Shaun came trotting in, with Little Eric riding on his back holding the flasks, followed by Grizzly with the biscuit tins.
"Ooh great", cheered Allen, "I'm gasping for a cuppa", as he got the mugs and then gave Shaun a paw filling them, and passing them round.
Little Eric and I have restocked the biscuit tin. There are KitKats, Yorkies, Penguins, Club and Rocky."
"Super", said Tetley as he dug in. "You do spoil us."
"I've found a Wagon Wheel", said Shaun. "I love those." Then he said,
"do you remember that Dad found another summit in Yorkshire
that we have not climbed."
"Yes", replied Allen.
"I think it's called Knowe Fell".
"Well", said Shaun,
"I have just heard Dad talking to Uncle Bob, and they have
agreed to do that hill this Sunday."
"That's great", piped up
Tetley, "it is nearly two months since we walked with Uncle Bob, with him
being so busy with work."
"Roll on Sunday", cheered Little Eric.
The Walk
We took the now familiar route to
Settle, then via Langcliffe and over the narrow roads to the car
park near Malham Tarn, where we met Uncle Bob.
"Hi Uncle Bob", we called out, "good to see you and have your company today."
"Thanks lads. I am looking forward to the walk, after such a long break."
It was to be a dry
rather warm day with some sun and a nice breeze that took the
edge off the heat. Immediately as we set off there were a number
of cows and calves, who were quite unconcerned about the humans.
Pointing Allen laughed, "I that one was telling us something!"
Tetley said, "we have done the first part
of the walk before, on the day we climbed to Fountains Fell
and then on to Darnbrook Fell. That was in May 2007. We will be following the Pennine Way again up towards the ridge, but then leave and head towards Fountains Fell, then turning south away from it."
Shaun issued instructions. "there's the Pennine Way, along the track towards the far side of the tarn."
To do this Dad kindly opened the gate for Uncle Bob.
photograph
courtesy of Bob Woolley (Uncle Bob)
The track then continued, coming
beside the tarn and then heading into the trees.
It was very pleasant walking under
the trees, soon passing the Field Study Centre, then on along the
Pennine Way, passing Water Houses, Great Hill and an area of land called Freer Hood.
"Aww", said Grizzly, "look at those lambs sitting companionably together. So cute."
"Huh", grumped Allen. "There goes my sheep picture free story."
A step stile allowed a way over a wall,
the route then continuing over pasture to reach a narrow road.
Here Uncle
Bob poses on the stile.
Shaun looked up from the map and said, "stay on the Pennine Way, and go along the track to Tennant Gill Farm, then continue as the route skirts left round Little Fell. At a point where the Pennine Way turns sharp right we strike off ahead on a narrow path that climbs
steeply to and then by the wall, to the ridge."
Uncle Bob captured this picture of Dad on the ascent to the ridge.
"Last time went north to Fountains Fell", said Tetley. "Today we cross the wall and turn south along the ridge, finally on new ground."
The ridge is wide and has a
clear track that was for the most part quite dry. "This makes a pleasant
change compared to some of the boggy tracks you have had to walk
in other adventures", commented Grizzly.
"Aye lad", replied Dad. "I have lost count of the miles we have walked over trackless boggy terrain in Yorkshire."
The track descended gently, passing at one point
this large patch of cotton grass, waving in the breeze. "Take a picture please for the story", called out Little Eric.
Soon now we began to climb gently, and just minutes later, Allen called out. "there's the trig point at Knowe Fell summit."
"That ewe and lamb are guarding it", laughed Grizzly.
"Wow", said Little Eric. "The views are super from here. That's Pen-y-ghent over there."
"Come of pals", called out Grizzly. "Get settled on to the trig point for our picture. It's about time we make an appearance!"
As we got down, Allen said, "time for lunch."
"Yes lad" agreed Uncle Bob. "Nice to have a well deserved rest after the climb."
Just before we started off again a yellow
helicopter came speeding low over the ridge heading in the
direction of Horton in Ribblesdale. "It's the Air Ambulance", said Tetley. "I wonder what mercy mission it is flying to?."
"Oh dear", said Little Eric. "I hope the person is not too badly injured."
Shaun issued instructions, "we continue down the ridge to eventually reach a bridleway, which we then follow
right to Henside Road."
As we went along we saw and heard the curlews
and lapwings. Our dear Uncle Brian was in our thoughts, Allen saying, "he so loves to see and hear these birds."
At the road Shaun said, turn right to its brow by Capon Hall, then leave it right across the field to a wall and go right by it to a stile and gate."
Here a flock of sheep were milling about and both
Dad and Uncle Bob, could not resist getting their cameras out yet
again.
Winding Allen up, Tetley said, "Dad get that shot of the ewe with her two lambs."
"That's it", huffed Allen, "no more sheep pictures. And I deserve the next story to be sheep picture free."
Over the stile, Shaun said, "we immediately
climb steeply up left, directly to the top of Black Hill."
This
was our second visit to this summit, and it could not have been a
more contrasting day. "When we were here last March, it was blowing a
full gale, and we needed the rucksack to act as a wind break
for our picture!!", remembered Grizzly. "So much more benign today."
"The visibility is better too", commented Tetley. "That's a fantastic view to Malham Tarn backed by the
hills." Then glancing at the map he said, "High Trenhouse Farm are the buildings in the foreground."
With us safely settled again, Shaun said, "we take that
descending path, that runs parallel with the main track, which we
will eventually join."
This was then followed, climbing to the path junction,
with its three armed signpost.
Little Eric said, "on that windy day in March our route was
towards Stockdale Lane."
"That's right pal", replied Shaun. "However today we continue ahead the half-mile
to Langscar Gate. Then crossing the road, take the path over
Dean Moor to return to the start."
"That has been a cracking day", said Uncle Bob.
"Indeed", replied Tetley. "Thank you for you company."
Well by now you will have guessed
that it was tea time! So it was down to Malham village. While we
had the rest of our picnic in the car, Dad and Uncle Bob went to
The Old Barn Cafe. Scones with butter jam and cream were the
order of the day, accompanied by plenty of tea.
Then we said our
goodbyes to Uncle Bob, hoping it would not be too long before we could have his company again on a walk.
So a very happy group, Dad drove us home.
"Aye", said Tetley. "It has been another grand day out."
