THE group met before the walk near Trinity Church and paused to remember Norman Tiffany, an enthusiastic walk leader and committee member in the 70s and 80s, who had died at the grand age of 93. Members then drove to East Witton for an 11½ mile walk in the quiet secluded beauty of Coverdale in the company of walkers who joined us from as far afield as Gargrave, Northalleton and Sedgefield.
The leader John Taylor took the party of 13 (non being superstitious) westwards along field paths to Hulls Bridge on the River Cover where a coffee stop was taken and our artist member took the first of many photographs of this attractive Dale. After
a glance at Braithwaite Hall, a 17th century farmhouse in the care of the National Trust, the party met rain and hail on the moorside below Flamstone Pin before descending to the hamlet of Caldbergh with its cats' cemetery. The weather brightened and lunch was taken among the primroses and the warmth of Caldbergh Gill.
A stepped path then took us down from East Scrafton to the remains of the old chapel of St Simon and St Jude beside the River Cover. The walk continued amid clearing skies and open views through the small settlements of Melmerby and Agglethorpe and along the gallops to Middleham Castle, where the keep is said to be second in size only to the Tower of London. The walkers returned to East Witton via the riverside path to Cover Bridge, admiring the wood anemones and violets. We hoped that the other half of the group, on a walking holiday in Spain, had enjoyed as good a day as we had. Tomorrow (April 19) meet at Trinity at 9am to Kettlewell for an eight mile walk, including Great Whernside. Ring 0113 295 5863 for more details.
The full article contains 311 words and appears in Harrogate Advertiser newspaper.
