The anticipation was almost unbearable. We’d planned and booked our 2014 off-piste Stumble months in advance and couldn’t wait to get up to the Yorkshire Dales in October. Needless to say, Stumblers’ Luck prevailed.
First, we’d found a cracking place to stay; Cocketts Hotel, smack in the middle of Hawes. Heartily recommended, not least for its friendly Yorkshire welcome and excellent restaurant.
Stumbling up Whernside
4th October 2014
Saturday dawned wet and miserable – very frustrating after several weeks of Indian summer weather. But it didn’t put us off tackling Whernside from Ribblehead, which has to be one of the finest walks in the Dales. It rained gently on the way up, and even hailed a bit on the way down, but once on top the clouds parted, the sun shone and you could see for miles.
LMS Scots Guardsman,
on the Ribblehead viaduct
And just to round it off, what should appear but the LMS Royal Scot class 4-6-0 46115 Scots Guardsman, pulling The Lune Rivers Trust Special across the iconic Ribblehead viaduct. Stumblers’ heaven!
Stumbling past Bolton Castle, October 2014
Finally, Sunday’s weather went back to its unseasonable warmth and sunniness, so we went to Aysgarth Falls and walked to Bolton Castle and back.
A great weekend away. We can’t wait to go back!
(Photos courtesy John Boardman and his Mega Pixies.)