On Sunday April 23rd, 40 members arrived at the Rendezvous Hotel for a 5 day holiday. The hotel is 1.25 miles along the canal from Skipton town centre, which is a lovely market town. The long range weather forecast for the week was wet, but fortunately for us they were wrong again! We had dry days.
Many walks and activities were undertaken:
The A walking group walked 4 sections of The Dales High Way: Saltaire to Ilkley — Ilkley to Skipton — Malham to Skipton ( due to transport problems) and Malham to Settle. Walking over 40 miles of the 90 mile trail.
Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent were climbed by two of the members.
The C walkers did a lovely figure of eight walk from Barden Bridge to Bolton Abbey on Monday.
Tuesday we started from Malham, walked to Janet’s Foss, Gardale Scar and on to the limestone pavement of Malham Cove.
Unfortunately one of the members had a serious fall on the limestone pavement. He was ably attended to by three members, who had medical and first aid knowledge, until the Mountain and Cave rescue team arrived. They carried him to their Land Rover, then went across country to the nearest road, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital.
On Wednesday the C walkers started from Grimwith reservoir, stopping for a drink at the Craven Arms, which was a very old pub, then along the river Wharfe to Burnsall and Appletreewick.
In Burnsall a film crew were just packing up, having been filming for the new All Creatures Great and Small.
Skipton castle was visited and walks taken through the woods. Trips were taken on a steam train and down the canal by boat from Skipton. Visits were made to Saltaire, Ilkley, Settle and to many of the pretty villages in this lovely area and. where tea shops were made use of. Plenty to do for both walkers and non-walkers.
My thanks to Carol and Billy Merchant for organising a hotel with such good food and service and to all the leaders who made this such an enjoyable holiday.
Margaret Boggis
Photos provided by Bill Merchant
