A great night’s sleep in a warm and comfy bed, waking at about 6 to the chattering of numerous birds welcoming the new day. I’m sure I’ll pay for it tonight when I have to start the tent acclimatisation process anew
Have a shower, with copious amounts of hot water. Normally youth hostels are very energy and water consious and limit the flow to a fine mist. But not at Malham
Full cooked breakfast plus coffee. A very relaxed start today, as we only have 12 or so miles to walk to our campsite at Siloth House near Feizor.
We eventually set off just before 9. The air is very calm, making it feel warmer
We are watched by curious cows as we cross the lush green fields towards Malham cove
Before long the cliffs of the cove come into view. At the end of the ice age this would have been a thundering waterfall: think Niagara without the casino developments
We walk to the bottom of the overhanging limestone cliffs. They are immense, representing billions upon countless billions of shelled creatures whose bodies, hopes and dreams have been crushed by tens of millions of years of geological time. It makes one feel quite small and insignificant
Then it’s up the steep slope out of the dale, where we are back in the cold wind
but are rewarded with fine views back to where we were walking yesterday. The pointy hill near the middle of the picture being Sharp Haw, where we lingered on the stainless steel bench yesterday
It’s just another day’s walking in the gloriously beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. We have noticed and remarked upon the absence of background traffic noise for most of this walk
Looking towards Malham tarn, which we won’t be visiting on this journey
Today’s flower is a wild lilac coloured thing growing by the roadside. Very pretty
We are heading for Settle, where we will pick up provisions for lunch Today, our evening meal, and lunch tomorrow. The miles are slipping by
There is much commotion in Sheep World.
The farmer has arrived on his quad bike with what is obviously some very tasty Sheepy treats. We think that really he is conditioning the animals to come to him for when he wants to round them up later in the season
Settle comes into view. A lovely little town. We have a very nice quiche based lunch at the Naked Man Cafe and stock up for tomorrow at the adjoining bakery. I visit the coop and buy pitta and hummus for my tea later.
Our route follows the Ribble upstream to Stainforth falls
The falls are delightful and Chris can’t resist a bit of wild swimming
A steep climb out of Stainforth and walking below more limestone escarpments.
A stop for a quick cup of tea/coffee at the cafe in Feizor and then we diverge from the High Way route to get to our campsite at Siloth House in the tiny hamlet of Warfe
We walk through rich green fields, with sheep, lambs
and are briefly detained by an attention seeking cat
You shall not pass
We arrive at our campsite at 5pm and put up our tents
A little cup of wine, bought in Settle, is a fitting end to the day
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