SE Hants group
Malhamdale weekend
A group of 20 SE Hants members spent a very enjoyable walking break at HF's magnificent country house Newfield Hall or Malhamdale in May, organized by Owen Plunkett.
Three different walks were available each day, varying in difficulty, ascent and length. The Yorkshire Dales National Park offers a variety of landscape, geology, wildlife and natural vegetation and with 2 major long distance paths (The Pennine Way and The Dales Way) on our doorstep, we were spoiled for choice. Peak-baggers chose to ascend Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, Weets Top and Plovers Hill from which the views were phenomenal. Dale-explorers walked on beautiful flower-carpeted paths along Airedale, Ribblesdale and Wharfedale. Geologists, with Peter Mc. in tow, were in their element on the limestone pavement around Malham and with the rock layer formations of Pen-y-Ghent and Ingleborough. Dare-devil rock scramblers had the opportunity to ascend Gordale Scar in full view of the more cautious members of the group. Architecture and church buffs found food for thought at Bolton Abbey, Airton Quaker Meeting House, the Ribblesdale railway line, museum and viaduct, "the Cathedral of the Dales" at Kirkby Malham and of course Newfield Hall itself. Finally our tea-shop and pub- frequenters were pleasantly surprised by the availability of watering -holes and impressed by the "research knowledge" of our HF leaders on the subject!! [Account written by Veronica W, abridged from Footprints].
