The Wensleydale Wander

The Wensleydale Wander is an annual event that you can either run or walk with a choice of achieving twenty three miles or twelve miles. So, as I’m doing a lot of walking in readiness for doing the Mighty Hike at the end of June to raise for funds for Macmillan Cancer Support the Wensleydale Wander seemed a good idea. What a day we had, me and couple of friends joined about five hundred people, some local, some not so local and some from a way off. Some were walking, as we were, some running, who all left us standing, literally, as they would! The route was along The Shawl and round in a big circle finishing back in Leyburn at the Wensleydale School.

After so much rain we were anticipating very wet conditions underfoot but, no, the ground was nicely dry and perfect for walking. The day was fine and dry and even sunny at times and of course our route was just perfect for reflecting on how beautiful Wensleydale is with terrific views up and down dale. The Wensleydale Wander has been going for a good few years now, I was talking to a guy who has walked them all! Apparently the Rotary Club has organised them from the year 2000 to present times and before that from 1992 it was Yorkshire Water. I’ve asked Google to help me find some of the history of the walk but alas can find none, sorry.

Being of a certain generation we three were walking the shorter route, which was quite far enough thank you, and prompt on nine o’clock waited, quite nervously, in Grove Square in Leyburn with everyone else to be released! And so our walk began, very soon the trail of people became elongated with the narrow path up The Shawl plus stiles and kissing gates to be negotiated but it didn’t seem to matter. The weather was good, we stripped layers off as we went along, made quite a few stops for snacks and plenty to drink, after all we did have until five o’clock to get back to Wensleydale School where we registered so all was well. Time to enjoy this glorious dale, the views, walking by the River Ure, all the wild flowers that have suddenly appeared. Young, green leaves seemed to be everywhere and time to contemplate, again, what a wonderful place we are so fortunate to live in.

On making it back, we were offered a choice of hot soup and a roll and really yummy cakes and plenty to drink of course. Everyone had plenty to say of their experience of the day and I feel, listening to the noise in the hall, a good time was had by all! Will I do it again next year? Well, who knows? One in our party seems to think we are so we shall see!!

Because I’ve taken so long to describe my day, the next blog will the route we took. Well worth walking and all easy going and of course you can always make a date to walk with five hundred others next year!