Grange and the Dales Way

No new blogging for over a fortnight! Let's hope you haven't all lost interest.

The reason for this is, of course, that the Knobbly Stick walking season has finally got under way, and so we've been a bit busy putting one foot in front of the other, and also we've had quite a bit of interest in some of our self-guided offerings - and quite right too!

So, how as "Hill Walking the Easy Way" at the Netherwood in Grange over Sands? We can only go from what was said by the party, who thought that it was great. The Netherwood, as always, looked after everyone really well, with the food being considered a highlight. We can support that view, as we had dinner with the party on the last night, and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. As for the walking, we were really lucky with the weather, and had some spectacular views over Morecambe Bay and the southern Lake District fells on the first 2 days. On the third day's walking, we took a trip to Coniston, and one of our party, who was keen to do something a little more ambitious, and John, had a trip up Brim Fell and Coniston Old Man - great in spite of a biting cold wind!

Quote from one party member for the holiday: " Little could be done better. Accommodation first class, walks stimulating, company very pleasant." An even more flattering one, though, was perhaps "This holiday was the best birthday present that I could have bought myself!"

And so, last week, to the Dales Way. This was the first time that we had done it as a guided holiday, although we have had quite a few people do it as a self-guided. For the uninitiated, the Dales Way lasts some 80 miles and passes through some lovely countryside along the river Wharfe, then climbs over high moorland to drop into Dentdale, the valley leading to Sedbergh, and finishes by crossing some more attractive countryside to Lake Windermere. The expedition was a great success, with no fallers along the wayside. The weather was ideal for walking after a couple of showers on the first 2 days, and the spring is, of course, characterised by plenty of very small lambs,- some still on wobbly legs - daffodils ands primroses and the first swallows, which appeared on Friday. After 6 days walking, we felt that we deserved the celebratory glass of fizz that ended the walk.

"Thank you for a really enjoyable and memorable week." was one comment. It was a real pleasure!

We'll be updating the website with news of what's available soon, so have a look if you can get away in May or June. If you've never visited the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales, now is the time to rectify that!