main square. The walk was up hill through many quaint shops and cafes some of which were very interesting.
After Grassington it was onto Burnsall passing through Hebden where a left was taken to take the group across the River Wharfe to Burnsall and riding through this village on the B6160 onto to Linton for lunch at the Fountains Inn. The food in this very old pub was very good and the village looked very interesting too.
Leaving Linton and back on the main road to arrive at Kilnsley to stop at the crags to watch a couple of rock climbers just about to start their climb.
After breakfast at the Hostel, and very good it was too, the three set off with just a passing glance up the road towards Park Rash, leaving Kettlewell on the back road, Coniston Road, to Scargill House which Steve had enthused about from his last trip to the Dales.
Going into the reception we were met by a very kind lady who offered the three complimentry coffees which was met with a very happy “yes please”. During the chat to the volunteer ladies we were told we should visit the Walled Garden and the Church as both were exquisite. Paul made his way to the church while Maurice and Steve preferred to go to the Walled Garden – this has numerous shrubs and flowers and a patch of lovely rhubarb. There was also a large Victorian Greenhouse along one wall containing tomatoes, cucumbers, a grapevine, and small shrubs. Along another garden wall was a couple of grapevines, and a couple of apple trees all trained along the wall.
Paul said the church was lovely but time was passing by so they decided to carry on with their ride towards Grassington On the way, off to the right, was Kilnsey Crags which is an attraction for rock climbers. Then it was through Conistone and onto Grassington.
While in Grassington the three did a walk through the main square. The walk was up hill through many quaint shops and cafes some of which were very interesting.
After Grassington it was onto Burnsall passing through Hebden where a left was taken to take the group across the River Wharfe to Burnsall and riding through this village on the B6160 onto to Linton for lunch at the Fountains Inn. The food in this very old pub was very good and the village looked very interesting too.
Leaving Linton and back on the main road to arrive at Kilnsley to stop at the crags to watch a couple of rock climbers just about to start their climb.
18th September
This day was the last before they left for home so they decided to try Littondale.
Out from Kettlewell over the River Wharfe to turn right after approximately 2.5 miles to start to climb up Littondale on the right hand side of the River Skirfare passing through villages Hawkswick, skirting Arncliffe, to reach Litton for a morning cup of coffee at the Queens Arms.
On each side of the river was tall craggy hills this could truly be called a dale.
On leaving Litton the group carried on to pass through Halton Gill from which a road crosses over the River Skirfare to which the road from Litton joins and ends up at Stainforth. It looks a very forbidding road as it climbs upwards and upwards to carry on across the moorland.
It was then a short journey to Foxup the end of the trip upward it was then the easy fast return to Arncliffe for lunch at a very old Falcon Inn. A tour round the inside was called for to see all the interesting artifacts.
All had another good meal and chat before they left on the other side of the river now making sure they took the right road as the other would have taken them to Malham and up a very steep and long climb. On reaching the main road it was only a short trip back to the cars to drive home.
This day was the last before they left for home so they decided to try Littondale.
Out from Kettlewell over the River Wharfe to turn right after approximately 2.5 miles to start to climb up Littondale on the right hand side of the River Skirfare passing through villages Hawkswick, skirting Arncliffe, to reach Litton for a morning cup of coffee at the Queens Arms.
On each side of the river was tall craggy hills this could truly be called a dale.
On leaving Litton the group carried on to pass through Halton Gill from which a road crosses over the River Skirfare to which the road from Litton joins and ends up at Stainforth. It looks a very forbidding road as it climbs upwards and upwards to carry on across the moorland.
It was then a short journey to Foxup the end of the trip upward it was then the easy fast return to Arncliffe for lunch at a very old Falcon Inn. A tour round the inside was called for to see all the interesting artifacts.
All had another good meal and chat before they left on the other side of the river now making sure they took the right road as the other would have taken them to Malham and up a very steep and long climb. On reaching the main road it was only a short trip back to the cars to drive home.