The Westbound Waters of the Ribble Valley
Dated 23 July 2011
We’ve reached Stainforth, two miles north of Settle, staying at the very comfortable Craven Heiffer Inn.
Today is a very special day – it’s the 45th anniversary of Roger & Bronwyn’s wedding, and England’s World Cup victory. Who scored the most, you ask!!
We survived last night and the vagaries of Ribblehead’s Station Inn bunk barn, where our cup did floweth over - but it wouldn’t have done if the toilets had been anywhere near the rest of the accommodation.
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We slept here at Ribblehead!
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The Ribble from Helwith Bridge
The prospect of shorter walking days is inviting – most of our really long journey days are now behind us.
We knew where we going today – familiar paths through familiar villages, with good views of the Three Peaks along the way. The British Heart Foundation and other charities had organised a Three Peaks sponsored walk, and hundreds were taking part. We met many of them shortly after they had conquered Penyghent, with two peaks to go - hope everyone achieved a successful result and enjoyed the experience.
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Ashbourne (Derbyshire) teachers doing a great job raising funds for their school
- & chatting to Roger
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Chloe (from Nottingham) & Dan (New Foundland & Alberta) laughing their way
over the Three Peaks for British Heart Foundation
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Penyghent in all its glory
The remainder of our day’s walk was over beautiful limestone slopes, with an easy descent into Stainforth, in glorious sunshine.
David had a productive expedition to Sedbergh which has several antiquarian bookshops. He managed to acquire for Roger a copy of Jack Reynolds’ “The Great Paternalist” – the seminal work on Titus Salt. Roger’s search of several years has come to an end – and at a bargain price. “Thank you, David”.
Today’s shorter walk gave us time to visit the19th century lime kilns near Stainforth – highly recommended if you are ever in the vicinity. The lime was used as fertiliser, and in the manufacture of steel and…chocolate.
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Inside the Hoffmann Lime Kiln at Stainforth
Tomorrow we are bound for Gargrave, and - finally - Saltaire’s own river: the Aire!
P.S. Hope you all spotted the mistake in yesterday’s blog. It wasn’t Whernside that was framed by the viaduct’s arches - it was, of course, Ingleborough.
Silent monitor mark for today: Perfect White!
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