With a lightly packed rucksack and a bottle of water I set off
The Yorkshire Dales
Written By Mark Seymour
I arrived at our country house hotel, nestled onto the side of a scarp slope of the Yorkshire Dales, unpacked my bags and put on my hiking boots.
The day was a balmy one in the middle of April and the conditions were ideal for a walk into the nearest village, a quick pint and a hike on the Pennine Way.
With a lightly packed rucksack and a bottle of water I set off.
Down the slope and into the village, I went. Other walkers waved at me as I forded the small stream at the bottom of the hill…. They were going in the opposite direction to mine and had probably just had a pint in the same pub that I was headed for.
…… and there it was! I hurried past the antique shops and the ice cream shoppe ( although I may pop in there upon my return) and walked into the invitingly warm bar area of the Green Dragon. The landlady smiled and asked what I would like to drink and I asked for a half pint of their local bitter. Pouring it slowly, we passed a few pleasantries across the bar. I also purchased a bag of cheese and onion crisps…. My favourite
After a ten minute respite, I had ‘downed’ my ale, ‘munched’ on my crisps and bade farewell to the hostess. Leaving the warmth of the pub, my boots ’clopped’ on the stone cobbles outside, and I headed North out of the village.
When it rains the small streams and rivers in the area make their way down the limestone valleys, cutting shallow paths as they flow. In many cases, beautiful but shallow waterfalls are formed, such as those in the village of Hawes.
A mist fell upon me as I climbed up the slope above the village and it started to rain lightly. I could hear the bleating of the sheep all around me, and in the distance a farmer was driving his tracked vehicle over the moorland peat bogs……. These walks allow me a little solitude and peace and this was to be no exception.
The Yorkshire Dales are an important part of our Northern England Tour!