The pub is cosy, with a roaring fire and good beers. Once Mum and Dad depart, I take Rufus for a stroll down to the famous falls. I opt to go across the fields and reaqaint myself with how narrow the styles are in the Dales. You can only just fit your calf through, so Rufus has no chance. Good job I've got his "stylish coot" (Scottish C2C joke) to get him over the walls. It is lambing season, so the Sheep are very protective. On the way down to the falls, the first field had several sheep who squared up to Rufus and placed their foreheads to his head and usherd him to the exit. Then an ever increasing carcophony of bleating led to the final field where poor Rufie got a butt up the backside. He was confused, and had no idea why they were picking on him.
Here is the culprit with child. You can tell they are related because they have the same dumbo the elephant ears!
There was a beautiful churchyard on the way. A nice view, pity they are dead and can't appreciate it!
The pub I stayed in was fantastic with 4 AA stars. The room was like a hotel with beautiful bathroom and an office for me to work in! As usual I was banished to the backroom for breakfast as Billy Nomates again, but they treated us well. I had a really good meal the night before, plus beers and the breakfast and packed lunch, all added to my bill. I therefore expected a large invoice in the morning. However, as I leave The George and Dragon, she bills me £77 and then promptly removed £40 paid in advance as deposit. I am sure I don't remember doing this, but don't argue. Blimey, that's cheap, maybe she will realise the error on my return in 4 days time.......! (wait and see!)
There are 3 seperate falls in Aysgarth, Lower, Middle and Upper. They were all in full speight and prettty impressive. I was to return via the Lower, and best falls in 4 days time, so will save that image for later. Here is a set of images of each fall seen on day one:
Upper Falls
Middle Falls
Lower Falls
Rufus admiring Lower Falls
I now set off on my first stage proper having diverted to see all 3 falls. As usual, the weather was glorious for me. This was due to be a easy stage with no assent and beautiful riverside walking. Rufus was getting bettr at the stepping stones than he was on the Dalesway:
Rufus crossing a stream expertly using the stepping stones
As I mentioned, this was a walk of waterfalls. We soon came across another beautiful one, Mill Gill Falls and only had to make a short detour to view it.
Despite it being boiling hot, there was still lots of snow on the ground. Really weird standing in snow and sweating away!
Only 20 minutes later, I stopped for my packed lunch in glorious boiling sunshine as I sunbathed and Rufus basked in the midday sun!
The last section to Hardraw had us marching through a series of tiny fields with sprung gates every 20 yards
for about 2 miles. We must have squeezed through 50 styles in this latter section. Good job I had been on a diet before we went.
Almost before I had started, we arrive at Hardraw - 13 very satisfying miles, with no aches and pains. We descended into the village.
The pub I was staying at, The green Dragon, was amazing. Full of nooks and crannies and flag stones throughout, with a roaring fire in each room. The beer was really good. We were placed in "The bunkhouse" to keep Rufus away from respectable guests. This meant we had an entire annex to ourselves with 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. I spread out across all 3! All for the princely sum of £35 including breakfast!
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