An early start on Monday morning and breakfast with our friends Keith and Carolyn. Bacon butties and a nice coffee before the next leg of our journey to Mytholmroyd.
This was our third day of Motorway driving and the third time we had left due to accidents and road closures. This section of the M1 is one of the latest “unsmart” motorway sections and from first spotting the emergency lights of the fire engine, it took 20 minutes for them to pass our vehicle with two fire-fighters leading the way on foot guiding a route through the four lanes.
We arrived at the CAMC site at Mytholmroyd early afternoon and would need a quick turn-around before walking to the station and catching the train to Brighouse. This proved rather easy because yet again, Joe had somehow managed to book a Caravan Club site without any toilet and shower facilities. This is becoming an frequent error!
Once at Brighouse we were entertained by Richard and Jennifer, who we met at Camping Rosaleda in Spain. Richard had spent most of the day preparing the speciality Spanish dish “Chicharrones”. These are produced from pork belly and are not entirely dissimilar to pork scratchings – only much nicer.
For tea, he fired up the Wood pizza oven and we ate some delicious Pizzas, complemented with home-grown produce from his allotment. Another baking hot day in this mini late-summer heatwave with temperatures around 26C.
Tuesday morning we drove a little further North, through Skipton and along to Knaresborough for two nights at the Knaresborough Caravan and Motorhome site.
We met friends at the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr near Harrogate. This is the most Northerly of all the RHS gardens and it’s location presents challenges and opportunities representative of the region.
The landscape here is diverse, with managed woodlands, streamside plantings, lavish and ornamental herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and small-scale model gardens. Collectively they illustrate different garden styles, types of planting, methods of supporting wildlife, ideas for greening grey spaces, and strategies for mitigating the effects of extreme weather.
Tuesday was a chance to catch up with an ex-work colleague Paul, for a couple of beers and a curry in Knaresborough.
Wednesday morning and a short drive from Knaresborough to The Rowe House CL at Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The weather continues to be hot and sunny with highs above 25C. Perfect (and unusual) weather for this part of North Yorkshire.
On arrival at Horton-In-Ribblesdale, disaster struck our pop-top and it appears that one of the electric pistons has failed. We did eventually manage to lower it and were able to continue our trip crouched in the van. Another trip back to the dealers…
The Rowe House CL site is a grass site on the edge of the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale with stunning views across Penyghent.
This landscape and the current weather is a long way from the experiences of my Grandad who lived in the village of Langcliffe and worked on the Settle-to-Carlisle railway line – I gather on the maintenance side of the viaduct and the Blea Moor tunnel. He left home on a Monday morning working daylight hours and only returning home on Saturday evening for his weekend off – 36 hours…
We spent the first day walking around Ribblehead and I took the opportunity to launch the drone and take some pictures of the viaduct. It’s a short train journey North from Horton-In-Ribblesdale.
Click on the images below to enlarge…
Walking along the path towards Whernside, you reach the Blea Moor signal box which is currently being renovated by Network rail. This is still a 24 hour facility but un-manned. Alongside is a famous cottage which has been for sale for 2 years at the price of £250,000. It sold only recently and is accessible over a two mile farmers track and has no electricity, gas, water or sewage. This will be quite the project.
In the evening we ate at the Station Inn at Ribblehead and watched the steam train returning from Carlisle. This was a York – Carlisle – York excursion.
On Friday, Moe took the train North to Appleby and I headed south into Settle for a class of 72 mini-reunion. Six of us enjoyed an afternoon of beers before the Skiptonian contingent headed back on the last bus.
Moe joined me in Settle for evening Fish and Chips which were excellent.
Saturday and we left the stunning location of Horton-in-Ribblesdale and our view of Penyghent from the Camper van.
Arriving at the Wharfedale CAMC club site just after 13:00, we headed straight to the avenue to watch the Yorkshire derby (Rugby Union) between Wharfedale and Rotherham. Alas for the Wharfedale supporters, Rotherham left with all the spoils after a 34 – 19 point victory despite a blistering start from Wharfedale who went into the half-time break ahead by 14-3.
Sunday and we drove down to Reading to see family and stay with our friends Dave and Tracey. We were treat to yet another lovely BBQ and a proper bed for the night. The last three nights without the pop-top have not been comfortable and relaxing.
We returned home Monday after a full-on week away in the Campervan enjoying this hot September heatwave.
