Honorary Life Membership for Alex

Alex McManus, former Footpaths officer for the Dales Way Association who retired from active duty earlier this year, was formally handed his “Honorary Life Membership” certificate today.

Alex McManus receives his award from Colin Speakman

The presentation was made by the chairman of the Dales Way Association, Colin Speakman, at a special lunch attended by most of the DWA committee near Harrogate. The honour was unanimously approved at this year’s Annual General Meeting in October.

Colin said: “Alex is one of the heroes of the Dales Way. For so many years he has been our tireless Footpath Secretary, doing great work working with all the local authorities along the Dales Way to ensure that stiles, gates and bridges were in good order, waymarks were in the right place and problems sorted as soon as possible, not to mention his work as a great ambassador for the route, in person and on his DVDs. In making him only our second Honorary Life Member in our history (the first was the legendary cartographer Arthur Gemmell) the Dales Way Committee is merely recognising his outstanding achievement over so many years”

Alex first joined the DWA committee in 2003 and became Footpaths Officer in 2005. He also served as Newsletter Editor from 2010 to 2014 and turned his hand to a number of other roles, including minutes secretary for a while.

Alex will continue to contribute to the DWA through articles on the website and Newsletters. We hope to see him at a number of next year’s 50th Anniversary events.

Addingham suspension bridge closed

A popular suspension bridge which crosses the river Wharfe beside the Dales Way at Addingham has been closed for up to 6 months.

The bridge is not on the route of the Dales Way, which passes just above it, so its closure will not affect Dales Way walkers. However, it is often used as part of a cicular day walk from the Dales Way, either between Ilkley and Addingham, or as an optional link via Beamsley Beacon (For a route description see the Dales Way Association Newsletter number 48, Spring 2018).

A notice states: “North Yorkshire County Council has made this Order to prohibit any pedestrian from using Public Footpath 15.96/36/1, Nesfield with Langbar, between grid reference SE08354994 and SE08314990 for a temporary period of six months (subject to access to premises) between 23/10/2018 and 01/04/2019 due to danger to public from unsafe bridge.”

Bolton Abbey Road Closure – Diversions to DalesBus Services

Due to a road closure at Bolton Abbey until around the end of November, bus services between Ilkley, Bolton Abbey and Grassington/Skipton are diverted. Passengers visiting Bolton Abbey on Sundays should catch the bus to/from Bolton Bridge Devonshire Arms, which is approx. 10 minutes walk from Bolton Abbey village green.

Minibus service 74A between Ilkley and Hebden on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays is diverted between Bolton Abbey and Barden Tower via Embsay, so the stops at Strid Wood and Barden Scale are not served in either direction, but buses will still stop at Bolton Abbey village green.

Cravenlink Sunday service 873 between Ilkley and Skipton operates via the A59 between Bolton Bridge and Embsay, so the stops at Bolton Abbey, Strid Wood, Barden Scale, Barden Moor and Eastby are not served in either direction.

DalesBus Sunday service 874 between Wakefield/Ilkley and Buckden operates via the A59, Embsay, Eastby and Barden Moor between Bolton Bridge and Barden Tower, so the stops at Bolton Abbey, Strid Wood and Barden Scale are not served in either direction.

Check the revised timetables at the DalesBus website here.

Update: The route has now reopened and buses are running normaly.