Photograph Gallery Stage 43 Airton to Oakworth Moor
Photograph Gallery Stage 43 Airton to Oakworth Moor, Wednesday 6th July 2011
The Story:
This stage was originally intended to end in Cowling but more on that later. For now let’s go to the start of the day. After my second and last night in my own bed in Harrogate until the end of the walk Jez and Dave arrived to pick me and Strolling Steve up. Then we went to Cowling to drop off the heavy gear and pick up Martyn before driving to Airton and meeting up with John. The result was six walking to Cowling before four returning to Airton to pick up their cars. Strolling Steve and I would continue on from Cowling alone.
Logistics sorted we all set off from Airton and as the width of the path allowed we formed into pairs. Strolling Steve and Dave at the head, Jez and John in the middle and Martyn and I keeping up the rear. The formation kept shape most of the way over the river and fields stage to Gargrave though we did congregate at gates and Stiles and when we huddled under a tree to don the wet gear. It didn’t take long for the rain to arrive, low pressure was truly set in. After four miles of walking we arrived in Gargrave soggy and sought a teashop which provided temporary solace from the rain. Sufficiently dried and revived we set off, Strolling Steve, Jez, Dave and John walking ahead of Martyn and me. We got a little behind the vanguard and so engrossed in intellectual conversation that after a while following a road we failed to see the footpath sign that the lead team had turned off on, resulting in us walking a further mile up the road before realising! Rather than track back I looked at the GPS and devised a route down a lane and across fields to rejoin the track. While we were plotting our reroute Strolling Steve tracked back a quarter mile trying to find us before ducking under a tree during yet another rainstorm and realising we would have improvised. Our new route was fine until we crossed a field of feisty cows that ran straight across the field toward us. For a hundred yards they walked on a parallel course really close to us before one jumped up with all four legs completely off the ground and charged Martyn. Luckily we stayed close to a fenceline by a copse and hurdled over quickly. Martyn, with fence as protection then shouted and waved at the beast which ran off with the rest of the herd. It was clear for us to continue now and after another field we rejoined the team to enjoy a lovely spell of walking through fields and then along the Leeds Liverpool canal which we stopped by for lunch. The five companions sat beside each other and shared banter while I sat behind and listened to the crack. I really enjoyed listening to them enjoying themselves in the sunshine. Yes, we did get a little dry spell over lunch before setting off over more fields and on tracks enjoying more good chat and more encounters with cows during which Dave showed us how to do it. Just wave and shout them away seemed to work for him. Towards the end of the day we climbed to the trig point of Pinhaw and took a final break before absconding quickly as dark clouds of thunder approached. We didn’t stay ahead for long getting another soaking before being given solace of sunshine on the final mile.
In Cowling it was time to say goodbye and thanks to Jez, John, Martyn and Dave. Strolling Steve and I decided to set up to camp nearby and climbed onto the next moor before the heavens opened again. We sought sanctuary beside an old building and undetered we strode on across the moor until we caught sight of the Oakworth valley. By then we were bushed, having done nearly 20 miles and set up camp atop Oakworth Moor. As soon as we pitched the heavens opened again and we spent the final two hours of our day communicating through tent fabric. We talked a little about our fantastic day and a lot about rubbish. Magic.
Strolling Steves Daily Statistics:
Scenery: 5/10 – One or two good viewpoints punctuating mundane sections.
History: 2/10 – Bits here and there.
Interest: 5/10 – Mostly in reaching the destination.
Track: 4/10 – Reasonably marked. Generally grass with boggy parts.
Comment: Will never make anybody’s top ten but this was a nice walking group.
The Photographs:
On our way (Notice the shadows?)
Not a mile done and the wet gear goes on
Crossing Harrows Hill near Haw Crag
Where can we get a warm drink?
Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Gargrave
Plenty of options
Where is Martyn? Oh, there is is behind me
Elslack Moor, a few hours away
A herd of cows round on Martyn, what will happen next?
It had to be the 'All Black' who made the charge
A relieved Martyn lives to tell the tale
The road beside Langber Plantation
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Williamson Bridge
Walkers conference as seen from the back.....
...and from the front
Double Arched Bridge at East Marton
Milepost on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Along the canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Langber
Elslack Moor ahead
In line crossing fields between East Marton and Thornton in Craven
Sheltering in Thornton in Craven
Climbing from Brown House Bridge to Elslack Moor
Congregation on Pinhaw 1
Congregation on Pinhaw 2
Near Robin Wilson's Grave on Ransable Hill
Leaving Lothersdale
On Cowling Hill
Cowling with Wainmans Pinnacle on top of the hill beyond
Cowling Church
After saying goodbye to the lads Strolling Steve and I continued on
The view ahead from Farling Ing Top
Strolling Steve enjoys a beer while the storm passes
Further Dean Hole, a welcome port in a storm
The Blob
Ickornshaw Moor
End of day.....nearly