Henrikdoc

At breakfast this morning- some words to contemplate 🤪

Fully understand why they score highly

The River Nidd

“The River Nidd rises at Nidd Head Spring on the slopes of Great Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales (Nidderdale). It flows for roughly 50 miles, passing through reservoirs and towns like Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough, before ending as a tributary that joins the River Ouse at Nun Monkton, near York”(AI – Wikipedia)…and “is known for disappearing underground into sinkholes (like Manchester Hole and Goyden Pot) near its source in upper Nidderdale before resurfacing downstream”

… “The predominant geology in the upper catchment is Millstone Grit, which combined with the peaty moorland produces an acidic pH and characteristic brown stain to the water.”

We then followed the track of the old Nidd Valley Light Railway

(Ref theyorkshiredales.co.uk)

… and had to negotiate a few obstacles ..

The Gouthwaite Reservoir is pretty impressive even though you’re not allowed to walk on the dam

“Built between 1893–1901, this Yorkshire Water-managed reservoir is a compensation reservoir for the River Nidd rather than for drinking water. It is a renowned birdwatching site for breeding and wintering birds…”(ref Nidderdale-no.org.uk).

we certainly heard the chattering of the birds as we walked along the banks

And the ‘bubbling’ of the becks that we crossed every now and then

Then the sheep and lambs began to appear / lots of them , all over the place

Question of the day ref this ‘duck’ in bottom right

A. Is a sheep going to a fancy dress party ?

B. Is a sheep that has come from a fancy dress party?

C. Is a duck coming home from a late night out and has got lost ?

D. Is a sheep coming home from a late night out and has a lot of explaining to do

Answers as usual on a postcard !

We progressed past ‘dead rabbit alley’ (9 in a 200 m stretch … must have been a rabbit gangland warfare episode!)

(We recognise that some readers may be sensitive and have not shown any evidence . )

arriving half way

… and off into the depths of the Dale…

Following the Nidd until it became the ‘dry Nidd’ where proper lunch stop occurred (Lunchbox Rolls)

… then further towards the Scar reservoir

Through the very large Summerstone Estate

… and then the path took us uphill again !

… to Scar Reservoir

“The dam contains more than a million tonnes of masonry, it rises to 55 metres (180 ft) above the river and is almost 600 m (2,000 ft) long. It was completed in 1936. The dam height is 71 m (233 ft). The reservoir is fed almost exclusively from Angram Reservoir, which in turn is fed predominantly from the flanks of Great Whernside” (Wikipedia)

… but then only 2 miles to go … unfortunately ‘up’ again for half of that 🤦‍♂️

Arriving at Middlesmoor where we are staying at a cosy Airbnb (although it is really an Airb as no breakfast provided)

A hearty supper at the Crown (most pubs seem to be called The Crown around here)

A solid 2nd day of walking … it gets shorter and hopefully ‘easier’ tomorrow