Sunday, 4th August 2013

Walk: Top Mere Road (Track), Buckden Pike, Buckden, Old Cote Moor Top, New Bridge
Start Point: Kettlewell car park Grid Reference: SD 967 722
Distance: 14 miles Ascent: 3,140 feet
Time: 6.75 hours    
Weather: Overcast with some rain
Comments: 13 walkers plus a very well trained dog completed this walk. The weather was much better than expected and we only had a very light shower near the end of the walk as we dropped down into Kettlewell.
The day started with a steady climb to Buckden Pike passing the memorial cross on the way. From here we dropped down to Buckden where we stopped for lunch next to the car park. Yes a car park!
Fortunately for the leader there were tables and chairs here otherwise there would have been some very disgruntled walkers asking why it was we were stopping to eat at a car park when we were surrounded by stunning Yorkshire countryside.
It was then off again on another steady climb up to Firth Fell from where we followed the ridge to Middlesmoor Pasture before dropping down to Kettlewell.

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

Booting up in the car park before . . .

 

crossing Dowber Gill Beck

 

Ray battles with his umbrella . . .

 

but the weather clears as we reach our morning coffee stop

 

Fortunately the peat bogs are reasonably easy to navigate

 

The stone cross with fragments of aircraft parts embedded in its concrete base
stands as a memorial to the Polish crew of an RAF plane that crashed at this spot
during a severe snow storm in the second World War. There was one survivor

 

It's quite busy on Buckden Pike . . .

 

where we gather for a group photo

 

Heading down into Wharfedale . . .

 

on a pleasant green path

 

The picnic area provides the ideal spot for lunch

 

Heading up the opposite side of the valley . . .

 

we can see back over to Buckden Pike

 

As we reach the ridge Pen-y-Ghent comes onto view

 

The group gathers at the summit of Old Cote Moor Top

 

Heading down into Kettlewell . . .

 

we navigate through . . .

 

a narrow, rocky cleft

 

Crossing New Bridge into Kettlewell

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