Summary

Summits Achieved

No summits were reached on this walk

Preface

It was just the next day, after our last walk from Long Preston, and Shaun, Grizzly, Tetley and Little Eric were sitting quietly reading, as they enjoyed a nice mug of tea, and some of Grizzly's mincemeat slice.

"This cake is yummy as always pal", said Little Eric, as he helped himself to another piece.

"Hey", called out Tetley. "Save some of the rest of us, and Allen too."

"Sorry", replied Little Eric. "It's just that Grizzly's cakes are so so delicious, and I have obviously inherited my liking for cake from Dad."

"Yes we will have to call you 'Cake Stuffer', like Uncle Bob calls Dad", laughed Grizzly. Then more seriously, he said, " where's Allen. It is not like him to miss out on tea and cake?"

No sooner were the words out of his mouth, than Allen arrived, dashing into the room and calling out, "great, great, great."

"I know you like your tea, but that is a bit over the top", laughed Shaun as he passed him a steaming mug.

"Thanks pal", he replied accepting the mug and taking a sip, "but what I was cheering about, is that Dad has spoken to Uncle Bob, and a walk is provisionally on for Sunday. It will be so good to see him, as it must be over a year since we last had his company on a walk."

"So where are we going?", asked Tetley.

"The plan is to meet at Skipton, but we have to come up with a route" Allen replied.

"I'll get OL2, so we can get planning", said Shaun, trotting off. Returning he opened the map up and we scanned the area around Skipton. After a minute or so, Shaun went on, "This map just covers the area, north, west and east, and we have actually covered all that ground on previous walks. What we need is map OL21 for the area to the south."

Allen was just about to go off and look, when Shaun went on, "we do not have that map. But not to worry, if I go and see Dad, he will be able to order it from Dash4it, who promise to deliver by the next day."

"OK then, we will just have to be patient until tomorrow, to work out the walk", said Tetley, refilling his mug and grabbing another piece of cake and remarking to Allen, "you had better tuck in too, before Little Eric eats the lot."

Next day we waited anxiously all morning, and then as soon as we heard the post drop on the carpet in the porch, Shaun trotted off and sure enough the envelope containing the map was lying there. Quickly he opened the envelope and then opened the pristine map.

"Wow it is nice to handle a new map", he said. "Many of the others have been used over and over again, so much so that Dad laughingly says that when we are out, he has to be careful not to fall down the holes in the map!"

"So, where to you think we should walk?", asked Little Eric, a bit impatiently.

After minute or so looking at the options, Tetley, said, "how about we walk to Carleton in Craven, and then on to Carleton Park."

"Looks good", said Grizzly. "We then have two options. We could walk on down to Cononley perhaps taking in the summit of Burnt Hill, or if that is too far, we could go west to New Close, and then to Cononley Ings."

"Good idea having the two options pal", replied Shaun, "as Dad told me that Uncle Bob does not want too long a walk. Either way the return to Skipton, will be along by the River Aire, which will be nice."

"Right", cried Allen, "I'll go and tell Dad, while you pour the tea, as all this thinking has made me thirsty.

"Any excuse!", laughed Tetley.

"Is there any cake?", asked Little Eric anxiously.

Reassuringly Grizzly replied, "cherry and ginger scones."

"Save some for me", called out Allen, as he dashed out of the door, and knowing what a cake stuffer Little Eric is.

We were all settled with steaming mugs and munching away happily, when after a few minutes Allen returned. "Thanks Tetley", he said accepting the mug of tea, and plate with two buttered scones. "Dad is happy with the walk, and likes our idea of the second option to shorten it if necessary."

"Roll on Sunday", said Little Eric, eyeing up another of Grizzly's delicious scones.

The Walk

It was an early start as we had to be in Skipton between 08:30 and 09:00. The journey was easy as the roads were quiet at this time, and shortly after we arrived the bells of the Parish Church began to ring out loudly, just as they had when we last walked from here. Beautiful!!

Uncle Bob had recently bought a new car, a black Land Rover Discovery, and we were all very impressed with it.

As we got ready, Uncle Bob said, "I have forgotten my walking socks."

"Oh heck", said Dad, "that's a bit of a problem as the shops do not open until 10:00 on Sunday."

"Well I'll see how I go on without them", he replied.

We set off the route taking us along the quiet main street, and then over the canal, where colourful barges were moored.

As we walked on, we could see that Uncle Bob was in some discomfit, and he said, " I really do need to get some socks." Spotting Morrisons ahead he then said, "they sell them."

The store was open, but only for browsing until 10.00am. We wandered round the store, a completely new experience on a walk for us, and soon the socks were found. However as they could not be paid for yet, Uncle Bob left them on the shelf, and to kill the time until, we went to the cafe, for a mug of tea, Uncle Bob taking this 'mug' shot of Dad.

"Can I have some of your tea, as I am a bit thirsty Dad?", asked Allen.

Meanwhile Uncle Bob went off to get his socks, as it was now after 10.00am. Then, putting them on outside, we continued on the walk, past the railway station, to then take a lane south that led first under the railway and then under the Skipton bypass.

"Shall we count the stiles again?", suggested Allen.

"Sure", replied Grizzly, "I'll count them and you can record them in your notebook, for when Dad writes the walk up later."

"OK pal", said Allen.

At the lane, we crossed the first stile, out into the fields, and on to cross the River Aire by a footbridge. Thereafter it was across three more fields and over stiles to the town of Carleton in Craven, the footpath bringing us in by the stone built church of St Mary the Virgin, with its solid square tower. It is Grade II listed, and was built in 1859 by F H Pownall, in what has been described as a 'vigorous Gothic' style.

"That will make a nice picture", remarked Tetley.

Coming to a path on the far side, Shaun said, "we go right to the road and then left to the crossroads, where we should keep on ahead up the hill."

On the corner stands The Swan Inn, serving the excellent Black Sheep beer, that Dad and Uncle Brian are partial to, as are we, especially Shaun and Tetley!

"What is that large building behind?", asked Little Eric.

Grizzly, replied, "I thought that one of you might ask that, so I looked it up on Wikipedia. It is Carleton Mill, dating back to about 1861, being built originally for spinning cotton, then during the 1930s it housed a mail order business. In the second world war, the Rover company worked there, to produce aircraft parts. Shortly after the war it returned to its original use as a textile factory and later produced carpets, finally closing down in 1999. Recently it has been converted into 51 luxury apartments with a further 26 houses in the grounds."

"Thanks pal", said Little Eric, "all this knowledge you impart, really does make the walks so much more interesting."

"You're welcome, and by the way there were five stiles to here."

"Noted pal", said Allen.

As instructed by Shaun, we continued along Park Lane, where shortly this banking with spring flowers made a pretty scene.

and by a house just a short way further, these bright purple Polyanthus, the flowers being in the shape of a ball.

The road now became quite steep, and we had to take our time, as Uncle Bob is suffering with pain in his hip, and needed to rest part way.

"When we get to the brow, we should look for and take a path off to the left", advised Shaun, who was looking at the map.

The way was over a stile immediately on the right and on with a wall to the left to then climb a stile over it.

Uncle Bob said, "it would have been easier to just go through the gate in front at the start and then walk right up the field."

"Can't argue with that", replied Grizzly, "but it is two more stiles to our count today."

After the next gate, we crossed a field to reach Carleton Park a very nice house with landscaped grounds and pretty pond. The full walk plan was to go on up over Burnt Hill and on to Cononley, but Uncle Bob said, "I can't face that as I feel at present."

So, our plan B came into effect, along the access track to/from Carleton Park.

This was not before Uncle Bob posed in front of the house, while Dad took his picture.

And then shortly along the track by the rhododendrons, Uncle Bob returned the favour for Dad.

The track led down eventually to Low Barn, here joining another track, to soon climb the stile on the right and shortly reach the road via a double stile.

"That's five more stiles", said Grizzly.

"Noted pal", replied Allen.

"We go right", said Shaun, "and then almost immediately take the path left via a stile."

Beyond the path descend quite steeply to a gate and then on towards the house called Throstle Nest, having to go right to a stile and then walk left along a fenced path to get access to the gate and so past the house.

The railway line was not far to the left, and seeing a train coming along, Tetley shouted, "if you are quick Dad, you might get a picture."

"If only Uncle Eric was here, he would be able to tell us exactly what class of train it is", said Allen. "All I can say is that is powered from the overhead electric cables."

Walking on in the direction of Low Woodside, Uncle Bob suddenly said, "those sheep look rather unusual."

"Oh noooooo", cried Allen in despair. "There goes our chance of a sheep picture free story yet again!"

Very shortly now we forded tiny stream, and immediately went left as directed by this rather unusual waymark.

Crossing a footbridge, it was then over the field to a further footbridge on the left that gave access to a stile to cross carefully, having stopped and looked in each direction and listened, the railway line, and then over another stile into the pastures beyond. Having crossed these, we arrived beside the River Aire.

"That's eleven stiles to here", called out Grizzly,

"Noted pal", replied Allen, writing carefully in his book. "I'm hungry too", he then said.

"I agree", said Uncle Bob, "time for lunch."

It was very pleasant sitting by the gently flowing river, with the pastoral scene of the surrounding fields.

When we had finished our sandwiches and cake, Tetley said," it's about time you took our picture Dad, as we have to appear at least once in every story."

"Yes, absolutely", added Little Eric, emphatically.

Then we settled in the rucksack again, and headed north beside the river, but after a while cutting off a loop by going directly across a field. This soon led to this substantial stone step stile, where beyond it can be seen that the ground dropped away, to pass under the railway bridge.

Turning right we then followed the river again,

but we soon left it, so cutting off more loops, by crossing the fields directly to reach the road and then right to cross the River Aire, at Carleton Bridge.

"That's three more stiles", called out Grizzly.

"OK, noted pal", replied Allen. "I guess as we are now back to Skipton that will be the last for today, so I make it 24 in total for the walk."

"A long way off the record of 47 on the walk from High Bentham", said Tetley.

Now we continued along the the road past the crematorium and so into Skipton and to the cars. The street had been virtually deserted this morning, but now it was thronging and there was no parking to be had anywhere.

"I guess it's tea time, Dad", laughed Tetley.

"Sure is lad."

They went to the cafe called Coffee and Clay, where all the staff were youngsters in late teens seemingly. It was very busy too. Meals etc are served downstairs, while upstairs is a pottery painting workshop, hence the name. .They enjoyed mugs of tea and Uncle Bob had a toasted teacake, while Dad had a fruit scone with butter and jam.

Very enjoyable day, and we say a big thanks to Uncle Bob for his company!!!

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