New Walks in Central Nottinghamshire ... and Beyond

Start:  Malham Finish: Horton-in-Ribblesdale Distance: 12 miles Total Distance Walked:  88 miles We left our campsite just after 9 o'clock and were soon alongside a pleasant stream heading towards one of the most spectacular features of the whole route, Malham Cove.  This high limestone cliff, shining bright white, was once a waterfall higher than Niagara Falls. We climbed the path by the cove to reach the top and another page of our geography text books where we reached a limestone pavement.  This landscape of blocks of rock and fissures between them may have been interesting geologically but was awkward to walk on.  It was only a short section and we were then into attractive fields before reaching Malham Tarn. On this section of the Pennine way we had seen more people than on any so far and by the Tarn we mingled with a large group walking by the lake which is also a nature reserve.  Leaving the crowds behind we walked through more fields and had lunch

Start:  Thornton in Craven Finish:  Malham   Distance: 12 miles Total Distance Covered: 76 miles We had breakfast at the Post Office B & B .  I had Alpen, a poached egg on toast and bacon.  Before we left at 9.30 "Skinless", who we met the day before and had been camping in a field by the post office, told us that in the night a cow had put its foot through his tent.  We stocked up on supplies including for me a very exotic Yorkie Raisin and Biscuit chocolate bar, a new flavour. The route was much less remote than the early days of the walk.  Part of the route was easy and pleasant along the Leeds and Liverpool canal towpath.  At 12.15 we crossed stepping stones across the River Aire into the village of Gargrave where we had lunch.  While we were there we met the Family Party of walkers whom we had encountered a few days earlier. There was a bit of road walking after we left Gargrave which aggravated my blisters a little.  However, much of the remaining se

Start: Stanbury Moor Finish: Thornton in Craven Distance: 12 miles Total Distance Walked: 64 miles We set off from our rough camp site on Stanbury Moor at 9 o'clock and soon joined a track and left the moor.  We departed from the official Pennine Way route to go to the village of Stanbury where we bought some postcards.  The road walking on this section hurt my feet. After this diversion which added a couple of miles to the rout we rejoined the Pennine Way for some rather uninspiring and cold walking across Ickornshaw Moor.  At 1.20 we came down into Cowling and stopped for lunch at the Black Bull where a sign invited walkers to remove their boots before entering. On the climb out of Cowling we were met by the sound of jet fighters flying low overhead.  Villages were now occurring on the route more often than in the early stages of the walk and only three miles after Cowling we reached Lothersdale where we stopped to buy refreshments.  I had a yogurt cone. Another fo