Skipton Walk
Walk Leader: Sue KeyburnNumber on walk: 12
Distance: 11.5
Weather: Warm and dry
12 members plus one dog started the walk from the Coach Street Car Park in the centre of Skipton. It was my first walk leading for the LDWA and I was pleased with the turnout considering the location of the walk. It was a very warm day but fortunately with a refreshing breeze. The walk was 11.5 miles.
We followed the Springs Canal, a spur of the Leeds Liverpool canal. This canal was developed to transport corn from the nearby mill and limestone from local quarries. We walked between the canal and Eller Beck and paused to study 900 year-old Skipton Castle. We then walked through Springs Wood Nature Reserve following the watercourses then climbed out of the woods to join the Dales High Way route.
After crossing the A65 we traversed Skipton Golf Club (well way-marked) and pasture then walked along a minor road with good views of our objective, Sharp Haw (357m, 1171ft). We crossed the Grassington road, crossing more pasture land then followed a minor road to reach the track leading to Sharp Haw. This is an excellent viewpoint requiring little effort to ascend. There were a few cows but quite benign. There are far-ranging views of Pendle, the Aire valley, Skipton, the Cracoe and Rylstone ridge and pleasant landscape to the west.
After descending, t!we followed the waymarked path, meeting a herd of Highland cattle who were quite docile. We crossed pasture then followed an enclosed path to just outside Flasby where we stopped for lunch. We followed the path uphill towards Stirton and again, as we gently climbed, enjoyed views of the Aire Valley and beyond. We briefly followed the outbound path but turned towards Stirton then crossed a field to reach the drive to Tarn House Holiday Park. We skirted the perimeter of the park to locate a path, cunningly hidden behind a lime tree, eventually following a path across fields to reach the bridge crossing the A65 and thence into the outskirts of Skipton. We joined Short Lees Lane then turned to walk across fields to the Battery, a medieval defensive position, then descended to Skipton following Springs Canal back to the car park.
There was a very positive response to this walk and thanks to everyone who supported me on my first foray into leading. Thanks especially to Jane Gregory who gave welcome advice regarding the planning of the route.
