News en route
ride2stride 2024
The popular Settle-Carlisle walking festival - ride2stride -
is back again this year with a packed programme of free walks,
talks and music. The festival, at the heart of Dales
High Way country, runs from Tuesday April 30th to
Monday May 6th.
The annual festival began back in 2012, but was sorely missed
for a 3-year period during the pandemic. Its return last year
proved to be very popular indeed.
In March the festival was picked by the Observer and Guardian
newspapers as one of the top ten walking festivals in Britain:
"An annual week-long celebration of the western Dales and Eden
Valley, the festival’s varied programme of walks all begin and
end at stations along the Settle-Carlisle line – one of the most
spectacular stretches of train line in the UK. New for 2024 will
be Trail Tasters, walks that offer the chance to sample sections
of some of the region’s long-distance trails, as well as annual
favourites and live music and entertainment at pubs in the
area."
A visit to Giggleswick Chapel marks part of one of the walks
on the first day. All the led walks are free and no prior booking is
needed.
10 April 2024
Saltaire and Skipton amongst best places to live
Saltaire and Skipton are amongst the best places to live in
the north and northeast region, according to the Sunday Times
Guide for 2024.
Leeds was the winner for the region, being "the best place to
live if you want to work hard and play hard in the biggest,
buzziest city in the north."
Saltaire - the starting point for A Dales High Way, was
described as "the best place to live if you fancy a funky
village vibe within commuting distance of Leeds and Bradford."
The Guide notes: It was a model village built by the
19th-centuray mill-owner, wool baron and temperance titan Sir
Titus Salt for his workers and now, two centuries later,
Saltaire is a model address for 21st century living. Its streets
echo with the clatter of Birkenstocks and chukka boots on the
cobblestones, as everyone from creatives to teachers, techies to
NHS workers is choosing to make BD18 their home.
Designated a Unesco world heritage site in 2001, surrounded
by greenery yet only minutes from the cities of West Yorkshire,
Saltaire is as posh as Bradford gets - but also as down to earth
as the Yorkshire pudding, sausages and curry gravy served at the
cheekily named bar Don't Tell Titus. "it's one of the most
unusual places I've lived," says Saskia Brown, 36, a neurology
nurse at Leeds General Infirmary and a Morris dancer. "The
architecture is amazing and it just feels very safe. We even
have a Facebook page for our local cats."
Skipton, first stop on A Dales High Way, was the overall
winner in 2014. The guide says it is the best place if "You're
up for a free-spirited, family friendly market town."
20 Mar 2024
Dales High Way Slide Show
The new walking season kicks off with a chance to see an
illustrated talk on A Dales High Way by Chris Grogan this month.
Chris Grogan, who created the route with husband Tony, is
giving the illustrated talk at the invitation of the Shipley
Library Slide Show Group.
Chris has presented a version of her popular talk at many
venues since its inception in 2007.
Dales High Way guide books will be on sale and members of the
Friends of A Dales High Way committee will be there to chat to.
The talk will be hosted at Shipley Library, 2 Wellcroft
Street, in the town
centre, at 7.30pm on Friday 15th March.
Doors open at 7pm, it costs £3 which includes a cuppa and
everyone is welcome.
2 March 2024
Appleby Castle for Sale at £9.5m
The 12th century castle in Appleby is up for sale with a
price tag of £9.5 million.
First site of the castle signals the final stretch for
walkers on A Dales High Way.
The keep dates back to around 1100 and the castle changed
hands between Scots and English several times before it was
partly destroyed in the 1660s by a Royalist army during the
English Civil War. Lady Anne Clifford subsequently began to
restore it to its earlier glory.
The castle has been extensively restored over the last 20
years. It is now home to a hotel and events business, with
private living space and a museum.
Its current owner, Sally Nightingale, who moved to Appleby in
the 1990s, said she would always "carry" Appleby Castle in her
heart. “Lady Anne was the most celebrated owner of Appleby
Castle and I’ve tried to follow in her footsteps," Ms
Nightingale said.
The castle was closed to the public for many years following
a dispute between the owners and English Heritage, but was
finally re-opened 10 years ago.
12 Feb 2024
90 miles across the glorious high country of the Yorkshire Dales
