Dales Way Association Mini Newsletter 43 April 2013 The Association PO Box 334, Shipley, BD18 9DZ [email protected] www.dalesway.org.uk Hello and welcome to our mini newsletter. Following the recent restructuring of the Association, we have decided to write to all our existing members to let you know about the changes that have been made. We also thought it would be nice to include a mini-newsletter with all the latest news and developments, much of which you can now follow on the website. Members of the DWA Committee have been very busy reorganising the Association so that it will continue to function and deliver its objectives of supporting and promoting the Dales Way long distance path, whilst at the same time being manageable entirely by a small group of volunteers. That has meant cutting back on what had become time-consuming and expensive administration. As you know, from now on our main means of communication with members will be through our website and via email, though we will still keep in touch by post occasionally. Please email us at [email protected] to make sure we have an email contact for you – include your name and address in the email and your membership number (if you know it). Please note our new mail address at the top of this page. The Dales Way Association is now officially a Small Charity, registered with the Inland Revenue (number XT3838). This means we can claim GIFT AID on your subscriptions and donations – please consider filling in a GIFT AID form (enclosed) if you are a current UK taxpayer and return it to us. GIFT AID If you are a UK taxpayer you will have paid tax on your income as you earned it. Now that the Dales Way Association is a Charity we can claim back from the Inland Revenue the tax you’ve already paid on any money you send us. This is called Gift Aid and it’s very useful to small charities like the Dales Way Association because it means we get another 25p for every £1 you send us. Sign and return the Gift Aid slip on the enclosed form if you’d like us to claim back the tax on your subscription or donation.

(Cover picture: Taking a break at Conistone Pie, January 2013) Dales Way Association

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013 The 2013 AGM will be held in the Riverside Hotel in Ilkley, on Saturday 26th October, starting at 2.00 pm. Everyone is very welcome. There will be a walk in the morning. Check the website for details nearer the time. * * * * *

New membership system

Our new membership system is now up and running.

Membership of the Dales Way Association now runs in 3-yearly cycles, renewable on the same date by all members. The current membership cycle will run from now until APRIL 2016.

APRIL 2013 APRIL 2016 APRIL 2019 APRIL 2022

New members can join online (subject to approval by the Trustees), with membership running until the next 3-yearly renewal date. A 3-year membership costs £18 for an individual, or £24 for a family.

However, we encourage new and existing members to take out an ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION, either online or through a Banker’s Order. This ensures your membership is renewed automatically. It spreads the cost for members and keeps administration simple for both you and the Association. An annual subscription costs just £6 a year for an individual, or £8 for a family. Most of our members already subscribe this way.

It is hoped the new system will help minimise the work of administering the organisation, giving us more time to concentrate on the real work of the DWA – supporting and promoting the Dales Way Long Distance path.

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THE DWA COMMITTEE: We have had changes to the DWA Committe this year. We’ve said goodbye to our Vice Chairman and founder member, Douglas Cossar, and to our webmaster Chris Musson. We would like to thank them both for their wonderful support and are delighted that they both remain as members of the Association. We’d also like to welcome Kath Doyle who joined the Committee at the AGM. Out and about...... Notes from your Footpath Officer. Unless the Association runs into a serious situation, this is probably the last hard copy of news you will receive for some time. I would therefore ask you all to use the web site to keep up to date with what is happening along the footpath and within the Association. It is improving all the time with photos, video clips and Facebook contributions. Back to real life and boots in the mud, or more often ice and snow of late, things are calm and optimistic. Following on from the last Newsletter, we had the Alpacas at New Town misbehaving again like [large] naughty children, and walkers being alarmed by the approach of a bull and excited cattle in the Hubberholme area. Both incidents were reported and the appropriate Ranger spoke to the person/farmer concerned. Before Christmas I was informed that some West to East walkers after entering the B6061 road north of Addingham did not immediately turn right to follow the permissive path up to the Friends Meeting House, thus avoiding the last 150 yards of this dangerous road. The cause was an incorrectly aligned permissive path way mark that has been rectified. See our web page “News”. Harvey Maps are reprinting their very useful Long Distance Route – Dales Way. A one sheet, double sided, waterproof, polyethylene map. As is their custom they asked the DWA to check it out, which we duly did. It is now up to date. January 2013. * * * * *

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Forestry wagons to use Cam High Road The Cam Forest Trust, which recently took over the ownership of Cam Forest applied for permission to extract the timber along Cam High Road. Cam High Road lies on the route of a number of major long distance trails, including the Dales Way, Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway. The detailed application proposes to improve the old roman road, including building a new single- span road bridge across Gayle Beck beside the current footbridge. There are also a specific number of trips by the wagons and set times that they can operate. A proper path is to be constructed along the right of way through the felled trees and will be maintained. The planning application was approved. The Dales Way Association will now try and ensure that any works and extraction will cause the minimum disruption to both walkers and the environment. We will also monitor the above conditions that the contractors have promised. Crosdale Beck bridge has now had a brass plaque attached, acknowledging contributions from the Ramblers and the Dales Way Association. Arrangements will be made to have an official opening. An excuse for a glass of something and a short walk. * * * * *

Cumbria County Council. Our friends with CCC, Chris and Geoff, reported that the problems we encountered on our survey walk last year had been identified, and some had been sent out for tender. Tony has been around those parts recently and has seen some of the new “furniture.” Impressive he said. The alternative route via Tennant Farm to avoid Sprint Bridge road was going to be improved, but would not be promoted until the fence and stile had been repaired, and proper signage had been put in place, to inform walkers that an alternative route was available. Further improvements include two changes to the Dales Way footpath. One uses a Right of Way and the other brings the footpath back to the definitive line. The first change is as you descend from the stile onto the minor road that leads to Thatchmoor Head (SD 5836 9602). To avoid the road walking to the railway bridge, cross the road and mount the stile which now has a Dales Way finger post erected. Following down the side of the field turn left at the bottom corner and after climbing [and descending if you want to make progress] a rather large ladder stile, then emerge through a gate to the railway bridge, back en route. The second change moves the footpath to what is called the definitive line, which is legally where the footpath is but in this case has been very rarely used. Exiting the access drive from Grayrigg Foot (SD 5680 9663) most walkers turn right for 50 yards then left along the access road to Thursgill Farm. The correct route is now indicated with a new Dales Way finger post which directs you across the road to a large metal gate. Strike half right up the slope to join the farm track midway down the slope. Continue, now back en route. Early walkers will find an open field, but within time, a track will emerge. The Rangers are to be congratulated on the progress they have made since our last meeting. We look forward to continuing improvements. * * * * * What’s in a name? ...... “Buckden car park.”. . . .”Buckden Inn car park.” In February Tony Grogan suggested that we walk from Buckden to Beckermonds, then maybe up to Cam woodlands before returning to Buckden. He wished to update the maps in Colin’s guide book, which is ready for reprinting, and me to continue to record the stiles and gates along the footpath and anything else that took my fancy. Using two cars, one vehicle was to be stationed at Beckermonds for the ride back. We arranged to meet at 10.30, but we both arrived about 10am. Except, he was at Buckden car park, and duly paid his £4 parking fee. I was at t’other, Buckden Inn car park. On the road beside it. Free. We met an hour later after Hubberholme Approaching Deepdale, metal gates were diverting the route, which obviously concerned Tony. He had a future map to consider. He later confirmed it was temporary, due to water workings. It was a very pleasant walk, a bit nippy to the exposed parts, but this section of the footpath is so tranquil. We lunched in the open space attached to the isolated dwelling on the banks of the Wharfe, up stream from Deepdale, with its walker friendly seat. At Beckermonds we saw the For Sale signs, one for one of our accommodation providers, Mary Wood at East House Farm, who is always mentioned in walkers’ dispatches. This stop will be sadly missed in this remote section of the footpath. So at Beckermonds minus our transport, we legged it back by road. We met the water engineers who are laying a pipe line to supply water to the top of the dale. Blame the EU for this. East House farm has a spring for water, and the two farms on the way up to Cam are served by bore holes which are checked annually. We arrived at the Buck Inn at 3.20 and were invited in. With boots off, in front of a blazing log fire and a glass of what we fancied, what better way to finish off a Dales Way walk? The new proprietors are half way through their refurbishments of the bedrooms. A welcome addition for walkers in this area. The sad part of this story is that we were only admitted due to an extension of the license, because of a local funeral.

A night on the town is secure as village pub gets back up to speed Buckden village pub, the Buck Inn (left), has now fully reopened and is back up to normal strength under new owners Kevin and Michelle. Evening meals are now served every night except Sunday and a wide range of real ales are on offer, including beers from ’s legendary brewery Theakston’s of Masham. For this reason Lynn will be discontinuing evening meals at West Winds, which were originally introduced in response to uncertainty at the pub. Don’t forget too there is a small licensed restaurant in the village – John and Gordon’s – behind the village shop. Booking is advisable (01756) 760257. Information Boards The information boards you may have seen at the start of the walk in Ilkley and in the car park at Grassington were thanks to the efforts of two former committee members Ken and Margaret Staines. It started initially in 2003 with the Association applying for a grant from the Sustainable Development Fund of the YD Millennium Trust with the Dales Way Association adding a further contribution. The first board was ready in January 2005. 8 boards were installed over the next 2 years. In 2008 a new board was produced specifically for the Bolton Abbey Estates and was sited in the lay by at Barden Bridge. This had the distinctive photo of Bolton Priory and had been ordered from a new supplier with a 10-year no fade guarantee. A board with our original design also from our new supplier replaced the faded board in the Grassington car park in 2009. However time moves on, and our boards are no longer as fresh as they were, apart from the two new boards mentioned above, nor 100% correct. The link route from Harrogate now goes to Ilkley so the text and diagram needs altering, general text needs altering and the photographs need bringing up to date. All this has been arranged and is ready for the first replacement. DVD “A taste of the Dales Way” To date we have sold 72 of our DVD’s and distributed many more. None have been returned asking for the money back! It is continuing to be updated giving over 40 minutes of enjoyment to past Dales Way walkers and expectations of the delights to come, to those about to set out on the journey. See a 7-minute trailer on our web page. You can order on- line £4.50 post-free.

- Alex McManus, Footpaths Officer * * * * *

Waymarking of the route of A Dales High Way is nearing completion and a promotional leaflet about the new long distance walk has been produced by the Friends of A Dales High Way.

The 90-mile trail from Saltaire to Appleby was very much inspired by the Dales Way and seeks to complement it by offering a different perspective to the Yorkshire Dales landscape – a high level experience. It’s tougher than the Dales Way, but should suit those who have walked the Dales Way and are looking for a more challenging follow-up. See www.daleshighway.org.uk

Suspension bridge to be repaired A generous donation by a member of the Dales Way Association will see the famous Hebden Suspension bridge across the south of Grassington repaired. The planking on the bridge is worn and in need of replacement. DWA member Eileen King has donated the money in memory of her late husband Roy. The couple have walked the Dales Way several times and this stretch along was one of their favourite spots. Eileen has many happy memories of Roy walking behind her on the bridge and making it rock. The suspension bridge was built in 1885 by local blacksmith William Bell and is of an unusual design – there used to be a support pillar in the middle of the river. The bridge suffered serious damage in the floods of 1936 and was last refurbished in 1989.