Yorkshire Dales

THE CALMING RIPPLE OF A RIVER

The heatwave was great for sunbathers – but rather too hot for ramblers. However, while the South baked the North was sometimes much cooler. Cue in superb walking over beautiful hills and dales, a medieval field pattern, tiny villages, dry stone walls bisecting pastures and the calming sound of water tumbling over a stone-strewn river  

Details of my trip: Yorkshire Dales, in particular Wharfedale and a favourite village, Arncliffe, then climbing over to Kettlewell, following a path in the AA’s 1001 Walks in Britain book, no.866. Birds – kestrels, dippers, lapwings, ducks

Add in a day-long steam train trip over the Ribblehead Viaduct and the length of the Settle-Carlisle route, hauled by The Dalesman, actually an 8 power-rated 2-8-0 loco. What could be better?