Dales Way Music Treats

Buckden Music Sessions at the Buck Inn, 1pm – 4pm
Sunday October 9th, November 13th, December 11th and second Suns in Jan, Feb, March.

Dales Tunes and Songs, traditional and more modern, with singers and players from Wharfedale, Dentdale, Wensleydale , Nidderdale and beyond.
Free admission – collection for DalesBus and the Wharfedale Venturer Bus service.

To tie in with DalesBus 874 from Leeds Bus Station d. 0915, Otley 0950 Ilkley 1010, Grassington 1105 direct to Buckden. Same times for the November 22 Dancing event (below). Return bus leaves Buck Inn at 1625, Kettlewell Bluebell at 1635. Connection from Skipton Bus Station DalesBus 72 d. 1030 change at Grassington. Senior Bus passes valid or book a Dales Rover ticket (£10) or Day return. No need to drink and drive!

On most days there will be a short walk from Starbotton (a.1129) along the Dales Way to arrive in Buckden in good time for the music. Lunch available at the Buck.

DALES WAY REOPENS TO WELCOME WALKERS

Colin Speakman (left) joins the group at the start in Ilkley, Monday May 17.

Ramblers throughout Yorkshire are delighted to be welcomed back to the Yorkshire Dales, especially now that inns and guest houses can welcome walkers along the 81-mile Dales Way.

The Dales Way footpath, linking Ilkley in Wharfedale with Bowness on Lake Windermere, has long been one of Britain’s favourite walks, attracting many repeat visits and also visitors from overseas. Sadly, the pandemic had virtually closed much of the route for staying visitors since autumn 2020, but now that hotels and guest houses are open, walkers can once again enjoy a wonderful short break along the magnificent scenery of the Dales Way.

The first group to do so was a group of ten people from the Leeds-Bradford area who set off from Ilkley on Monday May 17th the first day guest houses were open and arrived in Bowness on Saturday. Members of the group, all “empty nesters”, people of a certain age whose teenage children had left home allowing their parents new freedom, had planned the walk and booked their accommodation months ahead.

Tim Barber, from Burley-in-Wharfedale, leader of the group commented: “Everything was great and the welcome from all the accommodation providers was wonderful – they were so happy to be back doing what they do best, providing a great warm welcome”.

Colin Speakman, Chairman of the Dales Way Association added “We are so pleased that walkers are coming back as staying visitors to the Dales. Spending up to £100 per day on food and accommodation, Dales Way walkers will provide a significant boost to the Dales economy, helping struggling catering and other rural businesses to survive after what has been a dreadful 16 months of pandemic.”

However, he also warned would-be walkers to book accommodation in advance, especially evening meals, as demand in this summer of staycations is likely to be high, and there could be some pubs and cafes that don’t reopen because of the impact of the long lockdowns.

Anniversary talk benefits DalesBus

The trustees of Otley Courthouse has made a donation of £100 to the Friends of Dalesbus – a group that campaigns for affordable public transport.

The donation was made following a public talk given at the venue on “50 years of the Dales Way” by Colin Speakman, chair of the Dales Way Association and Vice-chair of the Friends of DalesBus.

Hazel Costello from the Courthouse’s trustees said the donation was a token of thanks to Colin for giving a “very interesting and informative talk”.  She said “The idea of the DalesBus is to encourage as many people as possible to get to the Dales on public transport, and using public transport is more important than ever with the need to use less cars and more buses and so contribute to lessening the effects of climate change.”

DWA committee members Kath Doyle and Gordon Tasker were also on hand to show the new mobile Anniversary Exhibition.

The donation was reported in the Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer at the end of last month.

Dales Way IPA at the Flying Duck

A brand new beer brewed by Dent Brewery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dales Way is now available at the Flying Duck in Ilkley – just in time for our 2019 AGM!

Dales Way IPA has been brewed especially by the Dent Brewery, and first to sample it was our chairman Colin Speakman at the George & Dragon in Dent.

A couple of barrels have been sent down to Ilkley as a special guest ale at the Flying Duck, which will once again host the Dales Way Association Annual General Meeting this year on Saturday 19th October.

Gather at the pub from 1.15 p.m. for sandwiches and chips. the meeting starts at 2 p.m. sharp and will feature a presentation of the year’s events by Colin.

There’s a 4-mile walk in the morning to Mount Calvary and Middleton Woods – meet at the start of the Dales Way, Ilkley Old Bridge, at 10.30 a.m. (details on our Home page).

 

Great Dales Way Challenge race a huge success!

Organiser Ryk Downes (centre) presents 1st and 2nd place trophies to Keith Wigley and Ellis Bland

The great Dales Way Challenge race saw the first runner complete the 80-mile trail in just 14 hours 35 minutes and 53 seconds. Keith Wigley had led for most of the run, and was the only one to finish on the same day they set off – Saturday, shortly before midnight. Next in was Ellis Bland.

109 people finished the course of the 131 that started, with the back marker coming in at 34 hours 27 minutes.

The runners were pleased to be met by DWA chairman Colin Speakman in Dent.

Organiser Ryk Downes said “All in all I think was a great success, we left no trace, one of the back runners – a lady approaching 70 years old – said she had never been on a race
with no litter! To this end I am proud of my runners.”

Some of the runners have recorded their impressions on the Punk Panthers website at http://punkpanther.co.uk/news/

Well done to you all!

Great success for Anniversary Walk & Exhibition

August 3rd – a bright sunny Saturday morning  – saw over 70 walkers gather at Ilkley Old Bridge to help recreate the first public walk on the Dales Way – 50 years on!

Once again Colin speakman led the walkers from Ilkley as they snaked their way through to Addingham for a short break by the church.

Then it was on to Bolton Abbey, where 2 vintage 1960’s buses were on hand to ferry the weary walkers back to Ilkley.

At 3 o’clock people gathered at the Ilkley Manor House, where local MP John Grogan formally opened the month long exhibition – “50 years of the Dales Way”.

The free exhibition runs throughout August at the weekends.

A great day was enjoyed by all. Special thanks go to the team of volunteer stewards from the Dales Way Association, Friends of DalesBus, Friends of the Dales and Friends of A Dales High Way, who all helped ensure the day passed without incident.

See the Ilkley Gazette report here.

New Edition of classic Dales Way Guidebook

In 1970 Colin Speakman wrote the very first guide book to the Dales Way. Over 40 years on and his original book is now in its eleventh incarnation.

This is the second edition from Skyware Press. Illustrated with 79 stunning full colour photos to match Speakman’s compelling narrative, the book also features 24 detailed full colour strip maps of the entire route at a scale of 1:25,000.

With additional features, such as a brief history of “the People’s Path”, an alternative route between Cam Fell and Upper Dentdale, and detailed descriptions of the three link routes from Bradford, Harrogate and Leeds, it is easy to see why the book is described as the complete and definitive guide to the Dales Way.

As well as being a beautifully produced guide book, it’s also a unique piece of history. It is almost certainly the only guide book to a long distance trail that has been in continuous production for over 40 years, with a living author!

Speakman’s deep affection for the Dales Way and his lifetime love of the Yorkshire Dales shines through this book. That’s what makes this guide so unique – no one else could have written it.

Colin Speakman said: “The Dales Way is one of Britain’s best loved long distance walks. Connecting urban West Yorkshire with the Lake District, it goes through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, linking two of England’s most spectacularly beautiful National Parks. There’s no better way of discovering this magnificent landscape than on foot, and, as generations of Dales Way walkers have discovered, of enjoying wonderful Yorkshire hospitality and a warm welcome along the entire route.  Many people who walk the Dales Way return to do it a second or even a third time, because it is such an enjoyable and satisfying walk, as rich in cultural associations as it is in natural beauty”.

Fully revised and updated, this eleventh edition of Colin Speakman’s Dales Way is the only guide you will ever need to plan, walk and enjoy one of Britain’s most popular and beautiful long-distance trails.

Priced at £11.99 and available direct from Skyware Press at skyware.co.uk/shop.htm