Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: August 2020

Cauldron Falls and Cotter Force, Wensletdale

Cauldron Falls is a short walk from West Burton's pretty village green and is situated in a shady spot with another small waterfall and the remains of the town's lead smelting mill which used to serve the large number of small mines whose remains are scattered over the nearby moors. It is known as Cauldron Falls because of the beautiful plunge pool, and was one of the spots painted by Turner on his travels in the Dales. It stands on Walden Beck which runs for 9 miles (14.3 km) from the watershed on Buckden Pike before joining Bishopdale Beck before flowing under the main road in the valley to join the River Ure.

The amount of water flowing over the waterfall obviously depends on the amount of water higher up on the fells and the day I visited was after a few days of heavy rain so it was quite impressive.

Cotter Force is further up Wensleydale and is the largest of the falls in Cotterdale Beck. It comprises of a series of six steps, each its own small waterfall with the largest single drop being about 5 feet (1.5 m). The force is not visible from the road but is well sign-posted and has handy parking places.

It takes only a short flat walk to reach the falls and when in spate, they can be soon seen and heard. There seems to be a shortage of footpaths in this area so its a case of paying them quick a visit and then retracing the path back to the road. Maybe that is why it is usually pretty quiet. It is a shame really because after rain they are very impressive and when lacking in rain they are so photogenic.

I did think about paying Hardraw Force a visit as well as it was only a couple of miles down the road but everywhere was so busy. The reason for me going would have been to photograph them so it would all have been pretty pointless because the narrow gorge and path would have been heaving with people.

All in all it had been a good day, just a shame that Hadraw had bee so busy. I returned home on the Ingleton road, turning off at Ribblehead for Settle and the A65.

Cauldron Falls

Cotter Force

River Skirfare at Arncliffe

Not a walk as such but just a stroll from the car to stretch my legs. I parked outside the village on the lane over to Malham and walked back via an old bridleway which I should imaging was the main route to the Church at one time. Due to the virus, the church doors were locked which turned out to be a bonus because as I came out of the grounds, I notice a signpost for Hawkswick which was just begging to be explored.

All paths in Wharfedale and its subsiduary valleys can be classed as beautiful and all have their merits but this one was particularly so. It followed the tree-lined River Skirfare as it meandered down Littondale to eventually meet up with The River Wharfe just outside of Kilnsey.

The last time I had been in these parts was spring when I walked in the opposite direction to Litton village. The River Skirfare that day had been just about dry, in fact in places it was dry. What a difference a good old British summer had made as the river today was in full flow.

I followed the path beside the river and through a few meadows until it started to veer towards the road. As I'm not a great lover of road walking (especially if they are narrow twisty country roads), I just retraced my footsteps back to the village.

I did consider having a beer in The Flacon Inn as the door was open but there was no-one about inside. It was a shame really as it would have been nice to sit on the village green in the sun for half an hour and enjoy a nice cool pint. It has always been a bit of a strange pub or should I say its always had a bit of a strange landlord. The last one was a right objectionable sod who made it obvious that he didn't like or want passing trade. Maybe it comes with the territory and the new one is the same!

Road Bridge ovet the River Skirfare

River Skirfare

Arncliffe

River Skirfare

Old Wooden Garage

River Skirfare

Ruined farm Building, Arncliffe

River Skirfare

Cowside Beck

River Skirfare

Bridleway to Arncliffe Church

Old Farm Building, Arncliffe

Cowside Beck

A Wet and Misty St Ives

Not great weather to be walking in but still good to be out. Parked across from the golf course club house and as per usual, followed The Alter Way signposts all the way up to The Druid's Alter. I didn't hang around too long as the damp, humid weather had brought the damned midges out and they were having a good nibble on me. There was a nice atmospheric mist on the highest section of the walk which went through the woods and this made for some good photos.

Instead of doing my usual loop of the Estate, I went through the kissing gate at the highest part of the golf course and on to Alter Lane, heading back down that way. It shortened the length of the walk but made a nice change.

Coming back this way meant that I didn't pass The Ivy Cottage so no coffee for me. I couldn't have sat out anyway because everywhere was so damp and also it was busy with it being the school holidays.

Misty Woodland

Misty Woodlands

Race Course Plantation

Golf Course Plantation

Sodden Cows

A misty Alter Lane

Rowan Berries

Decaying Ferns

Wet Cow Parsley

Alter Lane

The Old Coach Road

Not really a walk, just a stroll to pass an hour on and avoid the crowds. I had just been in to Penrith to do some shopping so I had some lunch with me and fancied eating it outside and Ullswater was the obvious place. I droven down to Glenridding and there wasn't a single parking spot, either in the village or by the lake side.

I was resigned to eating it back at the caravan but on the way back I passed the dead-end road to Dowthwaite Head. Just on the off chance I drove along it to the parking area at the start of the Old Coach Road to St John's In The Vale and lo and behold there were spaces to park. I hastily scoffed my lunch, grabbed my camara and set off walking along the old pony route.

I had hoped to get some good photos of Blencathra but the track undulated and curved a lot so it turned in to one of those scenarios where you keep saying to yourself "I'll just go as far as that next bend...". Well the final bend never came so eventually I turned back and headed for the car. I wasn't too bothered as I'd had my hour of peace and solitude.

There had been a bit of rain earlier in the day so the smell of pine needles was still lingering in the forest. That ranks very high on my 'favourite odours list', matched only by the smells of cut grass, baking bread, fresh coffee, bacon sandwich and...curry!!!