Exploring Settle and beyond
Our week in Settle has been marred by unsettled wet weather. It made it difficult to plan any major drives in advance so we rook our opportunities as they presented. One of the delights of this week was catching up Jackie, my housemade of 54 years ago. She and her husband, Mick travelled from Dirking in Surrey to meet us. They were also intending to meet friends who moved to the area recently. We had dinner together at the local pub and had a long chat about life in general and learned of their horror at leaving the EU and the political lies that brought this about.
There were so many pretty stations on the route, all restored when the line was reopened years after the Beaching closures of the 70s and 80s. Settle is an example.
On Thursday the forecast promised some reprieve from the rain so we drove to Skipton in the morning and accessed the Leads to Liverpool canal where we enjoyed a good walk in the westerly direction and returned to the town via the boat harbour - a pretty spot with narrow boats and cafes and bars.
The basin in the centre of town.
Skipton Castle.
Some photos of the viaduct. The last one shows how enormous the supports are.
The two 'girls' 54 years on!! Photo taken in our wee living room.
On Wednesday we took the Settle to Carlisle train which wound its way over the Dales. The landscape just out of Settle was wild and isolated with only the occasional farm house and of course, lots of sheep. Reminds of the landscape depicted as 1930s era in All Creatures Great and Small. As we neared Carlisle the farms and buildings were more substantial showing more evidence of habitation. We crossed the famous Ribblehead Viaduct although it was not obvious from the train until the return journey where we noticed criss-crossing walking tracks and lots of walkers underneath.
We had about three hours in Carlisle where we visited the magnificent cathedral and walked part of the Hadrian's Wall walk which crosses the city through a park. There were massive road works taking place which appeared to cut the city in half and blocked off some roads, so a leisurely stroll was not as easy!
Carlisle cathedral and the organ pipes inside.
There were so many pretty stations on the route, all restored when the line was reopened years after the Beaching closures of the 70s and 80s. Settle is an example.
On Thursday the forecast promised some reprieve from the rain so we drove to Skipton in the morning and accessed the Leads to Liverpool canal where we enjoyed a good walk in the westerly direction and returned to the town via the boat harbour - a pretty spot with narrow boats and cafes and bars.
Look, some blue skies!!
The basin in the centre of town.
Skipton is a lovely town - pretty buildings and small shops and an impressive castle with a rich history.
Skipton Castle.
In the afternoon as the rain stayed away, we drove to Ribblehead to see the viaduct. Our drive took us over the Dales on winding but thankfully quiet roads. The viaduct is certainly impressive one one could marvel at the scope and skill of the Victorian engineers and builders. There were lots of parking spots and walkers everywhere. There is a good path under the viaduct leading to other walks in the countryside. . As the wind was whipping across the Dales, we sufficed with a quick ramble at the base of the viaduct.
Some photos of the viaduct. The last one shows how enormous the supports are.
We are finishing our weeknin Settle today and as the rain returned we confined ourselves to walks along the river and through town. Our stree is one of the ancient access routes to the market place. Two photos, one the street - Kirkgate and the other Victoria Hall, the oldest Victorian music hall in the world.
