All was well.
Tea and cakes had arrived.
"I'll get the plates and mugs", volunteered Southey.
That done Allen lent a paw to help Shaun fill the mugs.
Taking a mouthful, Allen then said, "just what I needed. Can't imagine life without tea."
"You're just like Dad", laughed Grizzly.
"So what have we got for cake, today?", asked Tetley.
"Chocolate flapjack that Little Eric has made, and I have done cherry and ginger scones", responded Grizzly.
"Ooh they are my favourite scones", enthused Southey. After spreading the butter and raspberry jam, and taking a bite, he said, "mmm absolutely scrumptious."
"Love the flapjack too", called out Shaun.
Allen had the iPad in paw. "We have been having some nice spring days, but the weather is going to break on Sunday. So that leaves tomorrow or Saturday for a walk.
"Have a look at the diary", suggested Little Eric.
"Hmm, Dad's not free on Friday, but Saturday is clear."
"Dad is suffering with quite a lot of stress over the sale of grandad Bill's flat, so if he feels like going, I guess we need think pretty local."
"Starting from Elaine's perhaps", replied Grizzly. "That would be guaranteed to put a smile on his face."
"But we have done such a lot round there", said Southey.
"Well", said Shaun. "You know I like browsing the maps, and by chance have found another summit."
"Really", enthused Allen. "It's always good to add to our totals.
"The area where the Celtic Wall is situated is called Feizor Thwaite. I searched for this on the Internet and found it is designated a summit in the Hill Bagging database. There is a small cairn to mark it, and it is also noted that 20m NNW the ground is as high. Yes we have wandered across here quite a lot, but never visited the cairn."
"Well Shaun, we will have to bag it", said Tetley.
"What about the rest of the route?", asked Southey.
Shaun replied, "my plan is to then go to Dead Man's Cave and drop down to the Stackhouse path, but then go to Little Stainforth, turn left on the road at the junction, and left off this at Hargreaves Barn. This path comes out finally at Feizor Nick, where we walk down to the hamlet.
"Sounds like a plan", said Tetley. "We have not walked the section to Feizor Nick either."
Allen had been tracing the route on the OS app. "Right I have got it in my mind. I'll go and ask Dad."
"Thanks pal", said Tetley. "I'll make sure your mug is refilled."
A few minutes later Allen returned. "Thanks pal", he said accepting the steaming mug of tea. "Dad likes the idea so Saturday is on."
"Great cheered Little Eric."
As we drove the ever so familiar route to Feizor, Tetley said laughingly, "I guess you will be having a pot of tea at Elaine's before we set off, Dad."
"Oh yes".
He got the usual response of "hi and what are you doing here", from Elaine and Sue.
Elaine told him about her stay in Liverpool. Excellent relaxing few days. Pampered, with rose petals and Prosecco in the room when they arrived and then the next day a free bottle of wine and free parking too.
Meanwhile we had been wandering around the yard area. "Look", called out Tetley. "There are the donkeys, Brian and Gerry."
"Here comes Dad", called out Allen.
Soon ready, we then settled in the rucksack and off we went through the gate and up the field by the wall to cross the ladderstile and continue uphill towards the brow.
We paused to look back, Tetley commenting, "that's a lovely view over to Feizor Wood."
"In a few weeks that and Oxenber Woods will be carpeted in bluebells." Here is a picture Dad took in 2016 to illustrate this.
At after the next ladderstile we stopped again, to take in the view across to Pot Scar that we had climbed with Aunt Pat and Uncle Leo, in February.
Beyond the next ladderstile the gate on the right was open. "Seems a good way to make the climb", suggested Shaun.
Then looking up said, "we are being watched."
"Darn", said Allen. "There goes the sheep picture free story."
A narrow trod wound its way up the fellside, and drifting left the Celtic Wall was soon in sight. This is thought to be over 2000 years old.
With book in paw, Tetley once again told us, "Wainwright conjectures that its unusual thickness and obvious age suggests its purpose was that of a defensive shield for an ancient encampment in the valley, the earthworks of which can still be traced. The excavation of sites of similar walls, has revealed them to be places of burial and this was probably the use here."
"Will you take our picture again, sitting on the wall?", asked Southey, already scrambling out of the rucksack.
"Sure lad."
After climbing down, Shaun allowing Little Eric to ride on his back, we looked east again.
"Another fine view of Pot Scar, now with Ingleborough rising behind", said Tetley. "How I love my home county."
Shaun consulted the map saying "with the wall at our back, we need to head very slightly left for the summit."
Very soon we could see the rise in the land in front. "You were spot on pal", complimented Little Eric."
"Aww just look at that sheep with it's lamb. Just waiting to be photographed". whispered Southey.
"Humph", growled Allen. "You are just winding me up."
After cresting one rise, we headed towards the next. Shaun was monitoring the GPS to keep us on track.
Suddenly Grizzly pointed, "there's a stone over there."
Dad headed towards it. Arriving we could see that it was in fact a small cairn. A quick glance at the GPS again and Shaun said, "this is the summit."
"Come on pals", called out Southey, "time for our picture."
Pointing, Shaun said, "that is the area of the same height."
Once settled again, Dad took us the short distance to ensure we visited that too.
"There's Plover Fell and Pen-y-ghent", said Little Eric. "What a majestic sight."
Then turning, Dad walked roughly half right to visit Dead Man's Cave...
...and then the few yards to climb the always locked gate out of the enclosure, and follow the winding path down to the main track.
Dad did not need any instructions as we had walked this track a lot. It was left through the gate and then on towards the next.
We met a lady and two gentlemen, so Dad stopped top chat. The lady asked about our route and Dad enquired about theirs. Unsurprisingly theirs took in a stop at Elaine's. Of course.
Beyond the next gate that had collapsed, we ignored the gate to the right, instead keeping ahead along the wide path for Little Stainforth.
"This is new", commented Allen.
The path led on dropping steadily to a gate, and through this steeply down for a short way into a valley.
"Left here", suggested Shaun.
However there was a narrow gate just in front and ignoring Shaun's advice Dad went through this. We crossed the rough pasture only to find there was no way out. Worst still was that the farmer feeding his cattle and could obviously see us.
Dad said, "I'll just have to go over the broken wall and walk to the next. Here is was clear we should have been on the far side in the walled lane, as to the right was a signpost by a ladderstile reading Little Stainforth.
The farmer said, "are you a bit lost."
Dad replied, " I should be over this wall and in the lane. I'll walk back".
"You can do what you want once I am gone", he replied, "but be careful of the wall".
"I'll not damage it", Dad promised.
He walked left a little way to find and easy get over then right to the ladderstile.
"I should have followed your instruction, Shaun", Dad admitted.
"Ah well", he replied, "we'll know for next time."
So followed the path now through a gateway, where this sheep with very young lambs was begging to be photographed.
"Not again", said Allen exasperatedly. "I give up."
So onwards down via a gate to a track and right to Little Stainforth. "It's left along the road signed Low Park", instructed Shaun.
Strolled the quiet road and after a little over a quarter mile, it was left at the walled path signed Feizor Nick 1.5 miles.
The hill rising on the left is Smearsett Scar that we had all climbed.
After Hargreaves Barn it was through two gates in quick succession to then be faced by two locked gates. "Round the wall corner" said Shaun.
This led to another gate, where beyond there was this fine view of Smearsett Scar.
As instructed by a sign, Dad kept by the wall on right up to the corner and over the gated stepped gap stile.
Then in a few steps, climbed the stone step stile over the wall and so on up to the ladderstile on the skyline. Beyond walked the wide green path. It led on and on below the ridge of Smearsett Scar to the left. After another ladderstile and then a gate, the path now by the wall on the right led to a ladderstile onto the track a Feizor Nick.
Turning left the familiar track led down and through a gate into Feizor, passing the pump.
The car was up the yard and the donkeys were by the field fence.
"You've got to take their picture", suggested Little Eric.
So here is Gerry, closest to the camera with Brian behind...
...and now a close-up of Brian.
"Food time, Dad", said Tetley.
"Sure thing lad."
So it was down the yard to Elaine's, the best tearoom for miles and miles and miles!
Note the horses who with their riders had come along the Pennine Bridleway that passes the tearooms.
Dad had a pot of tea with a brie and bacon ciabatta with chips and salad, followed by a piece of lemon drizzle cake. Delicious.
Timed it just right as the cafe that had been very busy inside was empty. Full outside with people taking advantage of the sunshine and warmth.
Driving home, Tetley echoed all our thoughts. "That was a grand day out Dad. Thank you as always.
