Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: November 2011

Skipton

This is a series of photos I took of a short drive to Skipton and a walk around the Leeds-Liverpool Canal basin. I took a little detour on my way home, going via Embsay and Eastby and then over Embsay Moor to Barden in Wharfedale.

The statue is of "Fiery" Fred Trueman, a legend in Yorkshire Cricket and a man who the late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once described as the "greatest living Yorkshireman". Harumpf.....I thought that was me!!

Fiery Fred


Canal Basin, Skipton

Canal Basin, Skipton

Jack and Jill

Canal Basin, Skipton

Pathway to Skipton Castle

Canal at Skipton Castle

Canal near Skipton Castle

Canal at Skipton Castle

Canal Basin, Skipton

Embsay Moor

Barden, Wharfedale


Sticky buds

Wharfedale and Wensleydale

This was another Sunday afternoon drive out in to the Dales with Sal and a lovely sunny autumn day to boot. Our route took us up the Dale from Skipton to Kettlewell. I don't think either of us tire of calling here, it's everything a Dales Village should be albeit in recent years it has become a haven for second homes and holiday accommodation.

We always have a walk up to Saint Mary's Church at the far end of the village which has some beautiful stained glass windows. The east window is in memory of Charles Hyne, killed aged 18 in November 1916. At the feet of the risen Christ is the folded uniform of Charles. On the left and right are real life images of friends who survived the war and in the background is the army camp.

To the left and opposite the main door are the Holdsworth windows. These depict John Holdsworth of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps who was killed in 1945 and Michael Holdsworth of the Fleet Air Arm who was posted missing in 1942.

My eye was taken to the window below and especially to the light which was thrown across from the window opposite. The Church itself was founded in 1120 but there is little left of the original building. The church as we see it today was consecrated in 1885.I think it's one of the most charming Churches in the Dales.

A visit to Kettlewell is never complete without a quick call in to The Racehorses for a pint of Landlord and Thatchers Gold. We also had a light lunch consisting of a Racehorses "Special" sandwich each and a portion of chips to share which was rather scrummy and set us up for the rest of the day.

Fully fed and watered we headed over the top and into Bishopdale in the lovely afternoon sun. We had thought of going up to Castle Bolton but the Castle itself was closed for winter so we made for Aysgarth Falls instead. It was a bit to dark to do any justice to my photographs but I took a few for the record. We also popped in to The Yore Mill Craft shop for Sal's tat-fix.

Its surprising how early the days draw in at this time of the year and by the time we got to Hawes it was dark We had a walk around the town calling in a few of the shops, Sal bought a dinky little glass butterfly fridge magnet and liquid provisions were also bought ie a £4.99 bottle of Cava for Sal and a couple of bottles of local Dent Aviator for me.

Our trip back down took us to what can only be described as a pub right out of The League of Gentlemen. The Helwith Bridge Inn, a more apt name would have been The Helwith Hole Inn! When we walked in I fully expected someone to turn round and say "this is a local pub for local people.....there's nothing for you here". The electrics must have been at least 40yrs old with wires hanging down all over the place. It was crying our for a new lick of paint and also for some new seating which didn't all but topple over when you sat on it! The beer was good and "local" though.

A diversion on the A65 near Hellifield miraculously brought us out near to the Cross Keys at East Marton which Sal recalled from her Pennine Way days. The pub is very quaint, dates from the 16th century and overlooks the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. We found a great big comfy leather settee, had a natter and enjoyed the final drink of the day before heading off home.

Yet another cracking afternoon out.

Oops, one thing I have forgotten to mention is the sunset as we drove along Wensleydale towards Hawes. By luck I found a place to park up just behind the famous Wensleydale Trees for some photos and we were both treated to the most beautiful of sunsets (see final poto).

The East Window, St Mary's Kettlewell

Light on the stained glass window.

St Mary's Church, Kettlewell.

St Mary's Curchyard.

St Mary's Churchyard

Sign above door, Kettlewell.

Two Muppets.

Kettle-well and truly on.

Upper Falls Aysgarth

Wensleydale Sunset.

Wycoller

On Saturday we went to Wycoller on Sal's suggestion as it wasn't too far to travel. I was working the night shift so a drive into the Dales was out of the question. Anyway I had never been before and had only looked down on it from the Haworth to Colne road, so this made a nice change. It's a bit finicky to get to which I suppose is a good thing really as it keeps the visitors down, in fact I was quite surprised how quiet it was. Another factor could have been that the carpark was about half a mile from the village, people tend to stay away if it isn't on the doorstep.

Wycoller derives it's name from the Anglo Saxon Wic-Alr, meaning dairy farm among the alder trees. From the 15th century the Wycoller area was a sheep farming and weaving community, but the invention of power looms eventually led to the village's decline. In the 1890s there were plans to create a reservoir by damming Wycoller Beck, but the plan never materialized.

Wycoller Hall which is in ruins now, is thought to be the inspiration for Ferndean Manor in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte who lived only a few miles away in Haworth.

Seven bridges cross Wycoller Beck. The three in the village are the Pack-Horse Bridge, a twin arched bridge which may have originated almost 800 years ago, but has been reconstructed over the centuries. Sally Owen, mother of Wycoller's last squire has led to the bridge's alternative name - Sally's Bridge.

Clapper Bridge which is close to the ruins of Wycoller Hall and probably dates from the late 18th or early 19th century and Clam Bridge is possibly more than 1000 years old and is listed as an Ancient Monument. It is a single slab laid across Wycoller Beck and once had a handrail.

It is certainly a picturesque little spot surrounded by woodlands and is a walkers paradise with many paths and bridleway leading to and from the village. Sal told me that the Peninne Way ran only a few miles out of the village at Pondon. We explored and took photos of the ruined Wycoller Hall and had a look around the The Aisled Barn Visitor Centre which was very interesting and had an amazing wooden roof. One of the houses in the village had a pair of the largest St Bernard's dogs I think I've ever seen. They were bloody huge, I wouldn't fancy having to shell out on their food bill.

To round the visit off nicely we went into the Wycoller Craft Centre and tearooms for a natter and some refreshments and Sal bought yet another mug and various pieces of tat.

We then drove to 'The Atom' - a panopticon located high above the valley on the Haworth Road. A panopticon is a structure, space or device providing a comprehensive or panoramic view which in this case was a view of the beautiful countryside of The Forest of Trawden and Pendle Hill.

It was then just a short drive to our final destination, The Grouse Inn near Oakworth. We promised we would go back here for a meal as the menu looked just up our street and the smells coming from the kitchen were absolutely divine. Unfortunately we didn't have the time as I was working nights so I settled for a pint on Landlord which was perfectly pulled and Sal had her customary pint of cider.

To cap off a lovely afternoon we sat in the car and watched a beautiful sunset.