The November Ramble – Led by J & J Sommerville
On Saturday seven ramblers met in a car park in Hornby, having been promised by the Met Office a dry window in our normal rainy weather. Setting off towards the Wenning Bridge, turning right into a farmyard, and following a farm track initially alongside the Wenning viewing Hornby Castle, then swinging to the right to cross the old disused Little North Western railway line and down a lane into the village of Wray. Here the group turned right then right before the Post Office passing some very old houses, 1649 was the oldest noticed. Following a lane down the side of school, the walkers crossed the River Roeburn on Kitten Bridge and then took the minor road uphill for a kilometre. As the ramble progressed the rain had gradually increased as the group took the footpath to the right across several fields and down towards the River Roeburn. It was a steep path down to the foot-bridge and as the rain continued a shelter was sought to have lunch.
This Valley is owned by the Middlewood Trust, an environmental/ecological organization, who teach and practise self sufficiency and all that jazz. Climbing up from the bridge one of their buildings (using that word very loosely) was commandeered as a sheltered lunch stop. Sitting down on broken chairs, upturned tin baths, boxes and oil drums lunch was consumed in relative comfort.
The weather then improved and the sun became visible as the group climbed up to part of the Trust’s settlement, which included two inhabited “yurts”, (look it up). On passing the rest of their huts, the ramblers turned and crossed a stile leading to steps which 200 feet later led to an old farm and thence on to Moor Lane. This minor road took the group downhill to the car park, giving on the way down, views of Ingleborough.
An enjoyable walk in mixed weather of six miles.
Jim & Janet Sommerville