Sunday, February 1st.
I think there were 15 or 16 walkers on this month's short walk, which was to be the Londesborough Loop part of the walk me and Suzie did last month. Although it was a bright day there was a cold NE wind, so we walked the loop the opposite way so the wind was behind us on the return over the highest part of Towthorpe Hill. We took our lunch on the steps of the old hall at Londesborough where the snowdrops were just about in flower. The return took us across the park to Easthorpe and over Towthorpe Hill. Alas the Goodmanham Arms was busy with Sunday lunches, so we gave it a miss, and most of us adjourned to Langlands Garden Centre for tea and cakes. (6¾ miles)

Friday, Feb 6th.
Postponing our weekday walk until Friday was a good decision - after the rain, sleet and snow earlier in the week. After a frosty start, the weather today was glorious, but having to pick up Caitlen from school meant we couldn't travel far. So I came up with a little 7½ mile stroll along the river bank from Hull Bridge to Arram and back - a walk last done last winter in torrential rain! This time the frost meant any puddles and mud were frozen, although this did result in Suzie slipping ..... over ......, twice! (Sorry, I wasn't meant to reveal that). We were treated to a flying display by the RAF Search & Rescue helicopter from Leconfield, a sight that will disappear from our skies at the end of March. Afterwards we had a cup of tea at Tescos in Beverley, then Suzie caught the bus home whilst I did the 'school run'.

Sunday, Feb 8th.
A lovely day for eleven of us to enjoy a 9¼ mile walk by the River Derwent from Kexby Bridge to Elvington returning via Scoreby Lodge. A pleasant walk by the river and through flat countryside (apart for an ½ mile stretch of busy road) with pockets of woodland. There were sightings of buzzards and a green woodpecker, and it wasn't as muddy as expected. Once again we stopped off at Langlands on the way home for tea and cakes.

Wednesday, Feb 11th.
An overcast, cold day for our walk this week. Last week, at Arram, we had seen the spire of Scorborough church in the distance, so I came up with a walk linking the twin spires of Scorborough and South Dalton churches. Both churches were built in the mid 1800s to the designs of John Loughborough Pearson, whose other works include Truro and Wakefield Cathedrals. Our 8 mile route was via Lockington, following part of the Minster Way, returning by way of country lanes and bridleways. This time we were treated to a flying display by a pair of red kites near South Dalton. Once again we had tea a Tescos in Beverley, as I was on the 'school run' again, and Suzie caught the bus.

Sunday, Feb 14th.
After driving to North Newbald in thick fog, the weather improved as fourteen of us set off on a 10 mile walk through Houghton Woods to Sancton. There were even spells of sunshine whilst took a coffee break in Houghton Woods. The sun also showed off a nice display of snowdrops near Houghton Hall. Beyond Sancton we took a lunch break in the shelter of Noddle Hill then climbed to join the Wolds Way at Hessleskew. On the tops of Arras Wold and Sancton Wold the conditions were still very overcast, so unfortunately, there were no distant views over the Vale of York. Back in North Newbald we visited the Gnu Inn for drinks - beer, coffee, or tea.

Sunday, Feb 22nd.
The weather forecast for today was grim! However, there being only six of us, we made brisk progress from Thornton-le-Dale up Howl Dale for a coffee break in the shelter of the woods. Then on past Kingthorpe into Dalby Forest and down the road to Low Dalby. After a brief lunch stop there, sheltered from the wind, we returned down the valley, dodging families on the 'Gruffalo Trail'. Alas, Bob's route diverged from this trail before we had seen the Gruffalo! By the time we reached Ellerburn, where the 'Weather Stone' was forecasting rain, light rain was being blown into our faces on the cold wind. We continued alongside the beck, back into Thornton (9miles). There, we were soon settled in the tearoom before the rain and sleet really started.

Wednesday, 25th Feb.
A complete contrast to Sunday - the weather was absolutely glorious with sun and blue skies, so I just had to get out on a walk. The easiest thing to do from home is the walk down the canal to the airfield and back via the site of St Faith's Church - a round trip of nearly 6 miles. With the prospect of photo opportunities I took my Pentax Kx DSLR camera with a medium zoom lens instead of my more compact Nikon. I took quite a few shots by the canal. Unfortunately there was little activity at the airfield and by the time I reached St Faith's graveyard, where good lighting is essential for photos, the weather had turned cloudy! Nevertheless a pleasant couple of hours.

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	Welcome to the Trans-Dales Trails These Trails, Trans-Dales Trail 1, Trans-Dales Trail 2 and Trans-Dales Trail 3, are each about sixty miles in length and can be comfortably completed by anyone that is reasonably fit in five days, with four nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation. The routes establish links across the Yorkshire Dales using some of the public rights of way that are less frequently walked. There are three booklets in the Trans-Dale Trail series, each giving a detailed description of the route. The booklets are now out of print, but it is intended that the routes will be downloadable for FREE as PDF files. Currently only Trans-Dales Trail 2 is available as a PDF file. Arnold Underwood (Dales Trails) 41 The Orchard Leven East Yorkshire HU17 5QA e-mail: arnold.underwood@dalestrails.freeserve.co.uk
	The Author Arnold Underwood is an experienced walker and a leader of his local walking club. He lives near Beverley and is the East Yorkshire correspondent for Country Walking magazine. He has walked the Ridgeway (1983), the Pennine Way (1990), the Dales Way (1993), and A Bowland - Dales Traverse (1994), the latter two with Peter Tomkinson. He has walked much in the Yorkshire Dales, Moors, and Wolds, including completing the Three Peaks, Lyke Wake, and Saltergate challenge walks - the last two again with PeterTomkinson. Arnold devised the three Trails with the help of Peter Tomkinson, and together they walked each of the routes - Trail 1 in 1995, Trail 2 in 1996, and Trail 3 in 1997. Peter Tomkinson is a former Scout Leader, and as such has done much walking in all terrains and in all conditions. In addition to those walks mentioned above he has also completed the Cleveland Way, Minster Way and the Ebor Way.
	Leven Walking Club Leven Walking Club is a long-established club. Members suggestions result in a varied programme of walks on the Yorkshire Wolds, North York Moors and elsewhere. Go to Calendar for walking programme. For further information contact Arnold Underwood on 01964 543883 or 07989 292522, or Dave Fox on 01964 542564 Read Nomad's report in each issue of Leven Life.
	Hornsea District Walking Club Hornsea District Walking Club is an independent club relying on its members for suggesting and leading the variety of walks. Go to Calendar for walking programme. For further information contact Club Chairman Graham Hadfield or Walks Secretary Arnold Underwood (07989 292522) *********************** Visitors to Dales Trails since August 1st 2007 ************************* This page was created by Arnold Underwood | Home | Calendar | Trans-Dales Trail 1 | Trans-Dales Trail 2 | Trans-Dales Trail 3 | Walking with Underwood | Photo Gallery | Useful Links