Summary

Summits Achieved

Preface

"Are we walking tomorrow, Dad"?, asked Allen.

"Yes lad, we are meeting Uncle Bob to climb another of the Yorkshire Dales fells that are outstanding."

We all cheered!

"Which summit are we going to bag", asked Shaun.

"Giggleswick Scar, so we are meeting up in Settle", said Dad. He then clarified, "actually in truth we will not be going into Settle, as the car park in on the north side of the River Ribble in Giggleswick. And the route of the Ribble Way is also on the north side of the river."

 

The Walk

Our drive to the start was very familiar through the Lune Valley via Bentham, and out to the A65, to leave this at the start of the Settle bypass and follow the old road to the town.

"It must have been wonderful for the residents, when this bypass opened", mused Tetley.

"Aye lad, Settle was quite a bottleneck."

Down and down Buck Haw Brow we went finally entering Giggleswick, Shaun calling out, "here's the leisure centre car park on the left."

Uncle Bob was getting ready for the off and we called out, "hi Uncle Bob, great to see you again."

"Good to see you too, lads."

As Dad got ready, Allen said, "come on pals, time to get settled in the rucksack."

"That's an awful pun", cried Little Eric.

"Oh yes", laughed Allen. "But unconscious humour on my part."

"Considering where we are actually starting from, it should be time to get giggleswicked in the rucksack", said Grizzly laughing loudly.

Dad and Uncle Bob were now ready and from the car park we walked a few yards towards Settle to go left along the Ribble Way footpath beside the river.

The pleasant, if at times muddy path, meandered by the river, before drifting away to Stainforth Lane.

"We should branch off left to walk through the small hamlet of Stackhouse", instructed Shaun.

This then brought us back to Stainforth Lane. "We could just have kept to this", commented Grizzly. "So where now?"

"Go left a little way, and then take the path right to come again by the river, where there is a substantial weir", replied Shaun.

As can be seen the day was dull, and really wintry with snow still lying on the fields in places.

From now on the path hugged the riverside and climbed gently.

We passed some people coming the opposite way, a lady asking, "where are you walking to."

"To Lower Stainforth then over the tops to Feizor and back via Giggleswick Scar", Dad replied.

She replied, "there's a nice tearooms at Feizor."

At this time we did not realise what a profound affect these words would have on Dad and Uncle Brian's life over the succeeding years.

So onwards we came to the waterfalls at Stainforth.

"Wow", cried Tetley. "What an impressive sight."

We spent a while here while Dad and Uncle Bob had a prolonged photo session. We were very patient and did not mind as at least we were warm and safely tucked up in the rucksack!

The session included them taking pictures of each other. When writing the account. Allen said to Tetley, "we appear often enough, so we had better include the pictures of Uncle Bob and Dad."

"Quite pal."

Photograph courtesy Bob Woolley (Uncle Bob)

"I like that bridge just upstream", said Little Eric. "Please take a picture for the story."

Grizzly told us, "this graceful packhorse bridge replaced a ford in the 1670’s, and is now owned and cared for by the National Trust. The bridge joins Little and Great Stainforth."

After walking to it, Shaun said, "it is certainly narrow. Only just enough room for a single vehicle. Not sure you would be too happy taking your big car over it, Dad."

Uncle Bob said, "stand with your arms out to give an impression of the width, Gerry."

Photograph courtesy Bob Woolley (Uncle Bob)

Walking on Shaun said, "we stroll up through Little Stainforth, and then take the path that is called the Dales High Way up over the hill towards Smearsett Scar."

"That's a super view looking back", called out Tetley. "Warrendale Knotts and Sugar Loaf Hill."

"Yes pal", agreed Allen. "They will be the next summits we will tackle on our Yorkshire Dales Fells quest."

Reaching the brow, Grizzly said, "there's Smearsett Scar with Pot Scar beyond. It is almost exactly one year ago to the day that we summited Smearsett Scar."

Here snow had drifted to lie deeply beside our path. Today we were just walking in the valley below the hills, eventually dropping down to the tiny hamlet of Feizor (pronounced Fazyr). "Sounds like those weapons in Star Trek", commented Shaun.

Now it is well known that Dad, if possible, likes to include a visit to a tearoom as part of the day out, this usually being at the end of the walk. However he and Uncle Bob decided to break with tradition, stopping at the halfway point to go to Feizor Refreshments, run by Elaine Knowles. Their excuse was that they were sheltering from a rain shower.

"I'm not complaining", said Little Eric, "I'm glad we are in the dry too."

It seems to be a place that is often visited by walkers and cyclists. When we arrived it was about half full, and we squeezed into a table in the corner of the room. Then almost immediately it was completely full, with the arrival of a party of cyclists.

Uncle Bob said, "we'll just have tea"

A huge pot arrived. "Great a proper tearoom", said Dad.

"Just perfect for tea belly", laughed Uncle Bob referring to Dad.

Then however, they spotted the delicious cakes and puddings, which proved to be irresistible and lemon meringue pie was ordered. So much for will power!

Joking apart all the food on offer looked and is delicious and is home made too. It can be thoroughly recommended. Dad and Uncle Brian met Uncle Bob and Aunt Ann there a couple of weeks later, and again the food was excellent. Although having only been the once before, Elaine recognised Dad. Once seen etc.

Here Uncle Bob poses outside.

As time went on going to Elaine's became a regular feature of Dad and Uncle Brian's lives, going every Monday. We saw the business expand from the single room behind Uncle Bob, to include the room behind the gentlemen sitting at the table. This was their living room, but was moved upstairs to make room for more tables. Where the gentlemen are sitting became inside as well. Eventually two outside seating areas were made for customers that are very popular in the good weather. Elaine and family became friends, as did other regular customers. Uncle Brian always referred to Monday as Feizor Day.

"Time we were getting going again", said Tetley.

"Aye lad" replied Dad.

So rucksack on his back, we went right past the houses, to go left up the signed track, that was the initial part of the route to Giggleswick Scar. Over open ground we climbed gently coming to a junction.

Shaun instructed, "it's right here."

Through a gate, the path went by a wall, and then diagonally across the pasture to a stile in the wall. Then on in the same direction to cross another wall and then a further stile, to the escarpment above Buck Haw Brow and the road we had driven to Giggleswick this morning.

We picked our way along and then Spider Cave came into view, which we went to look at. Grizzly had done some research and told us, "the cave is 65 ft long, but after about 20ft its height deteriorates to just a small crawl space that would only be high enough for us. But I think it would be sensible if we do not make any attempt to enter."

"We need to climb up beside the cave to gain the ridge", advised Shaun.

The path then led over stiles in a number of walls, before the short steep final climb to the summit cairn.

"Yippee", cheered Allen. "Picture time pals."

And here is Uncle Bob's shot of Dad taking our picture.

Photograph courtesy Bob Woolley (Uncle Bob)

So all that remained was the walk down to the cars. First the descent off the top, passing by the huge Giggleswick Quarry.

"It is so deep", said Little Eric, "no wonder two protective fences have been erected."

At a gate, we walked along the track through Lord’s Wood, which led to a road with some very nice houses either side. This ended at the main road, where it was just a short stroll to the car park.

"A most enjoyable walk", said Tetley. "Thank you as always for your company Uncle Bob."

"You are welcome. It has been a grand day out", he replied.

The discovery of Feizor Refreshments was a bonus too", said Dad.

"You are a real tea belly and cake stuffer, Gerry", laughed Uncle Bob.

We then wished Uncle Bob a safe journey home and waved him off.

As Dad drove out of the car park, Allen said, "why are you taking the Horton in Ribblesdale road." Then seconds later he said, "of course you are going to Eileen’s at Newby Head Farm, to stock up on cakes."

"No surprise there", said Grizzly, letting out a bellow of laughter.

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