> by Lawrence Bland
Five hikers left on the “Northern Dalesman” bus route 830/832 from Lancaster at 915 to Ribblehead, where we picked up more hikers, including some present and past members of the Keighley & Craven branch, who came by train, to form a group of nine. The main party had a walk around the Ribblehead Quarry, part of the Ingleborough National Nature Reservation, whilst waiting for the Station Inn to serve beers. Two hikers ascended Whernside and we met up later, but we thought them rather wimpish not to reach Ingleton via the top of Ingleborough. A dry day with the odd shower was forecast, getting warmer in the afternoon, but there was a gentle drizzle, getting heavier as the afternoon progressed, typical weather in the Yorkshire Dales at the start of August! In the Station, most of the party tried the Tet’s Summer Ale, before starting the walk under the viaduct and across Low Sleights, down to Chapel-le-dale and the Hill Inn, and some Dent Aviator. We took the old Roman Road, past the church and down through Twistleton to Ingleton. Walking up to the Wheatsheaf, we passed the La Cascada Italian Restaurant, which had two hand pumps and next door the Old Post Office Micro Bar, unfortunately both closed until the evening. At the Wheatsheaf, Lees MPA was sampled by most of the party until it ran out, that pub was busy, as was the next port of call, the Three Horseshoes, Thwaites 20 Summers was sampled. I left slightly earlier on the 1725 bus to Lancaster, the only passenger, whether North Yorkshire’s policy of removing some Sunday services from the National Concessionary Pass is having an effect is open to debate. The rest of the party returned on the 1835 after visiting the Craven Heifer (Thwaites) and Ingleborough Working Mens Club (always known as the Top Club in Ingleton), with Taylors Golden Best. The 1835 bus back was quite busy.