| Walk: | Whelp Stone Crag - Giggleswick, Cockett Lane, Rathwell Common, Whelp Stone Crag, Coney Garth | ||
| Start Point: | Giggleswick Railway Station | Grid Reference: | SD 803 628 |
| Distance: | 10.4 miles | Ascent: | 1,100 feet |
| Time: | 6.5 hours | ||
| Weather: | Very, very, very wet | ||
| Comments: | Nine intrepid explorers gathered at Giggleswick Railway Station with the
prospect of a wet day ahead of them. It was actually quite pleasant when
we set off with the tail end of a shower and a warming sun on our backs.
Who knows, often the weather men get it wrong. Soon we were tackling
Cockett Lane – an event to test even the hardiest amongst us. A narrow
lane hedged in by stone walls, long grass and a running stream, made it
arduous to pass. Impossible to see where you were putting your feet or
to know how deep the water was it came as little surprise to find a
fallen tree blocking our way. However with some elegance and use of the
rear end we managed to scramble over it and continue on our way over
Cockett Moss. On the recce our way was accompanied by the sound of
meadow pipits startled by our advance. Today it was the inexorable
splish-splash of water which befriended us. As we set off to cross
Rathmell Common the heavens opened up and with no chance of shelter we
soldiered on past deserted grouse butts up to Whelp Stone Crag for what
should have been a pleasant view over Settle. However it was decided to
seek shelter from the rain so lunch was taken in the trees, a decision
welcomed by the gnats, flies and biting insects which inhabited those
parts and came out from their cover for party-time. It did allow time
for Nurse O’Brien to demonstrate her medical skills in treating Brenda’s
blisters. Leaving the Crag we soon arrived at Whelp Stone Lodge, a beautiful old farmhouse with wonderful views, ripe for development. After the relentless mire and marshland the road down to Hesley Hall came as a welcome respite and under a sunny sky we were soon all dried out. A pleasant break was had at Coney Garth but in the distance the storm clouds were gathering yet again and it was not long until our retreat to the Railway Station was accompanied by the now familiar sensation of rain on waterproof. And so nine wet intrepid explorers returned to their cars where the leader was acclaimed to rapturous applause (or something like that!!!) Hopefully those on the coach trip had better fortune. |
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Scroll down to see photos for this walk
Green Lane - oh my wet feet!
Robina advising the group about a fallen tree
Deborah tries her hand at selling eggs
Brian and Robina walking on water on Rathmell Common
Sheila assists Brenda with her blisters
Robina and Gary try to avoid the midges at lunch time
Has anybody seen our leader?
No Gary! It's that way
Two minutes of sunshine
Afternoon tea
Trying to beat the thunder storm