Far From The Madding Crowd.

Hmm, Saturday Christmas shopping or a drive in to The Dales. A no brainer eh? I do love giving presents but I can certainly do without the hassle of having to buy them a week before Christmas! Thank God for the internet, that's all I can say. Mind you that has its downside too due to all the packaging which companies seem to think they have to use on every item and, whilst I'm on the online subject, why do they always have to deliver either when you are out or have you stay in most of the day and then deliver at teatime!! Rant over.

So I started off the day with a visit to the tearooms at Kilnsey Trout Farm for a cup of the best cappuccino in The Dales. Then, feeling warmed up inside, I set off for a stroll on The Dales Way.

For those not aware, The Dales Way is a long distance footpath running from Ilkely in West Yorkshire to Bowness on Windermere in Cumbria and is approximately 80 miles in length. As the name suggest, wherever possible it is a riverside path although the section between Grassington and Kettlewell is a climb as is the crossing of the Pennine watershed but you would expect that.

The few miles that I walked was very easy going albeit a bit icy in places. I only saw three people all the time I was out. A couple walking towards Bucken and a girl returning to Kettlewell. Unfortunately at this time of year, the days are short and also, as soon as the sun drops behind the fells it gets bloody cold! Before returning home I had a quick walk around Kettlewell but resisted the urge to go in the Blue Bell for a beer.