Kettlewell 2016


A trip to the Yorkshire Dales was organised in late June when 16 members travelled to Kettlewell, and stopped in 7 bedroomed detached house. On the Saturday (Day 1) 15 of our members walked the Alternative 3 Peaks, (Birks Fell, Buckden Pike, and finally Great Whernside) a distance of 22 miles with over 4,200ft of accent, the weather was good in the morning with torrental rain after dinner. We were supported all the way round by the 16th member of our party. The walk was held in memory of Stephen Longfellow, a former Yorkshire Coast member, who sadly lost his life while climbing in Wales last year.

On the Sunday (Day 2) morning we walked from Kettlewell to Starbotton and returned by the Dales Way a matter of four and a half mile just to loosen up from the previous day. Dinner was taken in the Blue Bell Inn, after which 6 of our party departed for home.

Lovely walk Monday (Day 3), Kettlewell to Arncliffe and back.Dinner and a few pints in the Falcon Inn (of Emmerdale Farm fame), 8 and a half mile round trip. Weather sunshine and rain, think more rain than sunshire.

Best walk of the week so far Tuesday (Day 4), Gargrave to Skipton via the Manchester/Leeds Canal, fish and chips dinner in Skipton, a bit of shopping and back to Gargrave via the fields. Weather deteriated as the day went along.

Good wet walk today (Day 5). 13 miles on the Dales Way to Grassington and back. Pub lunch and a couple of cheeky pints

Nice walk this morning (Day 6), riverside and part of the Dales way, 3 and a half miler, Back to cottage for dinner, and for a change, no rain as yet. Setting off for a 6 miler this afternoon, good company, good walk and good weather. Meal in Kettlewell tonight, ready for the journey home tomorrow. Great week in the Yorkshire Dales, pity the weather was not kinder, but it didn't stop us doing anything. Thanks to all concerned..

An enjoyable week was had by all

Tribute from Margaret (Steve's wife)

 My thanks go out to all the people who made this trip to the Dales possible. Special thanks to Barbara for organising us the superb Fern House for our stay at Kettlewell and providing much needed back up for the walk itself. Special thanks too to Trevor for his beautiful certificates to commemorate the Stephen Longfellow Memorial Challenge Walk. Thanks too to everyone who took part with me, namely David, Chris, Karen, Trevor, Anne, Judy, Hayley, Liz, Angela, Malcolm, Margaret, Ian, Dianne and Mark. I'm so proud to call these people my friends. They have kept me going during the last difficult months, even though they give me some challenging walks to do. Having said that, this walk was Stephen's idea and we walked it in his memory. I like to think that Stephen walked every step of the way with us, no longer bothered by the mud or the rain. It was an emotional day, as you would expect, but thanks to the support everyone gave me, it was wonderful to turn Stephen's dream into reality. So grateful to be part of the Yorkshire Coast LDWA. I'd be lost without them, literally.👞👞

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

Day 4

Day 5

 Day 6