Duchess at Batty Moss

Our first full day in Wensleydale dawn a bit grey and dreary and wet, but we ventured out towards Ingleton to stop at Ribblehead to see the Batty Moss Viaduct (to give it its correct name) as we knew there was a steam excursion due in the late morning.

While we were sat in the car waiting for the rain to easy off a minibus pulled up next to us and a group of teenagers got out, all wearing green onesies. We thought this was very strange, but they then started to put on bright red dry suits. They were going caving! The onesies were to keep them warm under their dry suits.

The rain stopped in time, so we got togged up and set off towards the viaduct, dodging the loads of people who were busy doing Three Peak Challenges.

I scrambled up an embankment followed by my Dad, and we got a prime spot to see the Duchess of Sutherland cross the viaduct. As she was on the upward leg she was really working hard, so there was lots of smoke and steam. Brilliant. I chose this spot as I thought I would get some of the viaduct in and the train would be identifiable, rather than getting a side on view of the viaduct and the train just being a smudge on the top.

After the train had passed we made our way down and went to the Station Inn for lunch which consisted of Giant Yorkshire Puddings filled with Sausages, and I washed this down with a pint of Black Sheep Ale.

In the afternoon the rain cleared and it brightened up, so we went for a walk from our cottage down some lanes to Gayle, and then down into Hawes, before climbing back up to our cottage.

Thanks for the nice comments on yesterdays blip, I'll probably have a bit of time to catch up with journals tomorrow morning.