BOLTON ABBEY and the STRID

WHATEVER NEXT ?  7 Miles

WALKERS :- Anthony, Martin, Dave, Mike
                       John W, Vic,  and  DANNY !!

The writer must apologise for the poor quality of the photos in this report. He used a different camera and it is clearly a few pixels short of a ……..or the lens wasn't clean or he's cocked up !!.

A long drive but well worth it.  Expensive Car Park (£10) but well worth it.  
And here we are at the end of the first and parking in the latter.

After a long drive we had to use the "facilities" but then were soon off down through the woods to the River Wharfe.

passing as we did a Montessori School. Those of us in the education business would have learnt about these institutions but by now have forgotten their philosophies. Basically independent, child centred, exploratory education as promulgated by Maria Montessori in the early part of the 20C. Once very fashionable and definitely the territory of the well heeled, trendy  middle classes.  (Not a little biased are you writer ? Definitely not... jealous maybe !)

...and what did we come across. Yet  ANOTHER  "Turner's View"  ...That fella's bin everywhere.

We now followed the banks of the river along well made tracks which only occasionally presented difficult sections. 

It has to be said though that your writer did not appreciate the precipitous drops alongside the path and these were to be found at various intervals along the whole walk.

It wasn't  long before we arrived at the famous or perhaps infamous "STRID".  Here the turbulent waters of the River Wharfe are squeezed into a gully only a few feet wide. Consequently the water races surging and boiling through this narrow confine.  The rocks on either side offer a tempting platform for those bold enough to jump across. Over the years many have tried and not a few of them have died. It is a dangerous spot. Clear warnings are well displayed.

Looks rather innocuous but the waters of a large river are powering through a very narrow but VERY deep gully.

After such a late start Coffee time was upon and we sat listening to the crashing waters as we downed our coffees.

We left the STRID and rejoined the path, with the peat stained waters of the Wharfe to our left  as it headed for the Abbey itself. Throughout our walk the paths were clear and well made.

It is often said that the Motto or even the Battle Cry of Yorkshire  Folk is   " 'Ow much ! " But the stinginess of Yorkies was gainsaid by tree trunks along the path which displayed considerable wealth expended in the county. 

The surface of this "Tree Trunk Seat" was riddled with coins driven into it.

Whilst we halted to examine this "Money Tree" ( and possibly surreptitiously tried to extract the odd one ?????) Dave had wandered on a little way and was sitting waiting for us like a solitary "Woodland Elf"

With the group together again we ploughed on until we reached a busy spot with children's play area, café, toilets and lots of picnic spots.

By some magical means the hordes of people we found at this spot seem to have temporarily vanished as this photo was taken ??? 

With the hour and minute hands on our watches both past the vertical a picnic bench almost begged us to stop and dine. We accepted the invitation.

Where's Martin ?

Ah.  There he is.

We sat comfortably  in this busy spot with the river, ducks and people all passing by before evemtually setting off again still looking forward (literally) to see the Abbey.

Our walks don't often take us past Ice-cream vans.

We came at last to one of very few gates on the walk and there in the distance, across a field, was our first glimpse of the Abbey. Through the field and up a short but steep slope (Another gate !) ….

…..and arrived at the road but not before stopping to admire "The Fountain".

Just a few yards along the road and ANOTHER gate led us back into the Abbey grounds,  Here a notice told us that this was where we could picnic but NOT B.B.Q !!

As this was a graveyard full of table style tomb coverings we were rather amused. Handy for picnics !

The monks who lived here many centuries ago were no fools when it came to choosing a site for their homes,  It was an undoubtedly beautiful spot.

Bit of overacting going on here I think.

We wandered around these wonderful but equally sad ruins and visited the church itself which claimed an 850 years of usage.

Close examination will reveal that both Dave and Danny are in this photo.

A diagram of the site tells us where the different buildings of the Abbey once stood.   Some of our surmising had been right but others entirely wrong.

We had reached the apogee of our walk and now made our way down to the bridge to cross the river and return along the other side.

The stepping stones across the river, equally as famous as the Strid, were submerged by the swollen river. Their position can just be detected in the swirls seen below the bridge in this photo.

A final look back across the river to the venerable ruins before we tramped off in a homeward direction. The estate was very well set up and as we walked we came upon  all sorts of activities mostly designed for children but of course we have all reached our second childhood.

Most of us gave this particular piece a miss .. but not Vic.

Throughout our walk we came across some quite stunning trees amongst the ancient woods. we also came across some almost "artistic" creations caused by the trees.

and the money trees appeared at intervals.

This one fascinating a group of children.

N.B. We did NOT leave with more money than we arrived.

Although the path generally followed the banks of the river it did rise and fall. At times quite steeply.....

….  it was never boring with something of interest around every corner.

Here's  a corner.

 Here a ford.

Here an old bridge.

and here a woodland shelter.

Not to mention the wildlife.... (you just have !)

A field mouse.

A Chaffinch.

Funnel Web Spiders.

And unfortunately some dead-life

The path also afforded some wonderful views of the Wharfe including the Strid as we passed it again..

There's the Strid….  Down there.   A whole big river squeezed into a narrow cleft. Extraordinary !

All this and more goes into the Strid

Our walk was now nearing it's end as we approached the aquaduct/bridge which would take us back to the other side of the river and along to or starting point.

The seat in the picture lent itself to posing --- so we posed...…   Well one of us did.

The bridge was no hastily and cheaply erected affair but a typically substantial and decorative Victorian structure.

After the bridge the path turned downstream again and soon left the bank to climb a last steep haul up to the car park and Martin's ever welcome chilled drinks (This time Vimto - excellent)

A fabulous walk with interest at every step. Hence the title "WHATEVER NEXT"

Well done Anthony the organiser and Martin for the suggestion.

THE END