Training walk 5 – Settle Caves and Waterfalls

I tell you what, that count down timer seems to be going pretty fast to me! It really brings it home as to how soon it will be until this all kicks off and the purpose of all this training has been realised.

Just to keep you all up to date on our progress so far we’ve been busily handing out posters and leaflets in local shops and offices, asking the shops if they would be kind enough to donate any prizes in the hope we can do a raffle or auction of some sort to boost our walk fund raising, organising Eurovision song contest sweepstake’s, getting in touch with the local press (with some success I might add), and, of course, getting another practice walk in on top!

We have managed to persuade some very kind shop keepers in the local area to support us by way of donations of prizes. Many thanks to all that have, this was very much appreciated. A list of everyone that has helped us so far is scrolling past above. Thumbs up to you all!

A Eurovision sweepstakes was held on several floors in our office building with people paying £2 per pick with a £1 donation going to our fund raising and the other £1 going into the kitty to pay out to the winner. A further £97.50 was raised as a result of this and a big thanks to David Watt and the lovely Barbara Ward for doing the organising of the sweepstakes in their respective teams – Thank you!

The 15th June will also see us meeting the press at a planned photo opp outside the Civil Hall on Millennium Square in Leeds. Councillor Richard Brett will be joining us as too should be the local newspapers. Fingers crossed we’ll get plenty of publicity from this and people will get to know about what we are doing and will sponsor us in what we are doing.

Sunday the 17th May was the date for our 5th training walk so far. We headed this time for Settle to wander around the Settle caves and waterfalls. Well I say waterfalls, I’m told that there was 2 but I must admit, at the time, I really did think we’d just walked back in a circle and revisited the same place. From the pictures of the day though I can see now just how different the 2 look! I think it’s safe to say I wont be the navigator while walking the wall.

It was another train journey to Settle which got us there for around 10.20am. The forecast was bad, rain and plenty of it, and the very dark clouds hanging over Ingleborough didn’t fill us with a great deal of confidence of staying dry. We pressed on regardless though with the now obligatory 12kg worth of weight in our packs.

Following the signs and Alan and Rob’s maps we meandered through the little town of Settle, heading for the fields and hills that lead up to Catrigg force waterfall. Not sure how we managed it but after going a little of course and having to back track we found the route we were looking for and pushed on up the first incline to get to the open fields at the top.

Onwards from there took us along the winding road side with the view of Settle below us. The clouds still looking menacing on the horizon so we didn’t hang about.
Roughly 3 miles in and we’d made it to a gate which lead us on down to the side of Catrigg force waterfall. For me, the best of the two (and yes I have now after seeing the pics convinced myself they are different so am fully entitled to choose a favourite :p) At the gate we met our first fellow walkers and told them all about what we were in training for. After passing them a leaflet each and them wishing us well we headed for the base of the waterfall.

After a quick break to take a few snaps of the impressive natural scenery around us, and Rob gleefully perching himself on top of a tree branch, looking very pleased with himself, we continued.

Back up waterfall side we had just gingerly made our way down and onwards along the path heading for the Caves. On the way our peaceful walk was suddenly gate crashed by what must have been the MG drivers appreciation society club (or the equivalent) as some 25+ MG TF’s, differing only in colour, shot passed us and off up and over, down and round the twisty turny country roads. If you were part of the convoy then give us a shout!

Onwards and upwards (or at least it was for Rob). You’ll be able to see from the pics that he attempted to scale a near vertical climb, without the aid of safety ropes or a net, and with his bare (Bear (Grylls)) hands. Pretty impressive I’m sure you’ll agree. Given he’d packed his bag so heavily though, eclipsing our measly 12kg (crazy man!), it didn’t take long for him to give it up as a bad job and jump from the dizzy height of 3 inches back to the floor. A valiant attempt and the pic does suggest he was a lot higher up, sorry Rob the truth is out!

We continued on relentless, even ignoring the warning sign in front of us that any lesser men would have turned on heel and bolted in the other direction just at the sight of, “Beware of Lambs”. In true, fearless Roman Legionnaire style we laughed the warning off and continued toward the caves, quick march!

We closed in and passed Jubilee Cave just a short while after as we continued to push the pace. We paused only briefly to take another snap shot of the now dubbed Booby Rock, I’m sure you can see why it got the name, and headed on for the next cave, Victoria.

An uphill climb took it’s toll, but spurred on by the sight of more walkers to catch up and leaflet for the cause, we kept going lugging the packs behind whilst in the back of my mind I was thinking “could I live without this bag….Is it such a big loss…..I could say the killer lamb took it…..”

Passing the other walkers and handing out some more leaflets we continued faster still with a downhill slope providing a nice break for the legs. We headed across 2 more fields (strangely heading a different way to everyone else, but hey, I wasn’t doing the map reading!) we eventually passed Victoria cave and emerged on a country lane.

Heading on now toward waterfall number 2, Scalebor Force. We continued along the country lane for a mile of so and arrived at the top of our destination. Clambering down, which with the practice we’d had had now become quiet good at, reached the bottom. Scalebor Force isn’t as big as the Catrigg Force but still has it’s own unique features that makes it just as interesting and impressive to see. The cascading waters pounded down to a small pool, on a ledge, midway up. The flow then drops to a second ledge which is accessible (as you can see from the picture of Rob and myself stood on it) with a bit of a climb. The shot was taken only moments after Rob had done his good deed for the day in giving a helping leg up to a lady trying desperately to climb up and over to the ledge for a better view of the waterfall. Being a true gent he wasted no time in offering a helping hand and then duly slapping a leaflet in her hand in hope of generating another sponsor, good lad!

After a break for a bite to eat (twix time) and allowing Rob to start scrabbling up the muddy embankment which lead up the side of the waterfall, we still aren’t sure why, he just did it, and got very muddy hands for his troubles (got a shot of him giving us a wave from the top though) we headed back up to find the road again and being our decent to Settle.

The rain clouds where beginning to form over head just as Keeley Donovan, the weather girl, had foretold. Heads down and onwards we went, trying to out run the rain clouds but on a day as windy as it was they seemed to be catching us very quickly even though we were walking at full tilt!

The road steepened downwards toward Settle allowing Alan to stop for more of his ‘artistic’ camera shots, of close up’s on flowers and the like, and then run to catch us up. He gathered quite a speed as he shot towards us, passing us like Linford Christie. Disappointingly though when it looked like he wouldn’t be able to stop and would instead get to Settle in only a few seconds or just career, hit a wall, and land on a sheep, he managed to slow himself to a stop, even turning with a grin as if to say “Ha ha I didn’t even die!” Smug.

Alan’s extra pace though had kept us in front of the rain clouds but it was clear that they were still catching us as by now we where on the very edge but with Settle just a few yards ahead.

We made it down to Settle shortly after, only getting caught in a quick shower, whilst we cut through the Settle Festival. After taking in the atmosphere and looking in vain to find a ‘tunnel of goats’ or ‘spider baby’, given the feel of it all it would not have surprised us, we headed for a pub. And (and I’ve been made to say this) we played pool and Alan remains undefeated. Happy now Al?

Let’s hope there is another pool table on our next planned walk around Hebden Bridge and I’ll report back to tell you if he managed to fluke his way to remaining undefeated again. I doubt it though :p

Bye for now.

Simon

Simon's Seat/Twin Peaks - Training Walks

Ahhh, training..

Do we really need to train for a 84 mile, 5 day walk?
An unequivocal, Yes. Sitting on the sofa watching sports or being in the pub discussing training, doesn’t actually qualify as training apparently. Hmmm.

So, We find ourselves in Bolton Abbey land, almost like re-visiting the scene of a crime. Though this time, there would be no Romans, there would be no startled car drivers. We were here to do a job, and that was to get fit.
We, (well Rob) parked up in the Strid car park, and we set off down to the strid and followed the path as far as Cavendish pavilion. The snow drops were out in force, the Ransons (wild garlic), were just emerging, providing lots of opportunities for me, the team photographer, to stop and shoot. Down to the bridge past the ice cream munching munchkins (it really was too cold for ice cream) and up into desolation valley, it's called this because a long, long, long time ago, there was a flash flood which destroyed the oak forest there. So onwards and upwards, through the pine plantation and out into the open moorland, where the grouse are tame and the call of the curlew spirals through the air. Wasn’t long, before a group of aged ramblers, were whizzing past… “I’m 75 you know, you should be much faster than us” Hmmm, maybe we really should do a lot more training. Inspired by the ramblers, we picked up the pace for the last 2 miles to the top, sadly disappointed that there wasn’t a bacon butty stall at the top, that the ramblers had promised. A fantastic panorama from the top of Simon's Seat, certainly worth the 5 mile walk up there. Sadly, as well as the wonderful scenery, we could also see snow clouds and they were coming our way! A quick lunch and set off on the return leg, via Howgill. 2 hrs later, we were sat in the car, pondering a pub lunch!

The next training walk took place on Sunday 26th April, quite a while since we’d last ventured out. What a glorious day, not a cloud in the sky. This time, it was decided that we’ll go by train to our destination of Ribblehead. Waiting for the train in Leeds, we met Stan, a veteran walker, “oooh, that Hadrians wall walk, is really tough, Some of those inclines are only as wide as this platform you know,”. Filled with his confidence, we boarded the train, which duly arrived at Ribblehead at 10.45 (late as usual!). “Oh my, how cold is this? It was much warmer in Leeds”. For this training walk, we had decided to weigh down our rucksacks with at least 10 kilos to mimic the weight of the armour. We set off from the station heading north to Whernside. Wasn’t bad going, we even found a small lake, which Rob was certain looked like a map of Europe. To the top of Whernside, bite to eat, quick chat we the invigilators for Duke of Edinburgh award and we were away, should be easy, all down hill from here, well, nearly. All I can say, is that, when someone has gone to the trouble of making stairs, up/down Yorkshire’s tallest peak, use them! 6miles in and at the bottom of Whernside, heading to our secondary target of Ingleborough. Now, none of us have done this walk before, so, after a lunch break in a field, we cunningly let some chaps pass us so we could follow them.

They led us, to what can only be described as a mountain goats trail. A 150 feet climb over 30 feet forward. “Oh my god, that can not seriously be the way up”
Oh yes it is. But then, when you get to the top of this vertical cliff, there’s more!
The top of Ingleborough was windy and cold, and we were utterly knackered (well two thirds of us were). The weight was beginning to show, feet were not picking up properly, a couple of ankle sprains later and we were at least walking on steadier ground, heading towards the finish line at Horton in Ribblesdale. Now the problem with using trains, became apparent. The last direct train was at 6.08 and we had at least 2hrs walking left to do. Should make it. But lets hurry just in case the pubs open. Which indeed it was! Arrived at the Crown Inn, in time for a quick pint, before hobbling to the station and the last train home. The additional weight has certainly showed us that this isn’t going to be a walk in the park, by any means.

Alan