Walk Leader: John Clarke

Number on walk: 20

Distance: 15 Miles

Weather: Sunny

The walk commenced from St Mary's Church on Church Road, Thornton in Craven. 902 484.
The group consisting of 20 walkers made their way from the church into the village of Thornton in Craven, where they picked up The Pennine Way which was followed across the undulating farm land which is such a feature of this area onto The Leeds Liverpool canal. They followed the canal to East Marton passing beneath the unique twin arch bridge where the A59 passes above the canal, then turned off the canal remaining on the Penine Way across further undulating farmland into the village of Gargrave where a coffee break was taken in the village center next to The River Aire.
After safely negotiating the stepping stones across the river the group followed the Pennine Way out of the village and headed north until reaching the lunch stop by the trig point on Crag Laithe 206 Metres. Whilst a relatively small hill its location in the center of the valley provides stunning 360 degree views of the entire area.
Post lunch the group dropped down into the hamlet of Bell Busk following a short section south along a quite lane before once again walking across farmland into the village of Coniston Cold. The group passed through the village taking another quite lane to Pot Haw Farm where it then picked up a track through fields to Bank Newton. It was here a RAF C130 Hercules four engine aircraft passed almost above the group at very low level, presumably on a training flight. Upon reaching a Bank Newton the group rejoined the Leeds Liverpool canal which it followed to only a short distance from the start point which was reached from the canal by a path across fields commencing at Dodge Carr Laithe.

A stunning walk through a beautiful area enjoyed in a lovely spring sunshine.