Thixendale - Sunday 11th October, 2009

Fourteen souls plus Lady the Westie arrived in Thixendale on Sunday morning, ready for a walk through lovely rolling dales and vales.

We headed out of Thixendale towards Thixen Dale, past geese and sheep for a slow climb up the hill to the old Roman road. The Roman road afforded us excellent views across the Vale of York, where unlike our position, it seemed a lovely and sunny day. The path then headed downhill to Kirby Underdale, a tiny village with a lovely old Norman church, including an ancient stone showing an image of Mercury. Perhaps the grounds of the church previously housed a place of worship to a very different God.

After lunch in the church grounds and an appearannce by the sun we headed out of the village and back into the rolling countryside. Heading back towards Thixendale, we headed across pasture, a group of peacoccks and into Worm Dale, where we had tea in the sun as we watched the sheep (or was it the other way round?)

Finally, we made our way back into Thixendale for a welcome cup of tea and scone in the village hall. All in all, a lovely walk in the autumn sunshine.

Weekend walk in Lake District - 25-27 September 2009

When you visit the Lake District you can but hope for dry let alone good weather. Our group of eight intrepid explorers were not to be disappointed.

We arrived on the Friday evening in Rosthwaite, each with tales of 'homely' B&B's in which we were staying. Modern conveniences were not to hand, but as the weekend progressed, we all came to appreciate the good food and hospitality on offer. The evening was spent in the Riverside Bar, where ample food and beer were comsumed.

Saturday morning was dry with high cloud. We started the walk from Honister Pass car park and headed up into the hills towards Haystacks. The walk was quite easy with wonderful views down towards Buttermere, Crummock Water and Ennerdale Water. Lunch was taken at the peak, along with dozens of others doing a similar route. With the sun coming out, a decision was taken to include two more peaks in our route - Brandreth and Grey Knotts - we even provided temporary respite for two lost Lancashire souls until we reunited them with their group. Being consumed in conversation does not always go hand in hand with keeping on your route, as we also found out later in the day. Modern GPS technology was to come to our rescue.

After returning to the car park, we headed back to our B&B's for a well deserved bath, followed by a trip into Keswick for an even more deserved curry - a great way to end a wonderful day.

On Sunday we decided to take more gentle route via Castle Crags (a scramble up slate slag, which offered breathtaking views of Derwent Water and Keswick in the distance) into Grange for lunch, in a wonderfully located cafe on the bedrock of the River Derwent. After lunch, we returned along the banks of the river into Rosthwaite. Again the weather was kind and we all returned home with only seeing a slight dampness on Sunday morning.

All in all, a wonderful weekend. Come one Oddsocks, lets be having you at next year's weekend walks!

More pics to follow upon receipt from the official photographer...

Market Weighton - Sunday 13th September 2009

8 walkers & 1 dog were on the walk. Of those, 3 walkers (Rachael, Jane & Shelley) & the dog (lady) were welcome new recuits.

The walk started on the flat as we made our way along along the disused railway east out of Market Weighton before we started a steady but gentle climb following part of the Wolds Way through Goodmanham and on to Londesborough. After a walk around this lovely village we returned to Market Weighton following another branch of the Wolds Way.

The weather was dry (apart from a few spots at lunch) but people's reaction to the temperature was varied with some choosing hats & fleeses while others chose shorts & short sleeved blouses! (See picture)